Gunung Kawi
Bali, Indonesia
Tirta Empul Temple, Bali
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Photo: Saranabhi, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia CommonsThe essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- ≈ IDR 50,000–75,000
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Opening hours
- Daily, roughly 8:00–18:00
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h 15 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Entrance fee
- ≈ IDR 50,000–75,000 adult, less for children; under 5 free
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Purification
- No separate fee; budget for a bathing sarong, locker and donation
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Dress code
- Sarong and sash everywhere — handed out at the entrance
- Bring
- Dry clothes, a small towel, a bag for wet things
- Location
- Tampaksiring, ≈ 19 km from Ubud, ≈ 49 km from Kuta
Key facts
962 ADthe temple was founded around the spring under the Warmadewa dynasty
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English Wikipedia'Holy spring'the meaning of Tirta Empul
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English WikipediaVishnuthe deity the temple is dedicated to
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English WikipediaMelukatthe purification ritual under the spring-fed spouts
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English Wikipedia3 courtyardsouter, central with the bathing pools, and inner
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English WikipediaPakerisanthe river that rises from this spring
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English Wikipedia≈ 2 kmto the Gunung Kawi rock shrines
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OSRM route≈ 19 kmto Ubud
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OSRM routeTirta Empul entrance fee and hours
2026 sources disagree. Indonesia's official tourism portal and some guides list IDR 50,000 for adults and IDR 25,000 for children; others give IDR 75,000 and 50,000. Under-fives are free. Bring rupiah cash, with extra for a locker, bathing sarong and donation.
The temple is open every day, most often listed as 8:00–18:00, sometimes from 7:00. On Balinese holidays and ceremony days the pools fill with locals or are partly closed to visitors.
How to do the Tirta Empul purification ritual
Visitors can step into the water alongside Balinese worshippers. There's no fee for the ritual itself, but you'll need a green bathing sarong (provided or rented on site), a locker, and a small offering and donation. Wear swimwear under the sarong; you can't enter bare-chested or in swimwear alone.
People usually start at the left-hand pool and move spout by spout: palms together, a small bow, wash your face, then let the water run over your head. According to guides, a couple of spouts are reserved for funeral rites — staff will tell you which to skip. The water is cold, so you'll want dry clothes afterwards.
What is Tirta Empul?
Pura Tirta Empul is a water temple built around a large spring in Tampaksiring, Gianyar Regency. The name means 'holy water bubbling from the ground': the spring rises in a pond in the inner courtyard and its water is considered amrita, sacred. It's the source of the Pakerisan River.
The temple dates from around 962 AD, under the Warmadewa dynasty, and is dedicated to Vishnu. It has three courtyards: the outer Jaba Pura, the central Jaba Tengah with its bathing pools, and the inner Jeroan with its shrines. Balinese come here for melukat, a cleansing ritual of standing in the water and bowing beneath the stone spouts.
Things to see at Tirta Empul
- The bathing pools with their carved stone spouts — the heart of the temple.
- The spring pond in the inner courtyard, sand stirring where the water rises.
- Split gateways and carved pavilions.
- The koi pond near the exit.
- The hilltop residence built for President Sukarno's visit in 1954 (closed to the public).
How to get to Tirta Empul
Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
More tips
- From Ubud — about 19 km north, 15–20 minutes on a clear road, usually half an hour.
- From Sanur — about 40 km; from Kuta or Seminyak — about 49 km, 1.5–2 hours in normal traffic.
- From Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) — about 52 km.
- No public transport: taxi, Grab, Gojek, scooter or a hired driver.
- Gunung Kawi is 2 km away and the Tegallalang rice terraces 7 km.
Best time to visit Tirta Empul
Arrive at opening time: by 10 am tour groups from Ubud arrive and queues form at the spouts. In the morning the sun lights the pools and the water looks clearer.
Tirta Empul pairs easily with Gunung Kawi (2 km) and Tegallalang (7 km) for a relaxed half day north of Ubud. If you want the same ritual with fewer people, guides suggest nearby Pura Mengening.
Is Tirta Empul worth visiting?
Yes: it's one of the few places on Bali where you don't just look at a temple but take part in a living ritual alongside locals.
