Tirta Empul Temple Balinese Water Purification Ceremony

Beautiful temple and purification experience was extraordinary.

I came for the famous water temple and left with a much deeper appreciation for Balinese culture. The purification ceremony was peaceful, respectful, and surprisingly moving. Everything was well organised, and the guidance throughout the ritual helped me understand the meaning behind each step. Whether you see it as a spiritual experience, a cultural tradition, or simply a moment to pause and reflect, it’s well worth doing. Just come with respect, follow the guidance, and enjoy the opportunity to experience something that has been part of Balinese life for centuries. One of the highlights of my month in Ubud.

Went to Tirta empul Fortunately not crowded Took a guide Kadak Amazingly well informed Never seen such an organised service Did the prayer and wore special clothes tp take a dip on the multiple holy springs A truly moving spiritual experience

Built around 962 AD during the Warmadewa dynasty, Tirta Empul holds strong cultural and religious significance in Bali. The temple complex is divided into several courtyards representing different levels of spiritual purity, while the crystal-clear spring continues to supply water for ceremonies and rituals throughout the island. Visitors are encouraged to dress respectfully and experience the calm, sacred energy that makes Tirta Empul one of Bali’s most meaningful cultural landmarks.

Visiting Tirta Empul Temple was one of the most mystical and spiritual experiences we had in Bali. The atmosphere is incredibly peaceful and powerful, especially during the purification ritual in the sacred water pools. You can truly feel the deep cultural and spiritual significance of the place. The temple itself is beautiful, surrounded by lush nature and traditional Balinese architecture. Participating in the ritual was unforgettable, but I highly recommend hiring a local guide to fully understand the meaning behind each step and the spiritual significance of the ceremony. Without that context, it’s easy to miss how profound the experience really is. A must-visit in Bali for anyone interested in spirituality, culture, and authentic Balinese traditions.

Amazing and unforgettable experience. Highly recommend! The temple is sooooooo beautiful!

In my opinion, this place was just average ⚖️ It wasn’t exactly what I expected, and the experience felt a bit different from what I had imagined before coming here. It wasn’t a bad experience, but there are several extra costs inside. You need to rent a sarong and locker, and there are also people offering photo and video services for additional fees 📸 There are small payments in different places, so I recommend bringing at least around 300,000 IDR with you 💰 Also, the water inside the purification pools didn’t feel very clean and had a noticeable smell 💧 Because of that, after finishing the ritual, you will definitely want to take a shower. Unfortunately, there are no proper shower facilities here, so you’ll need to return to your hotel to wash afterward 🚿 Overall, it’s an interesting cultural place to visit, but it didn’t fully match my expectations.

Interesting experience, that can be done by anyone despite his faith. There are guides inside the temple, that in exchange for some rupies guide you through the process, explain you the history behind the temple, and offer a more wholesome experience in my opinion.

my favourite temple that we visited whilst in Bali, there was something special and certainly unique about this temple with the option to fully immerse oneself in the experience of cleansing. The main sacred pool which feeds the water spouts is crystal clear, very interesting place. In the main part of the actual temple there was a ceremony and prayers happening, and everyone was very respectful towards the local people. we visited late afternoon and although it was fairly busy, it wasn't packed.

Pura Tirta Empul is a spiritual temple near the town of Tampaksiring that we recently visited as part of a half day trip with Ubud Area Tours. Entry is IDR75000 per adult and opening hours are 7am to 6pm daily. Proper attire required for entry. Shawls are provided for all visitors to wear even if you have full trousers on the day. The temple history seems to date back to around 962 A.D. and is built around a fresh water spring which is captured in a pool area and pumped into various smaller pools which are used by worshippers to perform water purifications which are very interesting to watch. There are opportunities for visitors to participate in water purification as well. Additionally, there are lovely Balinese architecture to view within the temple grounds. This is a lovely temple to visit but best to be done with a local guide who can explain its history and the inner temple grounds that you are exploring and seeing, especially when it comes to the water purification ceremonies that you will see at within the temple grounds.

