Tirta Empul Temple, the Sacred Water Temple in Ubud (Healing Guide)
Have you been wondering about the Sacred Water Temple in Ubud? We’re Divinely Guided!
Today at Sabiduri, you are going to be Divinely Guided by the firsthand experience of our friend Ruba.
Talking about the stunning Tirta Empul Temple, the sacred water temple in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, is one of the many ancient Hindu temples scattered around the Island of Gods in Bali, Indonesia.
Strap yourself in because we are about to get into depth about this healing Ubud guide!
For a truly enriching spiritual journey, consider attending one of the island’s spiritual retreats.
These retreats range from 3-day escapes to longer stays catering to various preferences.
To find the perfect retreat for you, explore a specialized website that hosts spiritual retreats.
Tirta Empul Temple, the Sacred Water Temple in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Bali the Islands of Gods
Bali Island, known as the “Island of Gods” is one of the 17,504 islands that form the beautiful country of Indonesia. Bali is the most visited island in Indonesia, receiving over 5 million visitors in 2023 alone.
The dominant religion in Bali is Hindu, and you get the feel of the dominance of the Hindu culture the minute you step outside the flight.
Bali the Sacred Island
In the heart of Bali, you will find at least 1,000 ancient Hindu temples, over 100 waterfalls, and 3 sacred active volcanos.
This makes Bali a very sacred land, rich in history and culture, and an island for those who are on a journey to connect with their inner souls.
Fun Fact: Bali is considered such a sacred place that local authorities ban constructing any building taller than the island’s coconut trees, therefore, you will never find tall buildings or skyscrapers in Bali.
Tirta Empul Holy Water Temple, the Sacred Water Temple in Ubud, Bali
As a spiritual traveler, one of the main destinations in Bali to next visit is Tirta Empul Temple, located just 15 KM from the popular inland destination, Ubud.
Ubud has become an increasingly popular place amongst both locals and foreign tourists, offering a rich cultural and spiritual destination for those seeking beauty and the truth of the universe.
The Tirta Empul Temple means the Holy Water Spring Temple, which is what the name of the temple suggests, the temple was built over a natural large water spring.
Tirta Empul temple is dedicated to the Hindu God of water Vishnu and was built in 962 AD. Pura Tirta Empul Temple spring water was and is used for performing traditional purification rituals and ceremonies, this process is called “Melukat”.
Can Visitors Perform the Purifying Rituals or Are the Rituals Only for Locals?
Yes, absolutely.
As a visitor to this temple or any other temple in Bali (dress code alert), you are required to wear a sarong covering your waist down to your legs, the sarong is used for both males and females.
Visitors can borrow the sarong at the entrance of the temple. It is worth noting that women in their periods are not permitted to enter the holy places in Bali, this includes the Balinese Hindus Holy Temples.
🤩TIP: if you wish to perform the purifying cleansing ritual, once you step inside the temple, follow the signs and head straight to another great place to borrow the green coloured sarong that is used solely for the water purifying ceremony, just make sure to return the sarong to the same place where you got them.
Admission Fees to Entre Tirta Empul Temple
Entrance fee for nonlocals are around $3.5 per person, paid in cash. Locals enter for free.
Top 3 Things to Do at Tirta Empul Temple
P.S. If spirituality isn’t your thing, check out this article on Non-Touristy Things to Do in Ubud!
#1. Walk Around the Temple
The first thing to do at Tirta Empul Temple is to walk around the temple and appreciate the ancient architecture and history, it is an easy and flat walk and suitable for all fitness levels.
You can find local sellers, selling refreshments and ceremonial goodies to be used for the Gods’ offerings.
#2. Perform the Purifying Rituals
The second thing to do at Tirta Empul Temple is to perform the purifying sacred rituals at the water spring, the best way to perform this ritual is to hire a local guide to explain to you the steps of this sacred ritual.
During the purifying ritual, it is expected to wait for your turn and be patient, it is a holy place and balinese people perform prayers, therefore do not rush to ensure you are fully submersed with the holy experience.
#3. Local Markets
The third thing to do at Tirta Empul Temple, once you complete your prayers and on your way out of the temple, you will find a long walk filled with beautiful local markets selling local souvenirs, handmade art crafts, and fresh fruits.
