Saraswati Temple
Bali, Indonesia
Tirta Gangga Water Palace, Bali
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Photo: David Stanley, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia CommonsThe essentials in 10 seconds
- Ticket
- ≈ IDR 50,000 for foreigners
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- Daily ≈ 7:00–18:00
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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
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Swimming
- Spring-fed pool, extra fee
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time needed
- About an hour
- Nearby
- Lempuyang ≈ 10 km, Taman Ujung ≈ 12 km, Amed ≈ 15 km
Key facts
1946built by the last raja of Karangasem
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Wikipedia: Tirta Gangga≈ 1 haof ponds and gardens
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Wikipedia: Tirta GanggaGangesthe sacred river the palace is named after
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Wikipedia: Tirta GanggaSpringsfeed the ponds; their water is used as holy water (tirta)
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Wikipedia: Tirta Gangga≈ 7 kmnorth of Amlapura town
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Wikipedia: Tirta Gangga≈ 15 kmto Amed
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OSRM routeTirta Gangga entrance fee and opening hours
Entry for foreign visitors is about IDR 50,000 (children pay less), and the garden is usually open daily from around 7:00 to 18:00. There's no official published price list, so treat these figures as a guide. Swimming in the spring-fed pool costs extra, and fish food is sold at the gate.
Come at opening time or after 16:00: from mid-morning, tour groups arrive and there are queues for photos on the stepping stones. The morning light is softer, and the ponds are stiller for reflections.
What to see
Tirta Gangga's signature sight is the stepping stones: round slabs across a pond, threading between rows of carved statues of demons and deities. Big koi swim beneath your feet, and you can feed them.
At the centre is a tiered fountain, surrounded by neat lawns, flowers and trees, with rice terraces on the hillside beyond. The complex covers about a hectare and takes an hour to explore.
The Tirta Gangga swimming pool
In the upper garden there are spring-fed pools where you can swim for an extra fee. The water is cool and clean — a welcome stop after a hot drive around the east.
Bring your swimwear and towel; there are changing rooms. Swimming is only allowed in the designated pools, not in the ponds with statues and fish.
History of the water palace
Tirta Gangga is a former royal water garden near Ababi village in east Bali, 7 km north of Amlapura and below Mount Agung. It was built in 1946 by the last raja of Karangasem, I Gusti Bagus Jelantik, who also created Taman Ujung water palace, as a retreat for the royal family.
The name means 'water of the Ganges': Balinese Hindus hold the sacred river's water to be holy, and the springs feeding the ponds are revered too. Their water is collected as tirta, holy water for ceremonies, and there's a Patirthan temple on site.
How to get to Tirta Gangga
Tirta Gangga is in the east of the island, about 63 km from Ubud and 68 km from Sanur by road; with traffic that's around 2 hours by car. There's practically no public transport.
It's usually part of an east Bali day: Lempuyang Temple (≈ 10 km), Taman Ujung (≈ 12 km) and Amed (≈ 15 km). A car with driver or a tour is easiest.
How to get to Tirta Gangga Water Palace
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
- East Bali tour — transport and guide included.
- Car with driver from Ubud or Sanur — about 2 hours.
- From Amed — 15 km, about 20 minutes.
- On the way: Taman Ujung (≈ 12 km) and Lempuyang Temple (≈ 10 km).
Is Tirta Gangga worth it?
Yes: it's one of Bali's most photogenic gardens and fits neatly into an east Bali day with Lempuyang and Taman Ujung.
YesGo's take: the garden is small — not worth a 2-hour drive from Ubud on its own. The stepping stones get busy by midday; visit as part of an east-coast loop and come early.
Bali temples and palaces compared
Temples, palaces and historic sites on Bali rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.
| Saraswati Temple | 45 | 30 min | free; dance ≈ IDR 100,000 | 37.3 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung) | 45 | 30 min | Free | 37.2 km |
| Blanco Renaissance Museum | 38 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 50,000 | 38.0 km |
| Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) | 35 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 50,000 | 35.3 km |
| Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park | 32 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ IDR 125,000–150,000 | 63.9 km |
| Batuan Temple | 29 | 45 min | donation or ≈ IDR 30,000–50,000 | 39.1 km |
| Tanah Lot Temple | 26 | 1 h 30 min | IDR 75,000 | 59.7 km |
| Taman Ayun Temple | 26 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 30,000–50,000 | 47.8 km |
| Gunung Kawi | 25 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ IDR 50,000 | 30.2 km |
| Tirta Gangga Water Palaceyou are here | 24 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 50,000 | — |
| Tirta Empul Temple | 24 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ IDR 50,000–75,000 | 29.9 km |
| Ulun Danu Batur Temple | 24 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 35,000 | 32.7 km |
| Goa Lawah Temple | 24 | 45 min | ≈ IDR 30,000 | 20.2 km |
| Bajra Sandhi Monument | 24 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 30,000 | 48.4 km |
| Penglipuran Village | 24 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 50,000 | 25.1 km |
| Uluwatu Temple | 23 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ IDR 50,000–60,000 | 72.2 km |
| Ulun Danu Beratan Temple | 23 | 1 h 15 min | IDR 100,000 | 48.8 km |
| Taman Ujung Water Palace | 23 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ IDR 50,000 | 7.5 km |
| Besakih Temple | 22 | 2 h | IDR 150,000 | 15.4 km |
| Lempuyang Temple (Gates of Heaven) | 20 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ IDR 100,000 + shuttle | 5.3 km |
| Tulamben | 19 | 3 h | Small fee | 15.0 km |
East Bali in a day
Lempuyang Temple in the morning, then Tirta Gangga and Taman Ujung water palaces. Add it to your trip — YesGo will set the timings and transfers.
- Lempuyang Temple (Gates of Heaven)2 h 30 min · ≈ IDR 100,000 + shuttle
- 92 min walk from the previous stopTirta Gangga Water Palaceyou are here1 h · ≈ IDR 50,000
- 129 min walk from the previous stopTaman Ujung Water Palace1 h 15 min · ≈ IDR 50,000
3 places · about 8 h 26 min with walks · 221 min on foot in total
How to do it right
- Arrive at opening time to beat the crowds.
- Bring swimwear for the spring-fed pool.
- Fish food is sold at the entrance.
- Combine with Lempuyang and Taman Ujung.
- Nearby: Taman Ujung Water Palace.
Questions
Where is Tirta Gangga?
In east Bali, Karangasem regency, 7 km north of Amlapura.
How much is the Tirta Gangga entrance fee?
About IDR 50,000 for foreigners; prices can change.
What are Tirta Gangga's opening hours?
Usually from around 7:00 to 18:00 daily.
Can you swim at Tirta Gangga?
Yes, in the spring-fed pools for an extra fee — not in the statue ponds.
How do I get to Tirta Gangga from Ubud?
By car with driver or on a tour — about 2 hours.
Who built Tirta Gangga?
The last raja of Karangasem, I Gusti Bagus Jelantik, in 1946.
How long do you need at Tirta Gangga?
About an hour; 1.5–2 hours with a swim.
What's near Tirta Gangga?
Lempuyang Temple, Taman Ujung Water Palace and Amed.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Wikipedia: Tirta Gangga — history, the raja of Karangasem, size, springs and holy water, location
- East Bali travel guides — stepping stones, statues, koi, pool, ticket price and hours (unofficial)
- Wikidata Q7809285 — coordinates; OSRM routing — distances to Ubud, Sanur, Amed, Lempuyang and Taman Ujung
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