Tanah Lot / Tabanan

Tanah Lot / Tabanan

Tabanan is a regency of Bali, Indonesia. It has an area of 839.33 km² and population of 386,850 (2000), rising to 420,913 in 2010 Census. Its regency seat is Tabanan. Tanah Lot is in Tabanan.
Tabanan regency, which is known as Bali’s ‘rice bowl’ due to its vast terraced rice fields. This quaint village bordering a river is a rare example of a traditional Balinese community barely touched by tourism and the rapid development to the south of the island.

Tanah Lot means “Land Sea” in the Balinese language. Located in Tabanan, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Denpasar, the Tanah Lot temple sits on a large offshore rock which has been shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tide. Tanah Lot Temple (also called Pura Tanah Lot) is claimed to be the work of the 16th-century Dang Hyang 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 main deity of the temple is Dewa Baruna or Bhatara Segara, who is the sea god or sea power and these days, Nirartha is also worshipped here.^[4]

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. In addition to Balinese mythology, the temple was significantly influenced by Hinduism.

At the base of the rocky island, venomous sea snakes are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders. The temple is purportedly protected by a giant snake, which was created from Nirartha’s selendang (a type of sash) when he established the island.

The area leading to Tanah Lot is highly commercialized and people are required to pay to enter the area. To reach the temple, visitors must walk through a set of Balinese market-format souvenir shops which cover each side of the path down to the sea. On the mainland clifftops, restaurants have also been provided for tourists.

Jatiluwih village in Penebel District, north of Tabanan, has paddy fields following the contours of terraced land against the background of spellbinding Mount Batukaru and Mount Agung use traditional Balinese irrigation known as subak, Bali’s community-based water control management system. Lies at an altitude of 700 meters, the cool atmosphere of more original beautiful Jatiluwih is better than the most well known Tegallalang which has plenty of cafes and souvenir shops. Two routes to Jatiluwih are Denpasar>Kediri>Tabanan>Penebel>Jatiluwih or Denpasar>Mengwi>Baturiti>Jatiluwih. Jatiluwih has gain acknowledgement from UNESCO as part of the world’s cultural heritage

Tanah Lot is conveniently located en route for those moving to or from West Bali. A drive back to Kuta, Legian or Seminyak in the evening after sunset will take about 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on traffic.

Tanah Lot Map & Hotels:

Country	Indonesia
Country name	Indonesia

Attractions

A visit to Tanah Lot for sunset is one of the most popular organised tours offered in Bali. 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. In addition to Balinese mythology, the temple was significantly influenced by Hinduism. At the base of the rocky island, venomous sea snakes are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders. The temple is purportedly protected by a giant snake, which was created from Nirartha's selendang (a type of sash) when he established the island. Tanah Lot is claimed to be the work of the 16th-century Dang Hyang 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 main deity of the temple is Dewa Baruna or Bhatara Segara, who is the sea god or sea power and these days, Nirartha is also worshipped here.

Jatiluwih village in Penebel District, north of Tabanan, has paddy fields following the contours of terraced land against the background of spellbinding Mount Batukaru and Mount Agung use traditional Balinese irrigation known as subak, Bali's community-based water control management system. Lies at an altitude of 700 meters, the cool atmosphere of more original beautiful Jatiluwih is better than the most well known Tegallalang which has plenty of cafes and souvenir shops. Two routes to Jatiluwih are Denpasar>Kediri>Tabanan>Penebel>Jatiluwih or Denpasar>Mengwi>Baturiti>Jatiluwih. Jatiluwih has gain acknowledgement from UNESCO as part of the world's cultural heritage.

Things to do:

Just 3 kilometres fom the Tanah Lot Temple is the award-winning Greg Norman-designed Nirwana Bali Golf Course.

The nearest surf beaches, including Echo Beach, are about eight kilometres from the temple and famous for surfing and spectacular sunsets.

Pejaten village is the centre of the ceramics manufacturing business in Bali, and well worth a visit. About 7 km north from Tanah Lot temple.

Rice paddys: 70 percent had to be left naturally as paddy field or plantation. The administration has also decided 300-hectare protected paddy field zone with a 100-hectare housing zone lies outside the protected zone.

Restaurants

There are large number of restaurants along the cliff top which offer great views but less great food. The best advice here would be to order a drink, get your fill of the views and photo-ops, and eat elsewhere.

Unfortunately there are no hotels at this location at the moment.

Tabanan Hotels: