The Pura Tanah Lot in Bali is a popular tourist destination in the entire island. It is a beautiful temple located amidst the sea. The surroundings of the temple are pretty beautiful and attractive as well. This temple is a grand tourist destination, so far as the sightseeing in Bali is concerned. For detailed information regarding the sightseeing spots in Bali, you can always consult the Bali travel guide.
The popular temple called Pura Tanah Lot in Bali in Indonesia is located on a huge rock amidst the sea. The transportation towards the temple is pretty advanced and well networked. The native Balinese people throng at the temple premise, in order to pay their homage to the Goddess. The main priest is there at the temple to introduce the Goddess to the international tourists. On the whole, it would be a grand experience for you to visit the temple and relish the pervading tranquility out there. In order to reach the temple, you need to go up by the rocky staircase. The entire scenery is breathtakingly beautiful and exciting as well.
Be it the native Balinese tourists or tourists from other countries of the world, everyone enjoy being at the peak of their enthusiasm. Thus, if you are in the Pura Tanah Lot in Bali, you would get the rare opportunity to meet new people and get introduced to new modes of culture. So, this fascinating spot called Pura Tanah Lot in Bali has enhanced the prospect of Bali tourism.
History
Tanah Lot means “Land in the Middle of the sea” in Balinese language. Located in Tabanan, about 20 km from Denpasar, the temple sits on a large offshore rock which has been shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tide.
Tanah Lot is claimed to be the work of the 15th 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 bought him gifts. Nirartha then spent the night on the little island. Later he spoke to the fishermen and told them to build a shrine on the rock for he felt it to be a holy place to worship the Balinese sea gods.
The Tanah Lot temple was built and has been a part of Balinese mythology for centuries. The temple is one of seven sea temples around the Balinese coast. Each of the sea temples was established within eyesight of the next to form a chain along the south-western coast.
At the base of the rocky island, poisonous sea snakes are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders. This giant snake protects the temple. The snake was created from Nirartha scarf when he established the island.
Restoration
In 1980 the temple’s rock face was starting to crumble and the area around and inside the temple started to become dangerous. The Japanese government then provided a loan to the Indonesia government of Rp. 800 billion to conserve the historic temple and other beach locations around the island of Bali. As a result, over one third of the rock which can be seen is artificial rock created under the Japanese upgrade works.