The holy waters in this temple, reputed to have once revived the dead are an integral part of Balinese faith. Travellers participate during the day and locals only at night. You are provided with a sarong to be respectful as you walk around but to take part in the purification ceremony you must rent a different one. [ Bring your swimwear as you will need it] The ceremony begins with a small offering (small donation) then you progress through a number of pools where at each position you a) pray b) wash your face three times and then put your head under the inflow. This is repeated about 12 times. Spiritually cleansing, quite refreshing and very different. Totally recommended The shopping village on the way out is too much though. The vendors being exceptionally pushy

This was my second time visiting Tirta Empul Temple, and it remains one of my absolute favourite experiences in Bali. I first did the water purification ceremony in 2023 and returned again in 2026. Both times were genuinely beautiful. The ceremony offers a rare balance of personal reflection and shared experience. You are very much in your own headspace, yet still connected to others around you. There is something incredibly grounding about being immersed in water, ritual, and tradition while surrounded by people doing the same with genuine respect. If you are spiritual by nature, enjoy water, or are interested in Hinduism and Balinese culture, this is absolutely worth the trip. It feels like a meaningful way to honour the religion and way of life, not just observe it. This time, I visited with my parents and sister. My sister and I had already done the ceremony, but it was my parents’ first time, and watching them experience it for the first time was really special. It was calm, respectful, and genuinely moving. One strong recommendation: hire one of the local photographers at the temple. If your whole group is participating in the ceremony, you cannot take cameras or phones into the water. We hired a local photographer and received a large number of high-quality, professional photos for 400,000 IDR (around 40 AUD). For the quality, it was excellent value, and it is a great way to support the local economy while taking home a meaningful memento. The only downside this time was the exit experience. Previously, entry and exit were both via the car park. Now, you are required to exit through a marketplace. I do not mind markets at all and actively support local vendors. I bought items before even realising the market was compulsory. The issue was that the layout felt like a labyrinth, with limited exits and no clear wayfinding. We actually had to double back through the market because we could not find a way out, and vendors were understandably more focused on selling than helping visitors navigate. It was a frustrating and slightly jarring end to what is otherwise a very spiritual, grounding experience. The contrast between the calm of the temple and the confusion of the exit did not quite land. That said, this is still an experience I love and would recommend without hesitation. Just be prepared for the market exit, take your time, and enjoy the ceremony for what it truly is. A beautiful, meaningful connection to Balinese culture and spirituality.

We visited Pura Tirta Empul during our time exploring the Ubud region, and it turned out to be a truly memorable experience. The temple is renowned for its sacred water springs, where locals and visitors alike take part in a purification ritual believed to cleanse the soul. You move through a series of water spouts in a specific sequence, making the experience feel both spiritual and immersive. The temple does get quite crowded, especially during peak hours, so visiting early in the day is a good idea. Don’t miss the adjoining section with a tranquil fish pond — it’s a lovely spot to slow down, feed the fish, and capture some beautiful photos.

Wasn’t quite sure what to expect, we took part in the water purification, you get a green sarong dress to wear and queue up to enter the water. Nice to do something cultural, was very cleansing. Then had a wander round the site. On the way out the only way to exit is to walk through all the markets, which kind of spoilt it, stall holders are pushing you to buy things on the way out, and it seems to go on forever. We just walked straight through and didn’t look at anything, just wanted to get out.

Like Ganges bath for indians. Hindi temple visited by most Hindus. If you wish tongo inside the temple, you must take offerings for worship

Enjoyed this memorable authentic experience! A very spiritual and beautiful time spent at this water temple with our private guide who ensured that we understood the culture, purpose, and rules within the process! He took lots of pictures for us, brought offerings for us, and made our experience a perfect one!

We had booked a hotel in Ubud to be able to visit some touriist spots early and it was worth it, as Tirtha Empul Temple is not far. We left for the temple at 7 AM and were there in 20 min. After taking a guide on the spot, we bought our tickets were given a sarong/robe to wear. We changed and kept our clothes and belongings in a locker. The place for changing was clean when we visited it. We then entered the temple pond. There are specific water 'fountains' under which we took a short shower. Water came with some force and it was quite refreshing. The guide took photographs for us from outside. It was definitely an experience very specific to Bali and worth it.