YesGo's take: by late morning it's crowded and the queue at the spouts can feel like a photo shoot. If the bathing doesn't interest you, the temple itself is fairly small. Go early and treat the ritual with respect, and it's a different experience.
Before you go
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Bali temples compared
Temples on Bali rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.
| Saraswati Temple | 45 | 30 min | free; dance ≈ IDR 100,000 | 11.6 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ubud Monkey Forest | 36 | 1 h 15 min | IDR 130,000 | 13.0 km |
| Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) | 35 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 50,000 | 12.3 km |
| Batuan Temple | 29 | 45 min | donation or ≈ IDR 30,000–50,000 | 18.9 km |
| Tanah Lot Temple | 26 | 1 h 30 min | IDR 75,000 | 33.9 km |
| Taman Ayun Temple | 26 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 30,000–50,000 | 21.0 km |
| Gunung Kawi | 25 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ IDR 50,000 | 14 min walk |
| Tirta Empul Templeyou are here | 24 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ IDR 50,000–75,000 | — |
| Ulun Danu Batur Temple | 24 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 35,000 | 18.2 km |
| Goa Lawah Temple | 24 | 45 min | ≈ IDR 30,000 | 22.6 km |
| Uluwatu Temple | 23 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ IDR 50,000–60,000 | 52.5 km |
| Ulun Danu Beratan Temple | 23 | 1 h 15 min | IDR 100,000 | 23.0 km |
| Besakih Temple | 22 | 2 h | IDR 150,000 | 15.8 km |
| Lempuyang Temple (Gates of Heaven) | 20 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ IDR 100,000 + shuttle | 34.8 km |
| Geger Beach | 20 | 2 h 30 min | free or ≈ IDR 5,000–10,000 | 46.0 km |
Half a day north of Ubud
Purification at Tirta Empul in the morning, then the Gunung Kawi rock shrines and the Tegallalang rice terraces by lunchtime. Add it to your trip — YesGo will set the timings and transfers.
- Tirta Empul Templeyou are here1 h 15 min · ≈ IDR 50,000–75,000
- 14 min walk from the previous stopGunung Kawi1 h 15 min · ≈ IDR 50,000
- 65 min walk from the previous stopTegallalang Rice Terraces1 h 30 min · ≈ IDR 15,000–50,000
3 places · about 5 h 19 min with walks · 79 min on foot in total
Nearby and on the way
How to do it right
- Get there at opening — by 10 am there's a queue at the spouts.
- Put your swimwear on beforehand: the changing rooms are cramped.
- Carry small notes for the donation and locker.
- Don't drink the spring water.
- Next stop: Gunung Kawi, 2 km away.
Questions
How much is the Tirta Empul entrance fee?
About IDR 50,000–75,000 per adult — 2026 sources disagree; under-fives are free.
Can tourists bathe at Tirta Empul?
Yes, visitors can do the melukat purification alongside Balinese, wearing a bathing sarong.
What should I bring to Tirta Empul?
Swimwear, dry clothes, a towel, a bag for wet things and cash.
Is there a fee for the purification ritual?
No separate fee; you pay for a bathing sarong and locker and leave a donation.
What are Tirta Empul's opening hours?
Daily, roughly 8:00–18:00; some sources say it opens at 7:00.
How far is Tirta Empul from Ubud?
About 19 km north — around half an hour by taxi, Grab, Gojek or scooter.
Can I visit Tirta Empul on my period?
No — as at all Balinese temples, women who are menstruating don't enter the temple or pools.
How long do you need at Tirta Empul?
About an hour to look around, about two if you take part in the ritual.
Is Tirta Empul worth it?
Yes, especially early in the morning and if you join the ritual; later in the day it's crowded.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English Wikipedia — Tirta Empul: founding in 962, Warmadewa dynasty, Vishnu, melukat, courtyards, Pakerisan River, 1954 residence
- Indonesia.travel — IDR 50,000 / 25,000 fees and parking
- 2026 travel guides (baliholidaysecrets.com, balicheapesttours.com, pickyourtrail.com) — fees, hours, ritual steps (unofficial)
- Wikidata Q7809287 — coordinates; OSRM routing — distances
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