One of the most important must-visit places in Bali is Tanah Lot, a temple perched on a large offshore rock shaped relentessly over the years by the ocean tide.Visitors gather in preparation to view the sunset at Tanah Lot.
Visitors to Tanah Lot in the afternoon get a double visual treat: a view of a temple built in the 15th century and a stunning sunset that leaves you breathless.
One of the most favorite tourism destinations in Bali, Tanah Lot also offers a magnificent view of the majestic Indian Ocean.
Tanah Lot means "Land in the Middle of the Sea" in Balinese, and lies in Tabanan, about 20 km from Denpasar.
The journey leading to Tanah Lot is a pleasant experience in itself; it allows you a glimpse of the island's rich and colorful hinterland with green rice fields on both sides of the road.
Tanah Lot has always been a part of Balinese mythology and is one of the seven sea temples around the Balinese coast, each set up within eyesight of the next to form a chain along the south-western coast. They are, among others, Batu Bolong Temple, Batumejan Temple and Enjung Galuh Temple.
In the 1980s the temple's rock started to crumble, rendering the surrounding area perilous to visitors. The Japanese government then provided a loan to conserve the time-honored temple and other beach locations around the island of Bali. As a result, over one third of the rock which can be seen is actually artificial.
The path leading to Tanah Lot is strictly business: loud and busy souvenir stalls on both sides of a lane leading towards the Indian Ocean, selling traditional handicraft and paintings and fake but credible-looking Starbucks and Hard Rock Café t-shirts.On the sidelines are modest eateries that do well to quench your thirst with ice- cold local and imported beer.
Tanah Lot is also fast gaining a reputation as one of the best places around to host business meetings, seminars and conventions in executive class accommodations offering professional services.
It also boasts a golf course considered to be one of the world's top ten and world-renowned spas that blend the best of modern technology with the island's best-kept secrets in rejuvenating one's physical being.
Tanah Lot is said to be the brainchild of the 15th century wandering priest Nirartha. During his travels along the south coast he saw the rock-island's beautiful setting and became enamored of it.
As legend would have it Nirartha spent the night on the little island and in the course of time befriended local fishermen who helped him build a shrine on the rock. Nirartha felt he was amidst a holy place and went on to to worship the Balinese sea gods.
The main temple building serves as a place to worship the god Dewa Baruna or Bhatara Segara, the sea power, while another part is reserved for paying tribute to another god, Dang Hyang Nirartha.On any given day Tanah Lot is a nice and windy place to stroll; a manicured park above the shrine allows you a panoramic view of what is certainly one of ‘the hottest' tourist spots in Bali.
The place is obviously packed with tourists, mostly Japanese who arrive in huge buses, middle-age Europeans and young Australian couples.
Indeed, the allure of Tanah Lot is such that it cuts across the wide spectrum of nationalities and age brackets.
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