Tanah Lot Temple is located in coastal side of Beraban countryside,Kediri sub district and Tabanan Regency.It is situated in 30 Km in west side of Denpasar town and about 11 Km in south side of Tabanan town.The temple is built on the rock with 3 acre size and reachable in a few minute by walk,because it is just 20 meters from the coastal lip.This temple is very famous among tourist destinations in Bali with spectacular view of sunset.At some nooks of coral reef around Tanah Lot Temple there are holy tame snake in black and white color where according to the local society believe that it as a deity property and as the guard of the temple from the bad influence.
A visit to Tanah Lot for sunset is one of the most popular organised tours offered in Bali.Tanah Lot is one of the important directional temples in Bali.This is an extremely popular tourist destination and the whole area is often very busy indeed,especially in the late afternoons, pre-sunset.Once you have fought your way through the souvenir vendors to the beach,you will see the magnificent temple perched on a rock just a few metres offshore. There is a footpath to the raised cliff area just to the south from where the views of the temple and the sunset behind it are outstanding.
At low tide visitors can walk to to the base of Tanah Lot.For a small donation you can be blessed and can then walk some 20 metres around the side on a path,that eventually leads up to the temple.You have no better view of than from that on the sand.The only advantage being that you are standing on the base of Tanah Lot itself.
The word of Tanah Lot is consisted of two words that are Tanah word interpreted as a reef looking like gili or isle.Lot or Lod word has meaning the sea.So Tanah Lot is meaning the small island floating on the sea.The location is now called as Tanah Lot has been used at a Megalithic period as a place that looked into holy, proven from the existence of menhir. Pursuant to environmental condition,hence the structure of Tanah Lot Temple is built at irregular reef plain of its angle which is only consisted of one plain yard as Jeroan.
Tanah Lot Temple is one of Bali’s most important landmarks,famed for its unique offshore setting and sunset backdrops.An ancient Hindu shrine perched on top of an outcrop amidst constantly crashing waves;Tanah Lot Temple is simply among Bali’s not-to-be-missed icons.
The onshore site is dotted with smaller shrines alongside visitors leisure facilities that comprise restaurants,shops and a cultural park presenting regular dance performances.The temple is located in the Beraban village of the Tabanan regency,an approximate 20km northwest of Kuta,and is included on most tours to Bali’s western and central regions.
After centuries of large waves persistently crashing at its rock base,Tanah Lot faced the constant threat of erosion,reaching a significant decline in 1980.The authorities carried out preservation efforts to Tanah Lot and other historical sites island-wide with aid from the Japanese government.Fully restored,a third of the present Tanah Lot is actually artificial rock.
At high tide, waves flood the causeways making it impossible to cross.At low tide,you may cross to view the rock base where the legendary ‘guardian’ sea snakes dwell in crevices around the Tirta Pabersihan fountain.This natural spout is the source of holy water for all the temples in the area.Priests at the fountain bless visitors by sprinkling holy water over their heads. You can cup your palms and take a sip to prove it is amazingly fresh water.
Onshore temples include the Penyawang, a spiritual proxy to Tanah Lot that hosts pilgrims when the main offshore temple is inaccessible during high tide. Other smaller temples around the site host prayer sessions for various aspects of the villagers’ agrarian life,from good rice harvests to rites of passage.North of Tanah Lot is Batu Bolong,similarly built on a rock formation with a ‘hollow’ overpass linking to the mainland.
Convenient pathways and well-kept tropical gardens line the grounds from Tanah Lot to Batu Bolong,with resting spots offering shades and good viewpoints to both outcrops.Art shops selling souvenirs and curios of all sorts line the pathway from the parking area to the temple,also with peddlers selling traditional snacks such as jaja kelepon –yummy,must-try palm sugar-filled gelatinous balls rolled in grated coconut.