Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
3 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
4 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
5 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
6 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Indonesia Pura Tirta Empul
AO Edited

Pura Tirta Empul

One of the holiest places in the region, devotees come to Tirta Empul to bathe in the holy spring water.

Tampaksiring, Indonesia

Added By
siewch
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Pura Tirta Empul   Saranabhi
Pura Tirta Empul   Saranabhi
Pura Tirta Empul   siewch / Atlas Obscura User
Pura Tirta Empul   siewch / Atlas Obscura User
Pura Tirta Empul   siewch / Atlas Obscura User
Pura Tirta Empul   siewch / Atlas Obscura User
Pura Tirta Empul   siewch / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Tirta Empul means "holy water spring," and it is the name of a spring located inside the temple complex. This spring flows to a purification bath and other pools, including one with colorful koi.

The main highlight of this temple is the purification bath. There, the spring water flows into the bath through 30 elaborately carved spouts.

At the bath, devotees pray before entering the pool. Once in the pool, the devotees start at the leftmost spout, and then move from one spout to another. At each spout, they clasp their hands and bow under the spout while the holy spring water washes over them. 

The temple itself was designed around a natural spring around the 10th-century CE. The temple is dedicated to Vishnu.

Related Tags

Water Temples History & Culture Temples

Know Before You Go

Tirta Empul is located near Tampak Siring village, about 30 minutes drive northeast of Ubud. This temple is considered holy, so bare knees and bare shoulders are not acceptable.

It is best to wear a sarong while visiting. While it may be tempting for visitors to participate in the purification ritual, participate only if it is personally meaningful. If in doubt, ask a temple staff whether it is appropriate to participate.

Community Contributors

Added By

siewch

Edited By

jonathancarey

  • jonathancarey

Published

May 16, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.bali-indonesia.com/attractions/tirta-empul-temple.htm
Pura Tirta Empul
Tampaksiring, 80552
Indonesia
-8.415759, 115.315159

Nearby Places

Blanco Renaissance Museum

Ubud, Indonesia

miles away

Goa Gajah

Sukawati, Indonesia

miles away

Bayung Gede Placenta Graveyard

Kintamani, Indonesia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Indonesia

Indonesia

Asia

Places 69
Stories 33

Nearby Places

Blanco Renaissance Museum

Ubud, Indonesia

miles away

Goa Gajah

Sukawati, Indonesia

miles away

Bayung Gede Placenta Graveyard

Kintamani, Indonesia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Indonesia

Indonesia

Asia

Places 69
Stories 33

Related Places

  • The city pillar

    Vientiane, Laos

    Hor Lak Muang

    The site of an ancient city pillar that was lost and rediscovered.

  • My Son Santuary temple

    Duy Xuyên District, Vietnam

    My Son Sanctuary

    Showcasing some of the best-preserved temples of the Champa Kingdom.

  • Rawalpindi, Pakistan

    Hindu Temples of Rawalpindi

    Hidden among Rawalpindi’s modern buildings are the remains of dilapidated Hindu temples.

  • Pune, India

    Parvati Nandan Ganpati Temple

    This 17th-century temple gave the area of Ganeshkhind its name.

  • Hall of Edification

    Tainan City, Taiwan

    Tainan Confucius Temple

    The first Confucian temple in Taiwan, founded by the son of a pirate lord, doubled as the island's first state-sponsored school.

  • Pune, India

    Sapindya Mahadev Temple

    An ancient temple of Lord Shiva was rediscovered in an excavation in 2003.

  • The Standing Buddha

    Bangkok, Thailand

    The Standing Buddha

    This statue took 60 years to complete.

  • Maruti Temple

    Panaji, India

    Maruti Temple

    An iconic temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman resides atop a hill in the heart of Panaji.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.