🤩TIP: At the market, the sellers may seem too pushy for some, but in my experience, if you are interested in buying something, just haggle around 60-70% less than the published prices (it is ethical!), and be confident in the haggling process and I assure you 98% of the cases you will get the things in your asking price!
How to Get to Tirta Empul Temple?
First, you would need to arrive at Bali’s international airport Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport which connects Bali with several international cities and is well connected domestically to other Indonesian destinations.
From the airport, you could either rent a scooter which will take you around 2-3 hours (traffic dependent) to get to Ubud, or rent a car with a driver to drop you off and pick you up from the temple or Ubud.
The closest city to the temple is Ubud as it is only 15 KM around 30 minutes drive away from central Ubud, therefore, my recommendation is to stay in Ubud and do a day visit to the temple.
TIP: please be aware, that although online transport apps like Go Grab and others are cheaper and reliable to use in Bali, at the beautiful temples the online rentals can only drop you off and are not allowed to pick you up from the temple, this move has been introduced by the locals to protect the locals income from the competitive online rivals.
FAQs
Why Ubud Is So a Spiritual Destination?
Ubud is considered the destination of spirituality and culture in Bali. Some archeological discoveries found that Ubud was the hub for holding rituals and ceremonies back to 300 BC.
In the late years, Ubud has become the main hub in Bali that attracts people from all over the world seeking inner peace, therefore, in Ubud, there are many things to do to combine them with your visit to the Tirta Temple to ensure your spiritual experience is fulfilled.
Top Spiritual & Wellness Things to Do in Ubud
– Visiting the Pyramids of Chi
Pyramids of Chi is a Pyramid structure nestled in the heart of the lush Ubud Jungles, they are famous for offering a wide variety of wellness programs and events, from sound healing, Yoga, Moon ceremonies, breath work, and cacao ceremonies to personal readings and much more.
The instructors and facilitators are highly trained and you will find yourself relaxed, refreshed, and energised after attending any of their workshops, training, sessions, and events.
– Shamanic Readings
Shamanic readings are one of the popular healing experiences people look after when arriving in Ubud. Few online experiences offer combined hindu temple tours with shamanic readings.
The tours usually start with the readings and are followed by visiting the Tirta Empul Temple.
– Visiting Waterfalls
A visit to Ubud and generally to Bali wouldn’t be complete without visiting some of the scenic waterfalls.
Perhaps they don’t have spiritual meanings, but I do believe visiting a waterfall refreshes the soul of the human being and provides high positive energy.
The Top Waterfalls to Visit near Ubud are:
#A. Leke Leke Waterfall. Possibly claimed as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Bali, it is 15 meters tall. You hike down 400 steps to the waterfall and you will find what I call a magical water rush coming through the lush jungle splashing your face with fresh water droplets.
To get to Leke Leke waterfall, you can either rent a scooter or a car with a driver. Entrance fees are around $7 and onsite there is a restaurant with fresh cold coconuts to refresh after the long hike back from the waterfall.
#B. Tibumana Waterfall. A beautiful waterfall close to Ubud where you can have a nice swim in its shallow large rectangular pool. Ticket price are around $1 including the large car park.
#C. Nungnung Waterfall. 1 hour and 30 minutes North of Ubud followed by 500 steps downward, you will find yourself in front of a magical waterfall, classed within the top 5 waterfalls to visit in Bali. At Nungnung waterfall, you can swim in its natural spring pool and refresh after the long hike down.
Tips: When you are visiting waterfalls in Bali, make sure you wear a hat, sunscreen, and waterproof hiking shoes and are fit to hike up and down some steps under the heat. You will usually find some sellers selling fresh drinks, therefore it would be handy to hold some cash as well as a dry bag.
– Joining Spiritual Retreats in Ubud
If you are looking for a full-on spiritual unique experience, the recommendation is to join one of the spiritual retreats on the island where in addition to rituals and ceremonies you will be able to visit the spiritual places, temples, and mountains in all of Bali.
Those retreats can be as short as 3 days to longer ones that suit the different tastes and vibes. To check the most suitable retreat for your liking, I recommend browsing this website that specialises in hosting spiritual retreats.
