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From the village of Marga, the trip west returns to the main route
leading to Tabanan. At the crossroads of Kediri, a side-road branches
to the sea, ending on a green hill which slopes down to the beach
and to the remarkable temple of Tanah Lot, suspended on a huge rock
offshore. Set apart from the land by a stone basin, the rock has
been carved by incoming tides. Tanah Lot, with its solitary black
towers and tufts of foliage spilling over the cliffs, recalls the
delicacy of a Chinese painting. If hearsay is to be believed, there
dwells inside one of the shrines at Tanah Lot a huge snake, discreetly
left undisturbed by the Balinese.
Although a small sanctuary, Tanah Lot is linked to a series of
sea temples on the south coast of Bali: Pura Sakenan, Pura Ulu Watu,
Pura Rambut Siwi and Pura Peti tenget. All these temples are related
to the principal mountain sanctuaries: Besakih at Gunung Agung,
Pura Batur at Batur and Plura Luhur at Mt. Batukau. The upland temples
venerate deities associated with mountains and mountain lakes, while
the sea temples include homage to the guardian spirits of the sea
within their ritual. These main temples are often listed with the
sad-kahyangan the six holy "national" temples, which exact
tribute from all Balinese. The chronicles attribute the temple at
Tanah Lot to the 16th 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 bringing gifts, invited him to stay at their hut. Nirartha
refused, saying he preferred to spend the night on the little island.
That evening he spoke to the fishing folk and advised them to build
a shrine on the rock, for he felt it to be a holy and fitting place
to worship God. The villagers kept their promise. The beaches of
Tanah Lot are ideal for relaxing, especially in the late afternoons,
when the temple on the rock dissolves into a striking silhouette
against the evening sky.
Target out of the landscape by tides, wind and rain, the high off
shore sentinel rock of Tanah Lot. Supports a picturesque see temple,
which cans small here ached by a scramble over the wet rocks.
This Temple was built in the 15th century by the priest, Pedanda
Bahu Rawuh or Danghyang Nirartha from Majapahit Jawa. Near this
Temple there are several small and big shrines, the biggest one
is Pekendungan Temple. There is a spring considered sacred not far
from this temple.
Tanah Lot is 13 km from Tabanan is Beraban village. When the tide
is low people can walk to the temple. It looks like a floating one
if the tide is high. There are many caves under the temple lived
by the peaceful sea snakes, which has white and black colors.
It's located 16 kilometers west of International Airport Ngurah
Rai, or a 20 minutes drive through Sunset Road. Coming in from Java
Island through Gilimanuk, and arriving at the Kediri intersection,
at the Wisnu Murthi statue, turn right. In front of the Kediri police
Station, turn left, and keep following this smooth road. In less
than 10 minutes you will be there.
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