Tampak Siring

Places of interest :: Tampak Siring is one of tourist places and destination in Bali, it is popular with Tita Empul, it is the real name of the temple and it is water springs, below is the information.

Tita Empul is the real name of the temple and it is water springs. But more people prefer calling it Tampaksiring. It is one of tourist destination in Bali, located in Tampak Siring Village, Gianyar regency and it is about 39 km eastwards from Denpasar town. The holy spring in the inner courtyard of the Tirta Empul in Tampak Siring is said to have magical curative powers. There are special bathing pools where clear cool water spouts from mossy walls. Legend was that the spring by piercing the ground in search of holy water to revive his dying army. The sacred spring of Tirta Empul is situated here and revered by all Balinese.

The Tirta Empul is unlike any of the other temples for this reason and has one of the oldest histories of all the temples in Bali. It is said that it was first deemed holy in 882 by king Indrajayasinghawarmadewa who first began to develop the temple that you see today. The water was said to be the definitive creation as it was fresh, clean and was rising out of the ground itself. The understanding was that all of the water in the world originates from this source or at least that it was extremely important for the life of the island

According to the old papyrus of Usana, it is said that the Tirta Empul was created by Bhatara Indra (sun deity) who was a very miraculous king known to perform miracles throughout his life and at a whim. He was also a very arrogant man who referred to himself as a God although there were people who followed this belief and to this day he is recognized as an extremely holy person.

According to the stone document that read by DR. Stutterheim this temple was built in 960 AD, and there are fine carvings and Garudas on the courtyard buildings. The temple and its two bathing spots have been used by the Balinese for over a thousand years for good health and prosperity, as the spring water really does have the power to cure. An archaeological complex lies on gorge of Pakerisan River. To reach the complex visitors must walk about 600 meters from the parking area to the ticket counter than walked down on 315 stone steps. Before take a cross on the bridge at the bottom of the valley make a turn to the left to see the first stone monument. Another group of stone monument is located on the left side of the main temple across of the river.

Closed to the springs on hill, there is a place of the first President of Indonesia Soekarno and formely was the rest house of Dutch Colonial officers.