Hot springs still bubble up in the central courtyard of Tirta Empul, and that water is the reason the temple exists. It is one of the holiest temples in Bali, built around the springs. The Balinese come here to bathe and purify themselves, in body and in spirit. The complex dates to 960, and that long history gives the place its weight.
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Tirta Empul at a glance
| Type | Sights |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 8:00-18:00 |
| Price | Rp50,000, including sarong and sash rental |
| Getting there | In Tampaksiring, in the hills north-east of Ubud |
| Address | Tampaksiring |
| Map | Open the map |
Visitors can join in. You wear a sarong, step into the bathing pools and take part in the traditional purification ritual, called melukat. You can also simply walk the courtyards and watch local people at their rites. The present buildings are largely modern reconstructions, but the springs and the practice around them are old and still in daily use.
Water that still matters to the village
Many Bali temples are places to look at. Tirta Empul is a place where people still use the water. Local families come to wash away harm and to renew themselves, and the pools are part of that routine, not a stage set for visitors.
The spring also has a role in the big festivals. During Galungan, the sacred barong masks are brought here and bathed. The barong is a protective spirit in Balinese belief, so this is a serious moment for the community. It shows how closely the spring is tied to the island's religious life.
How a bathing visit goes
To enter the pools, you must wear a sarong. The entry fee covers rental of both a sarong and a sash, so you do not need to bring your own. Dress properly before you step into the water, because the pools are a place of prayer.
Purification here follows a set procedure. You move through the bathing pools in order, and you do it in the manner the local worshippers do. Take it slowly and follow what the people around you are doing. Do not enter the water if you are not appropriately dressed, or during certain religious restrictions.
If you would rather not bathe, you can still walk through the complex. The springs, the courtyards and the people at prayer are worth the time on their own.
Old site, rebuilt walls
The date of 960 marks the start of the site, not the age of every stone. Most of the buildings you see today are modern reconstructions. That should not put you off. The spring is the heart of the temple, and it has flowed through all the rebuilding.
Opening hours run from 8:00 to 18:00. The entry price of Rp50,000 includes the sarong and sash rental, so there is no second payment at the gate for the cloth you need.
A temple day around Tampaksiring
Tirta Empul sits in Tampaksiring, in the hills, and it pairs naturally with Gunung Kawi, a set of rock-cut shrines in the same area. One is a water temple and the other is carved into stone, so the two give a good contrast on the same trip. Many visitors fit both into a single temple day.
If you want a longer culture trip, Goa Gajah, the Elephant Cave, also appears with Tirta Empul on east Bali tours. The Ubud Monkey Forest is another stop often grouped in the same cultural run. Near Tirta Empul you can also find the Patung Dewa Indra, a statue of the god Indra.
Tirta Empul: questions visitors ask
Can visitors bathe in the pools at Tirta Empul?
Yes. Visitors may take part in the traditional purification ritual, called melukat, by wearing a sarong and entering the bathing pools. Follow local customs, and do not enter if you are not appropriately dressed or during certain religious restrictions.
What are the opening hours and entry price?
Tirta Empul is open from 8:00 to 18:00. Entry is Rp50,000, and that includes sarong and sash rental.
How old is Tirta Empul?
The complex dates to 960. The present buildings are largely modern reconstructions, but the hot springs in the central courtyard still bubble up.
What can I visit near Tirta Empul?
Gunung Kawi is close by in the same Tampaksiring area, and the two work well as one temple day. Goa Gajah and the Ubud Monkey Forest are often grouped with Tirta Empul on cultural trips.
Near Tirta Empul
- Gunung Kawi (1.08 km)
Tours
More things to do: things to do in Bali.