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Top 10 Amazing Facts about Tirta Empul

Located in the village of Manukaya, the Tirta Empul Holy Water Temple is near the town of Tampaksiring. It’s in the Gianyar Regency, which is the cultural heart of Bali and is not far from Ubud. This temple can be found just below the Tampaksiring Presidential Palace which was built in 1957 by Soekarno, Indonesia’s first president. This beautiful temple is an important pillar on the island and in the country. The Tirta Empul Holy Water Temple and the Presidential Palace offer some of the most magnificent views you will ever see.

Known as Pura Tirta Empul in Indonesian, Tirta Empul temple is a Hindu Balinese water temple in Bali. Its compound comprises a petition or bathing structure. This structure is well known for its holy spring water. It’s here that the Balinese Hindus conduct ritual purification.

There’s a pond at this temple that Balinese Hindus consider to be amritha or holy. This pond regularly gives fresh water. In 2017 however, a Coconut Bali report indicated that authorities were investigating reports of water pollution at Tirta Empul.

Below are ten magnificent facts about Tirta Empul.

1. Tirta Empul Temple was established during the Warmadewa dynasty

The Belanjong pillar in Sanur issued in 914 CE by Sri Kesari Warmadewa, the founder of the Warmadewa dynasty. Photo by PHGCOM/

Founded during the Warmadewa dynasty, the 10^th to 14^th century, Tirta Empul was established around 962 A.D. The temple was built around a large water spring. The temple’s name is derived from the groundwater source. This water is the source of River Pakerisan.

2. The Empul Temple is divided into three sections

A simple Hindu temple with Nagara architecture. Some key sections marked, many sections are not marked. Photo by Ms Sarah Welch/

Jaba Pura is the front yard, Jaba Tengah is the central yard and Jeroan is the inner yard. These are the three sections of the temple. The central yard or Jaba Tengah contains 30 showers and 2 pools.

3. A villa that overlooks the temple is now a rest house for key guests

Empul Temple was dedicated to Vishnu. This is a Hindu god name for Narayana, the supreme consciousness. In 1954, a villa was built on a hill overlooking the temple. This villa was built for President Sukarno’s visit. Today, the villa serves as a rest house for key guests.

4. Tirta Empul is thought to be one of Bali’s holiest sources of water

Worshipers bathing at the temple. Arian Zwegers/

There are several other temples with holy water in Bali. These include Pura Tirta Taman Mumbul at Badung, Pura Tirta Harum at Bangli, Pura Tirta Tawar at Gianyar, and Pura Ulun Danu at Lake Beratan among others.

In Bali, Tirta Empul is thought to be one of the five most holy temples. It is also said to be one of Bali’s holiest sources of water.

5. Among the visitors to the temple are Former US President Barack Obama

Former US President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and their daughters, Malia and Sasha, sit for a family portrait in the Green Room of the White House, Sept. 1, 2009. (Official White House Photo)..Photo by Annie Leibovitz/Released by White House Photo Office/

To the local community, Tirta Empul is a sacred place of worship. However, visitors from across the globe are allowed to visit the temple. During your visit, you can take part in the purification ceremonies. US President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle, and their daughters Malia and Sasha are among the visitors to the temple. They visited the temple in 2017.

6. The temple has two showers that are not to be used by the living

Tirtha Empul Temple – Purification Pool in Bali. Photo by Yoshi Canopus/

As you enter the temple courtyard, you will arrive at the main area of the temple which is known as the Jaba Tengah area. Here the holy springs bubble into crystal clear pools and then gush out into two sacred pools through 30 water spouts.

The local Hindu and Balinese worshippers wait in line to dip their heads into the water spouts. This purification ceremony is known as melukat. As they stand in waist-high water, the bathers move from left to right dipping their heads from one water spout to the next.

The process continues until they have cleaned themselves in all the spouts. Worshippers can clean themselves in the melukat ceremony in all water spouts except two. These two water spouts are reserved for cleansing the dead. The living is forbidden from using those two spouts.

7. You will need to be properly covered in a sarong before you can enter the temple

Women in sarong (sarung) and kebaya at the entrance of a house circa 1900. Photo by Kurkdjian / Sourabaia-Java/

The Tirta Empul temple is considerably large. It takes about 30 to 60 minutes to explore the temple. Similar to other sacred places on the Island, you are required to wear a sarong before you can enter the temple. You can find sarongs at the temple entrance which you can hire for a small donation.

8. There is a section of the temple that is usually overlooked by tourists

The Jeroen is the final section of the temple. It lies behind the purification pools and is usually overlooked by tourists.

The water spring flows into the purification pools on the front part of the courtyard. You can see small fish and algae in the spring. Once you go past the spring you will come across Hindu shrines. They are brightly colored and you can quickly explore this area.

9. The Legend of the Tirta Empul talks of a battle between a king and a God

Footsteps in the sand. Photo by AbdolAzim Mollaie on

The Usana Bali manuscript illustrates the legend of Tirta Empul’s creation. It talks of a battle between an evil powerful king known as Mayadenawa and Bhatara Indra, a God. Since the king did not believe in God, he prohibited his subjects from worshipping God.

The dangerous king was drunk with power and used his spiritual power for black magic. After seeing how the king ruled, Sang Kulputih a priest, prayed to Bhatara Indra asking Indra to end the evil.

After a battle, Indra and his warriors dethroned the king. The king and his troops fled to the ‘Tampak Siring’ village. As Indra’s troops were sleeping at night, the king snuck into their camp. He created a stunning yet poisonous spring that the troops would drink from when they awoke.

Mayadenawa, the evil king, walked on the sides of his feet to avoid leaving footprints. This is said to be the origin of the ‘Tampak Siring’ village. When translated, Tampak Siring means tilted footprint.

Indra woke up in the morning to find his troops had been poisoned and were all dead. Indra used his power to pierce the ground with his staff. This created a holy spring with healing powers. The healing water was sprayed on the troops who came back to life. This water with the healing power is what is known as Tirta Empul.

10. Tirta Empul Temple has a serene and soothing ambiance

A beautiful and old Hindu temple which hosts rituals. The temple has holy springs in which devotees bathe. Photo by Saranabhi/

Other Balinese temples may be grandiose but Tirta Empul has an incomparable calm and soothing ambiance. It is an active prayer site that inspires Hindus, Balinese, and other visitors.