– Visiting Tegalalang Rice Terraces
Although it may not be a spiritual activity, once you are in Ubud, visiting this tourist prime landmark is a must-stop in your journey.
Appreciating the hardship the farmers take farming and harvesting the rice using their bare hands and manual agricultural tools embracing the magical powers of the sun is part of immersing yourself with the balinese culture and appreciating the prime food in Indonesia and Southeast Asia as a whole.
Top Places to Eat in Ubud
Ubud is full of restaurants that provide both local (Warung, which is used for locating local restaurants) authentic foods and soul-nourishing foods, the top sacred places to eat in Ubud are:
– Sun Sun Warung is one of the top vegan restaurants in Ubud.
Umami Bali Ubud is a western restaurant for your comfort foods.
– Donna is a new dining with clubbing contemporary concept restaurant, the ambiance and food are something to look forward to.
– Mozaic is a French cuisine experience offering fine dining gastronomy experience.
– Wild Vegan restaurant which is the first medicinal restaurant in Ubud, offering plant-based healing foods.
– 9 Angels & 9 Bambu is one of the top 23 vegan restaurants in Ubud, Bali in 2023.
– Cocos Vegeterian is a vegetarian and vegan Mexican café in Ubud, Bali.
– WARMA Veggie Stall is an Indonesian-Asian food Warung with top ratings in Ubud, Bali.
Top Accommodations in Ubud
Budget Accommodation – Hostel
The top hostel to stay at while in Ubud is Savanna Ubud. Prices start from $25 per night. This hostel offers modern and spacious rooms of mixed private rooms and a shared dormitory. At the hostel, they have a local restaurant that accommodates different dietary requirements.
They also offer daily morning Yoga and have a shared pool.
Mid-Budget Accommodation
Dedari Resort Ubud is a 4-star resort nestled between the lush Ubud jungles and the accommodations offered are villas with ritual purification pools that overlook the charming terraced hills of Ubud. Prices per room per night start from around $150.
Luxury Accommodation
Here is an article with more details on the best luxury villa accommodations in Ubud.
For a truly enriching spiritual journey, consider attending one of the island’s spiritual retreats.
These retreats range from 3-day escapes to longer stays catering to various preferences.
To find the perfect retreat for you, explore a specialized website that hosts spiritual retreats.
Final Thoughts
Bali Island, in general, is an Island where that caters to all different types of visitors, whether seeking chill and relaxed holidays or spiritual ones, Bali has a unique island vibe that makes it one of the top most visited sacred places in the world.
Author: Ruba Shahzada
Passionate about authentic cultures, hidden gems, and the sea, Ruba is sharing her travel guides and tips on her travel blog Travel With Ruba.
To explore more of Indonesian Hidden Gems Islands, you are welcome to visit my blog on:
– Top 5 Indonesian Hidden Gems Islands – Travel with Ruba;
– Snorkelling Bali – Find Best Spots Gili and Nusa Penida Islands (travelwithruba.com)
Sabiduri Planning Guide
🧘🏽♀️Where to find spiritual retreats around the World?
The good news is that they can be found in various locations, from secluded places in nature to bustling cities. Find your ideal retreat here!
🚑 Should you buy a travel insurance?
100% YES! — With basic coverage averaging just $50 for your stay, enjoy peace of mind with a plan from Travel SafetyWing, one of the biggest names in travel insurance.
🚗 Is it safe to rent a car around the World?
Yes — Renting a car is one of the best ways to see the country you find yourself in because public transportation cannot reach everywhere! I always rent with Discover Cars, which checks both international companies and local companies, so you get the best rates.
📴 Will my phone work abroad?
Maybe — It depends on your company, so check with your provider. If you don’t have a free service, buy a SIM Card once landed in the country.
🛌🏼 What’s the best way to book my accommodations?
For hotels, Booking is the best site, but for hostels, use Hostel World. If you’re considering Flats, don’t forget to also check Couchsurfing, which is free and you stay with locals.
🛩️ What’s the best site to buy flights?
For finding cheap flights, I recommend Kayak.
🛂 Do I need a visa for these destinations?
Likely Not — U.S., Canadian, and most European Passport holders don’t need a visa for most of destination around the World. BUT check here for more travel requirements. The majority of travelers will receive a 90-Day stamp Tourist Visa upon arrival.
