Visiting Pura Tirta Empul Temple, Ubud, Bali. Something that makes Bali stand out compared to the rest of Indonesia is the unique influence of Hinduism in what is otherwise a predominantly Muslim country. In Bali, most of the population identifies as Hindu. Balinese Hinduism has taken on a unique form as it has combined over centuries with pre-existing local customs and beliefs. This makes Bali a truly unique and special place to visit. One of the best ways of immersing yourself (forgive the pun – completely unintentional!) in this remarkable culture is to visit a Hindu Balinese water temple such as the Pura Tirta Empul Temple in Ubud and take part in a Melukat spiritual cleansing ritual.
Read: How to spend 3 days in Ubud, Bali: Epic Itinerary
What to Expect at Pura Tirta Empul Temple
Dating back to 962 AD, today Pura Tirta Empul Temple is very popular with visitors to Bali, so it does feel more like a tourist attraction rather than a working temple. However, there is something special about people coming from all over the world to take part in a shared experience and celebrate Balinese culture. When you enter the temple complex you will be loaned a dry sarong. This adds to the exotic feeling as all the visitors wander around in colourful Balinese garb.
Taking part in the Melukat spiritual cleansing ritual is completely optional, but I strongly recommend joining in. Sarongs and lockers can be hired on site for a small fee. For a small donation you can also make an offering of petals and incense at the shrine. There are lots of local guides at the temple complex, and if you wish you can pay them to explain the correct instructions for the water ceremony and the significance of the various different fountains. I recommend doing this as some of the fountains should be skipped as they represent cremation. The guides also love taking photos and videos so absolutely worth it if you want memories of the experience, as you are not allowed to take cameras (go-pros and such) into the water itself.
What to bring to Pura Tirta Empul Temple
You will be loaned a dry sarong to wear around the temple for modesty. Then if you wish to participate in the water purification ceremony you can hire a green sarong and red sash to wear in the water for a small fee. You can also hire a locker for your valuables. I recommend bringing:
- Swimwear (to wear under the green sarong)
- Towel to dry off afterwards
- Sun cream (you’ll be in the water for a while and the sun is strong)
- Cash for temple admission fee
- Cash for the sarong hire, locker hire and also for a donation if you would like to make an offering
How to Get to the Pura Tirta Empul Temple
The easiest way to get to the Pura Tirta Empul Temple is to stay in Ubud itself and then hire a Grab to take you to the temple. The drivers will be familiar with the area so will drop you off at the entrance. I recommend a motorbike rather than a car. They can weave through the traffic and so are much quicker. The drive from central Ubud will take around 30 minutes.
The Melukat Ceremony Preparation: Get Changed
Once you are inside the temple complex and have explored a bit, make your way to the locker room area (to the right of the altar if facing it). Just outside the locker room you can hire your sarong and key. Then go inside to get changed. The locker rooms are mixed and although there are some changing cubicles these are really wet so most people just get changed by their lockers. Easiest if you already have your swimmers on underneath your clothes / bring a large towel.
The Melukat Ceremony Part 1: Offering (Optional)
For a small donation, you can get a Canang Sari. This is a small basket made of woven palm leaves. It will contain an incense stick and flower petals. This offering to the gods is a nice way to get into a peaceful frame of mind, even if the temple is busy. You can sit on the floor in front of the alter for as long as you want, and say prayers. Once complete, you lay the offering on the alter and make your way to the water temple.
The Melukat Ceremony Part 2: Purification Ceremony
Now it’s time to get into the water! If you don’t have a guide, just join the line and follow the person in front. You will snake your way through the whole pool, visiting most of the fountains in turn. When you reach each fountain, you should:
- put your hands together and say a prayer
- wash the water over your face 3 times
- dunk your entire head under the fountain
Each fountain represents something different, so technically each of your prayers should relate to each particular fountain. But if you’re not sure of the meaning, just make a wish. Note that some of the fountains do need to be skipped as they represent cremation.