This was top of my list to experience during our time in Bali. It was absolutely wonderful and would highly recommend if you are in the area. Such a wonderful experience for myself and my husband.

A really interesting and memorable place to visit. The water ritual was a unique experience, and the temple itself is beautiful. Well worth a stop if you’re nearby.

The tour was simply marvelous! The destination was stunning and the overall experience was incredible. My guide Komang was exceptional, providing me with insightful information about the temple and teaching me how to properly participate in the water ceremony. Many thanks for such a fantastic experience!

We toured the beautiful temple grounds. Stunning. Some in our group participated in the water purification ceremony. Others of us met with local women who were working there on the grounds. Very warm and welcoming.

I visited this temple twice, so much I like it. Temple is very beautiful and the ceremony is super cool , for sure, first of all you need to believe what you do and trust to gods. You can ask someone there to explain to you how to make melukat or do it by your own, but this is very important to use only necessary fountains (2-7,13 1st pool, 1-2 2nd and only first in the last one). Don’t forget to take chanangs (as a gift to gods). And don’t forget to thank gods and this place 🙏🏼 After ceremony I felt so clean and calm ☺️ this place brings a harmony 100%

We really enjoyed the temple grounds and taking part in the cleansing ritual along with offerings. It’s a place for spiritual connection and prayer. The thing we didn’t like was being forced to walk through the myriad of craft stalls for over 20 minutes before we were out in the parking lot. The vendors were annoyingly aggressive and continued to follow us with some demanding that we should buy something from each of them!! We had hired a private guide and he told us that is the way he had to take us out of there! Unbelievable!!! This ruined the spiritual experience.

I have been to this Temple on a number of occasions and always find it beautiful. This time I went here with my wife as she wanted to do the holy water blessing at the temple where she rented a sarong to participate in the ceremony. It could be worthwhile doing some reading on this temple before visiting it just to understand it's meaning and place in local culture. There is a small entry fee but worth it. There is markets here on the way out if you need a drink, some snacks or you want to buy some tourist items as well. Defiantly add this to your list if you are in Bali. I did do a video on it on my youtube The Travelling Social Worker if you want to see what this place looks like.

Amazing spiritual experience at Tirta Empul Temple! Melukat is one of the sacred Balinese activities for a spiritual journey.

Im so glad i got to experience this its very spiritual, you get to do your blessings which i found very rewarding and felt so peaceful after the only thing i can say is to go really early as you will find alot of people if you go in the afternoon and please dont swallow the water. It was a very joyful experience.

I recently visited Tirta Empul Temple and had an amazing experience. The temple’s spiritual atmosphere is truly captivating, and I had the opportunity to participate in the purification ritual, which was both calming and meaningful. The setting is beautiful, with sacred waters flowing through the temple and intricate stone carvings that add to its charm. The staff were very welcoming and made sure visitors understood the cultural significance of the rituals. I recommend visiting early in the morning to enjoy a more peaceful experience. This is a must-visit for anyone looking to connect with Balinese culture and spirituality!

A 10th century temple. Set in the heart of Bali. We visited with our driver who explained the rituals and ceremonies allowing us to observe and understand the layout and culture. The in court yard is stunning and the water cleansing ritual is worth it even if only to cool down as it’s very humid.

Unique experience to take part in a purifying ceremony that the locals do multiple times a year. Very crowded, we came in the late afternoon so bare that in mind.

Amazingly pure water temple. The ritual is a bit cold. There are many tourists doing the ritual in the cold evening weather. If you look closely at the bottom, you can see the swirling sand.

The ceremony itself was quite beautiful, there are three pools in total, one for purification, one for cleansing bad karma and one for blessings. Go early or else there is a long line - we arrived at 8.30 and there were heaps of people after us. Be careful in the change rooms, a man had come into the female change area collecting sarongs and the staff did not take my complaints seriously until I told them it was a member of their staff. Apparently they will only have female staff going into the change rooms from now on but who knows how much training they will actually do.

