The Tirta Empul Temple – Purification Ritual at the Holy Water Temple

On the island of Bali, roughly 14km North of Ubud you can find the stunning Tirta Empul Temple. A Hindu Balinese temple that has been around since 926 AD and is still being actively used to this day. Wander around the gardens or admire people who are doing the purification ritual, or even participate in the purification ritual in the water of the holy spring yourself. The Tirta Empul temple is dedicated to Vishnu, the Hindu God of Water, and is considered one of the most holy temples in Bali. A visit to Tirta Empul will guaranteed be a unique experience, an item that you would want to add to your Bali bucket list, so read here everything you need to know about visiting the Tirta Empul Temple in Bali…

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Where is Ubud?

Roughly 1,5 hours North of the party paradises of Kuta you will find the small town of Ubud. While the centre is filled with tourists and touristic shops it isn’t hard to escape the crowds in Ubud. Drive half an hour North and you will find yourself between some of the most stunning rice terraces and the most beautiful temples of Bali. There is a reason Ubud is such a touristic hotspot, and going to Bali, Ubud is a place that should be on your itinerary!

Where to stay in Ubud

Now that you have decided to put Ubud on your itinerary, the next question is, where should you stay? Luckily for all of us there are many options for any kind of traveler in Ubud. You will find budget hostels but also many luxury resorts. It all depends on your preference and your budget. Here are some of our booking suggestions:

Puri Garden Hostel – This hostel has been one of Ubud’s most popular hostels and when we visited our friend staying there we sure knew why! This hostel is not only centrally located within Ubud, making it easy to visit some of Ubud’s most famous sights nearby, it also has a pool within the hostel making it a perfect place to wind down on a day that you just feel like relaxing. Hostels are a great place to stay if you are looking to make some new friends, or if you are simply backpacking on a budget!

Kapu Kapu – We decided to stay at Kapu Kapu during our last visit to Ubud and could have not been happier with our decision. Kapu Kapu is a lovely family owned guesthouse located a 10-min short scooter ride out of the hustle and bustle of Ubud’s city centre. Located in a more quiet area of Ubud this is the perfect place to relax after a day of exploring. We absolutely loved our stay at Kapu Kapu and can’t wait to return to this beautiful guesthouse on our next visit to Ubud!

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How to get to the Tirta Empul Temple

Woman participating in the purification ritual at the Tirta Empul Temple in Bali

The Tirta Empul temple

Once you arrive at the temple the first place you will see is the parking lot. There is assigned parking for your motorbike (should you decide to drive yourself). The cost of parking is 2000 IDR. From the parking lot you can see the entrance booth. Buy an entry ticket (15000 IDR per person) and walk a bit further to the direction of the temple. Before you head into the temple further you will find a sign with rules and a booth where you can grab a sarong to wear. Wearing a sarong is mandatory for both men and women, even if you are wearing long pants. There is no fee to rent the sarong, it is included in the price!

From here you can wander around the temple freely. The temple is divided into three different sections: Jaba Pura (front yard), Jaba Tengah (central yard) and Jeroan (inner courtyard). The most famous part, at least to the tourist, is Jaba Tengah, as this is where the pools are located and the purification ritual takes place. Jeroan, located behind Jaba Tengah, is where you can find the holy spring, a stunning and clear spring, this is the water that is used for the purification ritual. While Jaba Tengah is most likely the highlight of your visit, I would highly recommend walking around the temple to see the different areas, including the holy spring and the koi pond.

Restricted areas at the Tirta Empul Temple

The Purification Ritual at the Tirta Empul Temple

If you are intrigued by the purification ritual, taking place in the Jaba Tengah section, keep on reading! As a tourist you are welcome to do the purification ritual, however, as noted at the entrance of the temple there are some rules to follow if you wish to participate:

• You will have to sacrifice an offering to respect the temple and to keep the holy spirit of the ritual;
• Find the information on the ritual before entering to know exactly what the ritual is;
• You are not allowed to bring any type of camera into the holy water;
• Don’t enter the water with the sarong that is provided you upon entry, there are special sarong for the ritual;
• Women are not allowed to enter during their period.

So now that we have covered the rules, if you are wishing to proceed with the purification ritual you will have to rent the special sarong. When you look at the purification pools, on the right hand side you will see a booth. Here you will be able to to rent a sarong and a locker for 25K IDR together. There is a changing stall in the back of the locker room. For women it is advised to tie the sarong around their neck so the sarong will stay on during the ritual.

