A visit to Tanah Lot

I visited Bali a few years ago along with my two childhood girl friends. It was an all-girls trip and it was probably one of my best trips ever. As part of that travel, my friends and I visited plenty of temples in Bali.

Each one of them stood out and was very beautiful. But my most favourite temples in Bali are Pura Ulun Danu Beratan and Tanah Lot. Tanah Lot is a rock formation and is home to ancient Hindu temple Pura Tanah Lot. It is one of those which must not be missed when in Bali.

For a detailed itinerary on what to do for 10 days in Bali, refer 10 days itinerary in Bali. Bali also is famous for its scuba diving spots, and one such famous place is the wreck diving in Tulamben. For all the details on the wreck diving, refer Wreck diving in Tulamben.

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About Tanah Lot

Tanah Lot means ‘Land on Sea’ and is definitely a formation that lives up to its meaning. The temple is sitting on a rock, a bit offshore (around 30 metres) from the land. It gets surrounded by water when there is high tide and one cannot go inside the temple during these high tides.

One can go inside the temple during low tide and there is a path to get inside the temple. Be prepared for your clothes to get wet.

Tanah Lot is said to have been built in the 16th century and is a work of the 15th-century Hindu priest Dang Hyang Nirartha. The temple forms an important element of Balinese mythology.

It is surely the most visited and photographed temple in Bali. The temple is very crowded especially during evenings and at sunset times.

By the way the other temple to look for in Bali is the Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple. It is one of the key temples and is exceptional with amazing architecture. The place of Uluwatu is also famous for its beach accommodation. Here is the list of beach accommodations in Uluwatu.

How to get there?

Drive or Ride

The temple is around 20 kilometres from Denpasar and can be easily reached by either a taxi or a scooter. The drive or ride takes around 45 minutes.

The taxi might cost around Rp 300000 one way but if you haggle with the taxi driver, some drivers even agree to the lowest price of Rp150000. There is a parking area at the temple and the parking costs Rp 5000 per vehicle. Getting a taxi for cheaper prices could be tricky as Tanah Lot is quite far and there is a lot of traffic on the way.

Go for reputed taxi agencies such as Uber and Bluebird to avoid all the haggles.

Public transport

There are not many transportation options to get to Tanah Lot. Even though I researched a lot, I still did not find much information on the public buses in Bali that went to Tanah Lot. However, there was one website that mentioned about a bus service to Tanah Lot from Ubung Bus Terminal in Denpasar.

Start early if you wish to go by public transport as the buses may not run after sunset and it may become difficult to get back to Denpasar or Ubud. By the way, Ubud is a lovely place to stay when you are visiting Bali. Here is a 4 days itinerary in Ubud.

Entrance fee and timings

• There is an entrance fee to enter the temple and it costs around IDR 60,000 per adult for foreigners.
• The tickets to the temple can be bought at the entrance of the temple.
• The temple is open from 7 AM to 7 PM. The best time to visit the temple is during sunset (between 6 PM to 7 PM.) as the backdrop of the sun setting is mesmerising and very pretty.

Important Information

• There are no monkeys in Tanah Lot.
• Dress appropriately and respect the local culture.
• The temple area has many shops where one can purchase souvenirs.
• There are many restaurants with the views of the ocean where one can enjoy delicious Balinese cuisine food. Food is such an integral part of travel and if you are looking for good vegan restaurants in Bali, then these vegan restaurants in Bali are for you.
• When in Tanah Lot, definitely try the tender coconut juice called Es Kelapa Muda. It is refreshing and is an awesome drink to sip while looking at the beautiful sunset.
• There are day tours that are organised by the local travel agents which organises a day trip to Tanah Lot. The cost is somewhere between USD 40 to USD 50. One can also book the tours on the Viator website.

Is it safe for solo female travelers?

I would say Bali is relatively safe for travelers as it hosts many tourists and backpackers all around the year. It is a place that is especially famous among Australians and it does have all the facilities required for travelers.

However, I would be a bit cautious while traveling in Bali, especially at nights and at secluded places. Even though I went with my two friends, I was still harassed underwater while scuba diving at Tulamben, and hence it is important to research well while traveling in Bali.

I would suggest traveling with a reputed taxi agency or driving/riding on your own to avoid nuisances along the way. Having said that, I spoke to many of the locals when I was in Bali and I did not have too many issues or problems in Denpasar or any of the touristy places.

Stay in Bali

I stayed at Swastika Bungalows in Denpasar when I visited Bali and here is my review of the place.

Review | Swastika Bungalows, Bali

A beautiful place where my friends and I stayed at Bali is the Swastika Bungalows. Placed in Denpasar, Swastika Bungalows is close to restaurants and markets. The stay was very comfortable and the staff were very friendly. The rooms were big and clean. Definitely a recommended place in Denpasar.

Details

• Name: Swastika Bungalows
• Address: Jl. Danau Tamblingan 128, Sanur, Denpasar 80228 Bali – Indonesia
• Website: http://www.swastika-bungalows.com/
• Cost: IDR 55,000 for twin sharing room – Updated and recent prices on their website.

Closing Notes

Tanah Lot is definitely worth visiting. Bali is surely famous for its amazing temples but Tanah Lot is an extremely interesting temple and it provides spectacular views of the ocean. I surely recommend this temple.

Have you visited Tanah Lot? Did you like it? I would love to hear your feedback, please drop a comment or write to me on Raksha.Nagaraj@Solopassport.com or Solopassport@gmail.com.

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