We came here to do the melukat thing. We had a nice experience, the place had this mystical aura, couldn't quite understand it too

An authentic Balinese experience! Coincidentally today was a holiday in Indonesia so there were a lot of locals that came to cleanse their souls. Naturally a long ass line to do some soul cleansing, but overall it was a good experience. A lot of the foreigners were very confused and didn’t know what to do, so if you’re unsure about the process you can just pay a dude to guide you Through it, and he will take a pic for you because no cameras are allowed inside. Phones can be brought in and you can take a pic but phones not allowed in the sacred water. We got these nice pics because we were naughty and snuck in our phones and took a candid.

What an amazing experience 🙏 the cleansing ritual is a truly beautiful experience where you are invited to look within. Locals say they go there to cleanse their soul of negativity 🙏

This is our 2nd time in Bali as tourists. We would like to do other things than going to the beaches and visit the tourists spots. Going to Tirta is somehow the most spiritual thing i’ve done so far after pandemic. June 8-12 , 2024 in Bali is quite the most meaningful time of my life so far after all the deaths of friends and families , my soul kinda needed a fresh start. Cleansing, purification, forgiveness and peace. I may not have the same religion as the Balinese people but we have only one god. The experience is unforgettable. I highly recommend this to those people who want to be whole again. To remind us that we are all sinners and we can always have a reset and do better.

A tourist trap that makes all the magic this island offers disappear. First of all, it was one of the few temples that does not accept card payments, only cash. To perform the purification ritual and be able to bathe under all the fountains, when I was there it took hours. It is very crowded and therefore you cannot fully enjoy the experience. I was really very disappointed. Perhaps one of the worst experiences I've had in Bali.

There were people at the site but things flowed too quickly, the full tour took about an hour and a half, I traveled alone and decided to hire a guide who explained the ceremony to me and took photos of me inside the water himself, honestly it is very worth it to have the memory, I highly recommend it … watch out, be very careful when leaving the temple, the vendors inflate the prices a lot, they pull you by your clothes to get you into their shops, in the end you leave ripped off from there.

Visited the Pura Tirta Empul on 27 May 2026 and participated in the Melukat (water ritual). It is nice to see how locals and tourists come together, each with their own reason. We were accompanied by a very sweet, caring and respectful guide (Made) in the ritual. If you have never done the water ritual before, it is advisable to be guided! Unfortunately, I saw people who did not want to pay for a guide and performed the ritual incorrectly (entering fountains that were forbidden, touching things that you are not allowed to touch). Out of respect for the temple and the locals, it is therefore important to listen carefully to the instructions! It was for me, thanks to the guide, a very special and beautiful experience. If you believe in it and are also open to it, you will notice after the ritual that you feel different. I was completely zen again and in balance with myself. I will always repeat this ritual during my visit to Bali! Terima kasih Made dan sampai jumpa lagi!

The temple is very crowded and has become a tourist attraction. The water ceremony is nice to watch but not recommended. The exit through the market makes it clear what this is all about.

Take a guide to do the cleansing ceremony, it's really worth it with a lot of extra explanations. it's an interesting spiritual experience if there aren't too many people of course

I personally chartered a car and a guide. They seemed to be free to wear whatever they wanted to wear, but 80% of them borrowed sarongs, which were cloths that were wrapped around their bodies. After the prayer, people take a bath, but they wait in line for more than 30 minutes, and bathing also takes about 30 minutes in 10 places. I had sunscreen on my face, but not on my body, so my exposed shoulders turned bright red. I was caught off guard. If you are afraid of sunburn, we recommend wearing sunscreen or a T-shirt. The water was quite cold and I felt like I was training in a waterfall, but I felt refreshed mentally and physically. It seems to ward off bad luck.

Beautiful temple where to do the ritual of purification. Our guide explained the whole ceremony and in the various tanks which fountains were allowed and which were forbidden and instead were quietly used by strange tourists invaded who wanted at all costs to catch a cold. I can't understand how they allow this (maybe God money?) In any case just interesting

It is a magical place, something crowded but you can walk without problem. Purification ceremonies aren’t worth it, as you have to stand in a huge line and just to get wet and take your picture... it’s pure posture

This time we visited Tirta Empul again. Often it is a well visited temple, especially with Full Moon. Now it was only a few visitors who visited the temple, to go to the springs and participate in the purification rituals. The atmosphere is much different. Visit = 50k.