Now head back to the baths so you can start the ritual. If you have no clue what to do, like I did, don’t worry, just stand there and look around and someone will approach you to help you. A friendly man approached me asking if I wished some guidance in the ritual, and after the ritual I would give him a small donation. He then continued to inform me on the background of the purification ritual and the process of the purification ritual. The small “donation” also included the offering, as mentioned in the rules above.

I listened closely as he explained the ritual that I would be the following, here is what I can remember from the ritual (I might have forgotten some steps, oops):

1. Begin with meditation.  Take place in front of the altar and hold the offer that you will sacrifice (a small bundle filled with flowers and a stick of incense) on chest height while you close your eyes and meditate. Offer a prayer to the gods, the water spirits and your ancestors and lastly, when you are done you make a wish. Once you have made your wish you place the offering on the altar in front of you. The man then continued to splash some holy water on my with some flower leaves that he later tucked behind my ears.
2. After this you will enter the first pool. In the first pool there are 13 different fountains, you will begin on the left hand side. However, skip fountain 1, 11 and 12. The fountains of number 11 and 12 are for the rituals relating to the dead. Fountain number, however, 13 can be done.
3. At each fountain you will repeat the same ritual: fold you hands together and place them on your forehead while you say the word “ohm” three times. After this cup your hands to gather some water from the fountain to rinse your head and face, also repeat this three times.
   Please note: I skipped the following part as there have been concerns of the safety of the water, but this was a personal decision. Then you sip from the water three times and continue to spit the water out. After that you drink a sip of the water three times and swallow it (I am quite sure that this is what he said).
   Lastly, you stick your head under the fountain completely for protection and prosperity. After you have completed this you can continue to the next fountain to repeat the process.
4. When you complete the first pool you continue to the next pool (watch out since it is slippery) and continue to follow the same process as described above.
5. You then continue to the last pool, but here you don’t start on the left, but on the right hand side, so you will complete the process in reverse order. This pool is meant for cleansing the body of any illness. I was informed that the most left fountain was the most powerful one that this is the fountain Tirta Empul, after which the temple was named after, so be sure to spent some extra time here to complete the process.
6. After you have completed the ritual, sit down and thank the gods, the water spirits and your ancestors once again before changing back into your normal clothes.

I have to admit, as the Balinese man provided me which a large amount of information, and at times I had trouble understanding completely what he meant, that I had trouble remembering the exact meaning of the different spouts and meanings of the different steps of the ritual. I would highly recommend waiting for someone to approach you to explain to you the process and the meaning of the ritual as it will help you gain a deeper understanding of the purification ritual, and actually follow the right steps of the ritual. After the ritual I gave the Balinese man a donation of 50K IDR, as I was grateful for his help and the unique experience.

Following the steps at one of the last fountains of the Tirta Empul Temple

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Tirta Empul Temple – Know before you go

To finish this blogpost of, we have gathered a couple of things that you should know before you go to the Tirta Empul temple. So here you go:

• Opening hours of the Tirta Empul Temple : opening hours seem to change on a regular basis. We arrived at 8am and the temple was open for entry, however, many websites state that the Tirta Empul temple is open between 9am – 5pm.
• Entry fees of the Tirta Empul Temple: the entry fee is 15K IDR per person and can be paid at the entrance booth.
• Purification ritual fees: if you are planning on doing the purification ritual, expect to pay another 25K IDR for a locker and sarong rental, and another 50K IDR donation if you wish to seek guidance on the ritual.
• Parking fees at the Tirta Empul Temple: the parking fees are 2k IDR.
• Dress code for the Tirta Empul Temple: As this is a place of worship be sure to dress modestly. The rental of a sarong is included in the price to cover up your legs, but also be sure to wear a shirt with sleeves to cover up your shoulders.
• Restricted areas: there are a large amounts of restricted areas in the temple that you are not allowed to enter as these are reserved for praying, be sure to respect these rules.
• Bring swimming clothes or a set of dry clothes: If you are planning to do the purification ritual be sure to either bring a bathing suit/shorts or a set of dry clothes for afterwards.

The holy spring of the Tirta Empul Temple

Where to go after the Tirta Empul Temple

• Hike the Campuhan Ridge Walk in Ubud
• Tukad Cepung Waterfall – Bali’s most magical waterfall
• A Complete Guide to the Ubud Art Market
• Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu in Ubud – The Holy Spring Temple
• A Complete Guide to Ubud’s Most Beautiful Rice Fields

And there you have it, everything you need to know about visiting the Tirta Empul Temple near Ubud, Bali and how you can join the purification ritual at Tirta Empul yourself. Should you have any questions left do not hesitate to leave a comment down below or share your experiences at Tirta Empul yourself! And, oh, don’t forget to pin it for later…