Travel By Photo – Temple Of Holy Water

Better known as the Temple of Holy Water, Pura Tirta Empul is one of the Top most popular temple in Bali, Indonesia. Founded in AD 962, the temple has few pools with crystal clear underground water gushing through the bottom of the ponds. It is the local hinduism belief that this holy water from the god could wash away sins, sickness, bad luck of its followers.

The Holy Water temple is located in Tampak Siring, near the famous wood-carving town of UBUD. We went there during our day-trip in Bali, on our way to Kintamani. Nowadays, most tourists are prefered to visit Besakih Temple (The most significant Hindu Temple in Bali) instead so there were not many tourists when we reached there (or maybe we were late after spending too much time bargaining for a wood sculpture in Ubud 🙂 ).

After paying a nominal entrance fees of about Rp5,000 (should be around that, can’t remember the exact figure.. 🙁 ), we stepped into the big couryard and there is an open hall in front of us where supposingly a rest place for the followers. There were only 3 guys sitting in there and were the tour guides.

One of them approached us and took us around. He took us to a ‘donation’ counter where we were given a ‘sarong’ or body scarf, on loan off course, before we could step into their holy place behind the courtyard. You should donate some monies here to the dedicated box on the counter.

Inside the holy compound, there is one big pond where you could see ‘holy’ water gushing through the base of the pond though it was full of water plants and green alga or kelp.

Beside it, there are also 2 bathing ponds with elevated spouts along the pond showering whoever wants to take a holy bath there with holy water.

We only washed our hands and face briefly with the holy water.

We took some photos of the place and also being took by the tour guide ‘cum’ photographer! Yes, he insisted to take photos for us and kept praising himself for such a great shot he took! 🙁 What do you think? For me, he looked like a professional photographer at least, by the way he posed and took photos 🙂

Then was the serious moment…. He took us into their private compound where is supposingly strictly for the followers only… the praying courtyard…. and he stayed outside.

Once we came out, he took a few photos of us again….

There was another pood outside of the courtyard without the holywater but with a cafe next to it. We took a photo of the exquisite twin shrines and split gate, common in most temples in Bali. Before we leave, we struggled for a while before we decided to tip this ‘professional’ tour guide Rp20,000. (Yes, even more than the entrance fees…)

Strangely at first to me why they led us out through the exit at the other side and I realised shortly it was because there wanted us to pass through those 30+ stalls selling all kinds of souvenirs of Bali. Unfortunately, we bought some…. (even worse to know later that elsewhere were selling 30% cheaper! But at least we learnt the lesson well…)

Temple of Holy Water, Pura Tirta Empul perhaps is one of the smaller Hindu temple in Bali but it is still a popular religious destination for many tourists and is an important place for the local followers to wash off their bad fortune. – Travel Feeder. 

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.