The Tirta Empul is a highly important religious building and mountain spring located in central Bali’s village, Manukaya.

Michelle Maria, CC BY 3.0 via Wikipedia Commons
The Temple
Built in 960 AD, this temple stands as a symbol of the Balinese Kingdom, especially the era of the Warmadewa Dynasty. Apart from the Tirta Empul Water Temple, you can also find the Istana Tampaksriring at the top of the mountain, which is the presidential palace that was built for the first president of the country.
Belief
The holy site is an epitome of good versus evil according to the locals and is also a respected national heritage site. The vibe at the temple is so relaxing that many a luxury wellness and spa retreat in Ubud imitates the style to instantly calm their visitors. Not too far from hotels like COMO Shambhala Estate, Bali, the Tirta Temple is a great place to spend a day in. Tirta is a Sanskrit word which means holy water, and the temple got its name from the water source that is found inside the temple. This spring is the main water source for many fish ponds and pools in the area, and then, all of the water flows down to the Tukad Pakerisan River.
Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.