🏛️ Holy spring in Bali: how to do the melukat ritual at Tirta Empul temple

Tirta Empul Temple stands around a sacred spring that has been flowing from the ground for over a thousand years. People come here not just for photos: in the temple's bathing pools you can take part in the melukat purification ritual. Entry for foreigners costs 75,000 rupiah, and a sarong is provided at the entrance along with your ticket (as of 09/2026, temple tariffs).

The complex is open daily from eight in the morning to six in the evening, and you should allow at least an hour for your visit. A common mistake: arriving after bathing in wet clothes or approaching the fountains without understanding the rules. Below we show what you will see in the three courtyards, how the purification ritual works, and how to get here from Ubud.

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Temple history and the legend of Mayadenawa

💡 In short:

Visiting the three courtyards takes about an hour, and the purification ritual adds another forty minutes.
A sarong is provided with your ticket, so bring only a change of clothes.
Approach each water spout in turn and skip the last two, which are meant for the deceased.
Tickets and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on 14.09.2026 on the temple website with tariffs

The temple was founded in 962 around a large spring (according to Wikipedia). The name translates as "holy water from the spring," and the site itself is linked to the Warmadewa dynasty, which ruled Bali from the tenth to the fourteenth century. For locals this is an active place of worship, so you will be asked to speak quietly near the altars and not block the path to the pavilions.

Ritual melukat purification bathing in the pool at Tirta Empul Temple

A legend about King Mayadenawa is connected to the temple. The ruler declared himself above the gods, forbade his subjects from bringing them offerings, and believed that he himself protected his people from misfortune. The gods did not accept this order: Indra, the warrior god, sent heavenly warriors to overthrow the tyrant, but the king destroyed the entire force.

Then Indra struck the ground with his staff, and water burst from the pierced opening. With it the god brought his fallen warriors back to life and himself found peace, choosing reconciliation instead of revenge. The spring was named Tirta Empul, and a temple was built beside it. Legend links the name of the village of Tampaksiring to the slanted footprints of the king, who fled through the rice fields: tampak ("footprint") and siring ("slanted").

Higher up the slope stands the state residence Istana Tampaksiring, so the grounds are well maintained and the tropical garden looks cared for. The water in the spring is considered living, and the purification tradition has been passed down here from generation to generation. Tourists are allowed to take part in the ritual, but only with respect for the rules of the faithful.

Architecture: the three courtyards of the complex

The complex is divided into three connected courtyards, each playing its own role. Your route is always the same: from the outer courtyard to the inner one, through carved gates. You can only pass through them wearing a sarong, which you pick up at the entrance.

Courtyard of Tirta Empul Temple with banyan tree and stone wall

Jaba Pura (outer courtyard). Shops with souvenirs, sarongs, and baskets of offerings are bustling here. There is also a luggage storage and simple cafes where you can grab a bite before your visit.
Jaba Tengah (central courtyard). The main sacred area: pavilions for two dozen gods, gilding, stone carving, statues of deities and demons. The grounds are planted with trees, so at midday it is bearable here.
Jeroan (inner courtyard). The site of the bathing pools and the springs themselves. This is where you go for the purification ritual and the koi pond.

The central courtyard is built up with pavilions roofed in palm thatch, each with its own dedication. Between them stand stone carvings of animals and mythological creatures, and tropical flowers are planted along the paths. The sculptures are not fenced off, so do not touch them with your hands and do not sit on the altar stones.

The architecture combines wood, stone, and gilding: the shrines are decorated with fine carving that can only be appreciated up close. Some structures were renovated in later years, but the layout of the courtyards has been preserved from the time of the ancient temple. If you are interested in details, take a guided tour: without explanations, half the symbols will remain unclear.

Bathing pools and purification fountains

The main attraction of Tirta Empul: the bathing pools in the inner courtyard. Water flows into them from the spring by gravity, without pumps, so its temperature stays constant. Nearby stand large statues of Garuda, winged beings with a human body and a bird's head.

There are three pools. The first fills with water before your eyes: the springs lift sand from the bottom, and the surface seems to pulse. The second is carved into stone, and water enters it through a row of spouts, each with its own purpose: health, protection from the evil eye, childbirth, prosperity. The last two spouts are for washing the deceased; locals do not approach them, and you should skip them too.

The third pool contains a large pond with colorful koi and aquatic plants. Swimming in it is forbidden, but you can feed the fish. The surface of the first pool is partly covered with lotus leaves, and in the morning light the water looks transparent all the way to the bottom.

There is often a line at the spouts, especially on weekends. The ritual takes time, so do not rush the people ahead of you and do not film them on your phone without consent.

How the melukat purification ritual works

The purification here is called melukat. Before entering the water, you buy a basket of offerings: rice, fruit, sweets, incense. They are sold in the outer courtyard, where you also get a second sarong for bathing, because walking around the temple in wet clothes after the water is not allowed.

Rock shrines at Tampaksiring amid tropical greenery

The procedure at each spout is the same. You place the basket nearby, light the incense, take three calm breaths, and center yourself. Then you wash your face three times, take water into your mouth three times, and only after that put your head under the spout three times. You carry the basket with you to the next fountain, and leave the wet sarong in the changing cubicle.