Visiting Pura Tirta Empul Temple in Ubud, Bali is a wonderful way to experience Hindu Balinese culture. For some general guidance on visiting Bali and Indonesia overall, read on below.
How do I get a visa for Indonesia?
Make sure to check the Indonesian visa requirements for your own country as the rules can vary depending on what passport you have. Many countries can get a 30-day visa on arrival (VOA). I purchased mine at Bali Denpasar airport and was able to pay with my WISE card. You must meet passport validity requirements and have a return or onward ticket. You can explore different visa options on the official Indonesian Immigration website. If you overstay your visa there is a fine of 1 million rupiah a day.
Transport from Bali Denpasar airport to Ubud
Arriving at Bali Denpasar airport can be pretty hectic. It can feel overwhelming especially if you’ve just come off a long haul flight. A lot of flights seem to be scheduled to arrive quite late at night too, so I recommend planning in advance so that you feel safe. There will be a lot of local taxi drivers waiting at arrivals, but you will need to haggle which can be exhausting.
Personally, I booked an airport pickup in advance with Welcome Pickups. You prepay when you book at a flat rate that matches the local standard fare. The advantage of Welcome Pickups over rideshare apps (see below) is that there is no surge pricing. I did check my Grab app out of curiosity when I arrived to compare, and Welcome Pickups was indeed cheaper. The Welcome Pickups app is also incredibly easy to use and I was able to chat to my driver via the app to coordinate a meeting spot. Welcome Pickups operate in lots of different countries worldwide. You can sign up here.
How to get around Bali and Ubud
The easiest way to get around Ubud (and Bali in general) is to use Grab. Grab is a Singaporean-headquartered rideshare app (like Uber) that operates in a number of countries in South East Asia. You can choose to book either a car or a scooter. Scooters are cheaper and much faster as they can weave through the traffic. It’s also safer to use Grab and have a local driver rather than hiring a scooter yourself. I recommend downloading the app in advance before your trip so that you can set up the payment card etc. The best card to link in order to avoid high FX exchange fees is a WISE card (see below).
Money in Indonesia: (IDR)
If you’re visiting Indonesia you’ll need Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). To get IDR at the best rates, I highly recommend getting a WISE card before you go. This allows you to convert money into Indonesian Rupiah (or any other currency!) at the best rates and then spend on your Wise card as though it were a local bank card or withdraw cash in Indonesia without hidden fees. Wise is a UK-based financial services company (available in most countries worldwide) and is highly regulated in the various regions it operates in (in the UK it is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority).
Get your WISE card here.
SIM Card and Data for Indonesia
There are two main options for getting a SIM card and data to use in Indonesia:
Option 1: eSIM with Airalo
The main advantages of purchasing an eSIM via Airalo (enter the referral code ROWAN1271 for a discount) are:
- you do not need to insert a physical SIM card, so you can keep your home country SIM in your phone
- you can get a multi-country eSIM rather than having to get a new one each time you go to a new country
- you can download the eSim before you leave your home country, meaning that you will have data immediately on arrival. This gives you peace of mind and is perfect for using Google Maps and rideshare apps etc.
- You can top up your data allowance via the app
Option 2: Buy a local physical SIM card
The main advantages of purchasing a local SIM card are:
- Local SIM cards generally offer better rates. You can often (depending on the country) get a lot more data for a lower price.
- You will get a local phone number which is better for making local calls / text messages
Personally I think Airalo is the best for short holidays or if you are only spending a short time in each country. If you’re staying for a longer time, or if like me you use a lot of data, a local physical SIM card may be better.
Get your Airalo eSIM here. Enter the referral code ROWAN1271 for a discount.
Travel Insurance
Make sure that you have travel insurance to cover you for your trip. I can highly recommend Heymondo. I use them to cover me for all my trips and their app is very easy to use.
Purchase Heymondo travel insurance here.
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