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Tanah Lot, one of the most popular places to visit in Bali, Indonesia which means "Land in the Middle of the sea". It is located on the coast of West Bali, at the village of Beraban in the Tabanan Regency. The temple is just 13km south west from Tabanan and a short drive from Kuta. It is also called Tanah Let which means ancient land and also Tanah Lod, which means the land to the south. The temple Pura Tanah Lot, simple in its construction, is dramatic in its ocean-front location and is one of the main temples in the worship of Balinese gods.
The guardians of the temples are poisonous snakes that are considered sacred and are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders. The Balinese believe that they are the descendants of the snake god Basuki. Basuki is the protector of the sea temple and the meru with 5 roofs is built to honour this god. Poisonous sea snakes that have been found at the base of the rocky island.
The main gate to the temple at Tanah Lot
The beauty of Tanah Lot sparkles out in the late afternoon when the temple is silhouetted in the sunset.#2
Tanah Lot, one of the most popular places to visit in Bali, Indonesia which means "Land in the Middle of the sea". It is located on the coast of West Bali, at the village of Beraban in the Tabanan Regency. The temple is just 13km south west from Tabanan and a short drive from Kuta. It is also called Tanah Let which means ancient land and also Tanah Lod, which means the land to the south. The temple Pura Tanah Lot, simple in its construction, is dramatic in its ocean-front location and is one of the main temples in the worship of Balinese gods.
Tanah Lot, is built on top of a huge rock which is surrounded by the sea.The Tanah Lot temple has been a part of Balinese mythology for centuries. The temple is one of 7 sea temples, each within eyesight of the next, to form a chain along the south-western coast of Bali. On the footpath it can only be reached at low tide without getting wet. Travelers can reach the temple from the beach after a 50-meter long corridor of smoothed stones and fine dark sand. Once you arrive at the small island there is a short ascent towards the temple, where a gate barred the entrance to the temple. The temple can be entered only by believers. Only those who want to pray or conduct religious activities are permitted into the temple.
The guardians of the temples are poisonous snakes that are considered sacred and are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders. The Balinese believe that they are the descendants of the snake god Basuki. Basuki is the protector of the sea temple and the meru with 5 roofs is built to honour this god. Poisonous sea snakes that have been found at the base of the rocky island.
You wont easily bump into the snakes though because they are dozing away throughout the day in the ridges of the cliff and there is always somebody to watch over them. Only at low tide do they move towards the temple to eat from the offerings placed by the Balinese people.
The main gate to the temple at Tanah Lot
Legend has it that in 1546 a roving Brahmin priest by the name of Danghyang Nirartha also called Ida Rauh Wawu Sakti or Danghyang Dwijendra arrived in Bali from neighbouring Java. It is said he crossed the water between the two islands on the leaf of a keluwih tree and landed near Negara. From Negara he travelled over much of Bali, having temples and shrines built along the way. In the case of Tanah Lot, he spied the small rock island just off the coast, set up camp there and, after local fisherfolk brought him gifts, he suggested they build a shrine on the island that’ll teach them to give gifts to strangers and strengthen the teaching of Hinduism. Tanah Lot is one of the spiritual destinations for Hindus from different countries.
The beauty of Tanah Lot sparkles out in the late afternoon when the temple is silhouetted in the sunset.