Men are allowed to enter the water bare-chested; women need a T-shirt or top covering the shoulders and a hair tie for long hair. Tie the sarong tightly so the fabric does not slip in the water, and tie your hair back before entering the pool. If you do not have a hair tie, they are sold in the outer courtyard along with sarongs.

Pilgrims perform the ritual strictly and sequentially; locals often do it in a more relaxed order while observing the main canons. Tourists are allowed to participate according to their own beliefs, as long as your actions do not disturb the faithful. Do not photograph other people's faces up close and do not block the path to the spouts.

On Saturday and Sunday the pools are crowded, and you may stand in line for about an hour. On a weekday before noon there are noticeably fewer people. Allow at least forty minutes for the ritual, and if you want to go through all the spouts calmly, come at opening time.

Rules for temple visitors

The temple is active: people pray here, bring offerings, and hold ceremonies. A few simple rules are enough to avoid offending the feelings of the faithful.

Carved gate of Tirta Empul Temple in Bali

You may only move around the grounds in a sarong.
Leave the purification ritual for the end of your visit: you will not be allowed into the temple in wet clothes.
Women need clothing that covers the shoulders and a hair tie.
Buy offerings and a second sarong for bathing in the outer courtyard, and leave any extra belongings in the storage lockers there.
Do not approach the water spouts for the deceased or collect water from them.
Swimming in the bathing pools is not allowed: this is not a pool.
Women are advised not to enter the grounds during their period.
Do not disturb those praying, do not raise your voice, and do not sit on the altar steps.

These rules make it clear that the temple is not an amusement park but a place of ritual. Respect is valued here more than a good shot. If you are unsure, ask an attendant at the entrance: they will tell you where you can take photos and how to get to the bathing pools.

How much entry costs and when the temple is open

The complex is open daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. A ticket for foreigners costs 75,000 rupiah, for children aged 5 to 12 it is 50,000, and children under 5 enter free (as of 09/2026, entry fees and children's tickets). A sarong is included in the price, and there is no separate charge for moving between courtyards.

A regular ticket gives access to the courtyards, bathing pools, and the pond, but does not include a ritual package. If you want a melukat with a guide, offerings, and a storage locker, that package is booked separately (according to the temple website). The rates were updated on January 1, 2025, so check the amount at the entrance before buying.

For those who want to come with a guide and hotel transfer, ready-made tours are a good fit: Tirta Empul tours on GetYourGuide.

Tours and tickets in Tirta Empul

Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and activities — most offers can be cancelled free of charge.

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How to get there from Ubud and the airport

The temple is located in the village of Manukaya near Tampaksiring, in the central part of the island. From central Ubud to the entrance is about fifteen kilometers, which on the map is forty minutes by car or scooter in light traffic. From Denpasar airport, the map shows a drive of about two hours, so it is better not to plan this visit on the day you arrive.

Ubud Palace gate from the street on a cloudy day

The road passes through rice terraces and climbs into the hills, so expect winding roads and slightly cooler air. Part of the route goes past villages with woodcarvers and workshops selling local crafts. A scooter is more convenient in traffic jams, but for a first visit it is easier to take a car with a driver.

Getting there directly by public transport is difficult: buses stop at the main road, and from there you either walk or take a taxi. Tours with hotel transfer solve this problem and also include stops at Gunung Kawi and the Tegallalang rice terraces. For a trip by car, allow half a day including travel time.

Where to stay: most visitors spend the night in Ubud and come here for half a day. hotels in Ubud on Trip.com

Tirta Empul temple on the map

The landmark on the map: the village of Manukaya in the Tampaksiring district, north of Ubud. Plan your route in advance, because mobile coverage in the valley drops out in places. Below is a map with the temple complex marked.

Balinese temple complex with carved gate and pond

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much time should you allow for the visit?

Exploring the three courtyards takes about an hour, and the purification ritual takes another forty minutes. With the drive from Ubud, the whole visit will take you half a day.

Can a tourist take part in the purification ritual?

Yes, guests are allowed at the bathing pools. You need a sarong, a basket of offerings, and respect for the queue. The local rules are simple: first offerings, then water. The attendants explain the procedure if you ask before entering the pool.

What clothes should you bring and what do you do with wet items?

A sarong is given to you at the entrance with your ticket, and a second sarong for bathing is bought in the outer courtyard. Leave wet clothes in the changing cubicle and put your bags in the storage locker. Do not take valuables into the water with you.

When are the bathing pools least crowded?

Come on a weekday at opening time, and you will pass through all the spouts without crowding. On Saturday and Sunday the queue can stretch to an hour. During the day, tour groups add to the numbers, so morning and the time before closing are calmer.

What to see near Tirta Empul?

In the neighboring valley is the Gunung Kawi temple complex with shrines carved into the rock. On the way back to Ubud you will pass the Tegallalang rice terraces, where it is convenient to stop for photos. Both places combine well with a visit to the spring in one day.

In short: what is worth booking

Plan your visit like this: buy your ticket at the entrance, do the ritual in the morning, and arrange transport and a guide in advance.

If you have one free day in Ubud: go for a morning visit at opening time and combine it with the rice terraces.
If you are coming from the southern part of the island: take a tour with transfer so you do not spend half a day on winding roads.
If you want to do the melukat: take a package with offerings and a guide, which saves you from hunting for a basket and a second sarong.

One short tip to finish: see guided tours to Tirta Empul on GetYourGuide.

Tirta Empul in Bali: purification ritual, tickets and opening hours