TIRTA EMPUL

This important temple lays on the northern edge of Tampaksiring and founded as early as 962 AD. It is not as spectacular as Gunung Kawi a few km's away, but absolutely worth a visit. Even if this is one of the oldest sites on Bali much of the structures are relatively new, and the temple were completely restored in 1969. This makes the temple look nice and clean, but the antique feeling is somewhat reduced.

People from all over Bali come here to take a bath in the holy water for good health and good luck. The crystal clear water surfaces in another pool, according to traditions this is the Balinese Fountain of Eternal Youth and the pool is therefore protected by a wall. The water is so clear that plants and fish in the pool is easy to see, it origins from the Batur lake via underground rivers. Water is considered to be so important on Bali that it is used in almost all ceremonies and rituals, their religion is often called Agama Tirta, "The Religion of the Holy Water". The water in Pura Tirta Empul is especially holy, all water used for cremations on Bali is taken from here and it is said to have magical powers for healing.

Tirta Empul was built under the rule of Sri Candrabhaya Singha Warmadewa in the 10th century. Like other Balinese temples it is divided into three main courtyards: the front, the middle, and the inner sanctum. Backing the outer courtyard are two rectangular bathing pools, one for men and one for women. According to tradition, each of the pool's 15 fountains has its own name and function: spiritual purification, cleansing from evil, antidote to poison.

The legend tells about how the spring in Tirta Empul was created by the god Indra. His army had been poisoned by the demon king Mayadanava, and Indra made a hole in the Earth in order to tap "amerta", the healing water that brought life back to his soldiers. An inscription with old-Balinese text found in the village Manukaya north of Tampak Siring tells about two pools that was built here in 962 AD. The inscription was finally deciphered in 1969, and described in detail a ritual cleansing of a holy stone during the full moon in the fourth month in the Balinese calendar. During more than 1.000 years the villagers of Manukaya has repeated this ritual on the exact day for the founding of Tirta Empul, without knowing why because nobody was able to read the inscription. The date of the temple's founding must have been handed down orally through 33 generations of invasions, dynastic changes, and natural disasters.

Regularly there are ceremonies held here, and dance groups from far away come to cleanse their barong masks in the water. The area is known for carvings in ivory, bones and coconut shells, this can be bought here. On a hilltop over Tirta Empul lays the palace of Indonesia's first president Sukarno, Istana Negara, built in 1954 (see Tampaksiring).