Tanah Lot temple was built in the 16th century by a priest from Majapahit. Its rituals include the paying of homage to the guardian spirits of the sea. The temple sanctuary is built a top a huge rock which is surrounded by the sea. Poisonous but peaceful sea snakes, which has white and black colors, found at the base of the rocky island are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruder. It is also a fantastic place to view beautiful sunsets. Every day at dusk, tourists throng the area to witness the magnificent silhouette of the temple against the glowing horizon. The best view is from the cliff overlooking the temple. The beach around Tanah Lot is great for horse riding and watching dramatic sunsets, but not for safe swimming.
From the village of Marga, the trip west returns to the main route leading to Tabanan. At the crossroads of Kediri, a side-road branches to the sea, ending on a green hill which slopes down to the beach and to the remarkable temple of Tanah Lot, suspended on a huge rock offshore. Set apart from the land by a stone basin, the rock has been carved by incoming tides. Tanah Lot, with its solitary black towers and tufts of foliage spilling over the cliffs, recalls the delicacy of a Chinese painting. If hearsay is to be believed, there dwells inside one of the shrines at Tanah Lot a huge snake, discreetly left undisturbed by the Balinese.
Although a small sanctuary, Tanah Lot is linked to a series of sea temples
on the south coast of Bali: Pura Sakenan, Pura Ulu Watu, Pura Rambut Siwi
and Pura Peti tenget. All these temples are related to the principal mountain
sanctuaries: Besakih at Gunung Agung, Pura Batur at Batur and Plura Luhur
at Mt. Batukau. The upland temples venerate deities associated with mountains
and mountain lakes, while the sea temples include homage to the guardian
spirits of the sea within their ritual. These main temples are often listed
with the sad-kahyangan the six holy "national" temples, which
exact tribute from all Balinese. The chronicles attribute the temple at
Tanah Lot to the 16th century priest Nirartha.
During his travels along the south coast he saw the rock-island's
beautiful setting and rested there. Some fishermen saw him, and bringing
gifts, invited him to stay at their hut. Nirartha refused, saying he preferred
to spend the night on the little island. That evening he spoke to the
fishing folk and advised them to build a shrine on the rock, for he felt
it to be a holy and fitting place to worship God. The villagers kept their
promise. The beaches of Tanah Lot are ideal for relaxing, especially in
the late afternoons, when the temple on the rock dissolves into a striking
silhouette against the evening sky.
Target out of the landscape by tides, wind and rain, the high off shore
sentinel rock of Tanah Lot. Supports a picturesque see temple, which cans
small here ached by a scramble over the wet rocks.
This Temple was built in the 15th century by the priest, Pedanda Bahu
Rawuh or Danghyang Nirartha from Majapahit Jawa. Near this Temple there
are several small and big shrines, the biggest one is Pekendungan Temple.
There is a spring considered sacred not far from this temple
Tanah Lot is 13 km from Tabanan is Beraban village. When the tide is low
people can walk to the temple. It looks like a floating one if the tide
is high. There are many caves under the temple lived by the peaceful sea
snakes, which has white and black colors.
It's located 16 kilometers west of International Airport Ngurah Rai, or
a 20 minutes drive through Sunset Road. Coming in from Java Island through
Gilimanuk, and arriving at the Kediri intersection, at the Wisnu Murthi
statue, turn right. In front of the Kediri police Station, turn left,
and keep following this smooth road. In less than 10 minutes you will
be there. Admission is Rp 1,000.- per person.