Tanah Lot Temple
Tanah Lot temple is located in coastal side of Beraban village, Kediri district and Tabanan regency about 30 km from Denpasar. The temple is built on a big rock and reachable in a few minutes by walk, because it is just 20 meters from the coastal lip. Under of the rock, there is a fresh water from under groud, which called Beji. If there is a temple ceremony, before entering the tample local people usually pray at that place. But when high tide all Hindu people usually pray at Penyawang temple. Penyawang mean representative. The word of Tanah Lot is consist of two words there are Tanah and Lot. Tanah mean soil or land or isle and Lot meaning the sea. So Tanah Lot mean the small island floating on the sea.
Tanah Lot is a tourism object wich offer a very beautiful scenery. This temple is very famous among tourist destinations in Bali. The unique point of this object is the temple wich located on a big rock and the sunset as the background. When the high tide Tanah Lot temple look like separate from beach.
About the history, Tanah Lot Temple was built in 16 cetury by Dang Hyang Nirartha, a priest from Majapahit Kingdom in East Java. At that time he came to Bali for spread Hindu Religion. When he arrived at that place, he saw a beautiful place and took a maditation. After that, he ask the local people to build a temple on the rock. The main shrine of that temple is dedicated to God especially for God of sea or Sang Hyang Baruna, and the second main shrine is dedicated to Dang Hyang Nirartha. In Tanah Lot area also found black and white snake called Duwe. Actually the snake is a sea snake, but local people believe that snake is the manifestation of the belt of Dang Hyang Nirartha.
Tanah Lot temple also usually used for Melasti ceremony. Melasti ceremony is a purification the Pretima or God symbol and other Hindu religion symbols to the beach. Melasti ceremony usually held 3 days before Nyepi day or silent day.
Beside of the main temple, in Tanah Lot area also found some temple such as: Penataran temple, Penyawang temple, Enjung Galuh temple, Batu Bolong temple, Batu Mejan temple and Pekendungan temple. In the northen part of Tanah Lot temple there are many restaurant. So, from that place, you can enjoy the spectacular sunset while eat or drink. There is also usually held a kecak dance in front of Tanah Lot temple or near of Melasti restaurant.
Beside of the parking area, there are so many art shop. The art shop usually sell Balinese handicraft, clothes and many kind of accessories. There’s also usually sold traditional food called Kelepon. Kelepon is a small cake made from sticky rice and brown sugar in it. In Tanah Lot area also found some hotels. So, don’t worry if you want to take longer time at that place.
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