Tampak Siring

Tampaksiring was long time ago a center for the Hindu religion on Bali, and has within it's borders two of the most sacred temples and relics on the island, Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi. This area is part of the Gianyar district and is located about 40 km north of Denpasar and 14 km northeast of Ubud along a road leading all the way to the Batur mountain. Gunung Kawi is two km south of the city center, while Tirta Empul is one km north. The direction to both places are properly marked. In Tampaksiring you can by carved items produced here of ivory, coconut shells and bone. These souvenirs are sold on places like the parking lot outside Tirta Empul, they often have intricate carvings and can be quite expensive.

Just north of Tampaksiring there is a road that turns right to Tirta Empul and a road that turns to the left toward Sukarno's palace Istana Negara, which sits on top of a green hill overlooking Tirta Empul. The palace is split in two main parts connected with a bridge. Wisma Merdeka was the building where the president stayed and Wisma Negara was the guesthouse for friends and guests of state like Ronald Reagan and the Soviet president Krustsjov. In addition there is a house for the press, Wisma Yudistira, and one for the lifeguards, Wisma Bima.

The one story buildings is said to have been designed by president Sukarno himself, who had engineering training from Bandung. Opinions about the estetique values of the buildings are split. Sukarno, who was half Balinese, visited the island frequently, and used to stay in the palace. Some say that Sukarno built the palace close to the Balinese Fountain of Eternal Youth to prolong his "President-for-Life" status indefinitely. Also the other Indonesian presidents after Sukarno has used the palace, but Suharto always stayed in the guesthouse as it was said that the spirit of Sukarno still roams in the presidential quarters.

From the palace there is a great view over Tirta Empul, and the rumors said that Sukarno himself used a telescope to study the naked women who took a bath in the holy water. When he found somebody he liked he sent for them, and is supposedly father to several children on the island. The site is today open for visitors, but you cannot enter the buildings.

There is not much accommodation in Tampaksiring, so most people come here on a daytrip from Ubud or the southern part of Bali.