Tanah Lot and Pura Batu Bolong: Sea, Cliff and Miracles
Temples are a treasure trove of history and culture, but Balinese mysticism never ceases to astonish me with its architectural shingles and beliefs. Balinese ancestors are known to have built unique Minecraft of faith bequeathed against phenomenal backdrops, whether on land or at sea. The Tanah Lot and Pura Batu Bolong Temples in Bali are two fine examples of an exceptional conflux of religious art. On a bright, beautiful day, it seems like only yesterday that I set out to explore these Balinese houses of worship.
It took me about half an hour to drive from Kuta to the resort village of Canggu, and it was an incredible drive! I passed by several Balinese family temples before arriving at Bali’s south coast range, enveloped by lush terraced rice paddies, high-end boutiques, and restaurants. Vehicles are not permitted beyond this point, so I was dropped off at the parking lot. The temples of Tanah Lot and Batu Bolong are just a short walk away, and the road leading there is lined, with charismatic shops, souvenir shops, and eateries on both sides.
In a nutshell, the walk is well worth it! A black Candi Bentar, a typical Balinese Gate split perfectly to initiate a passageway for people to walk through, marks the common entrance to the temples. Balinese God sculptures adorned with golden lacework guard both sides of this split gate. A sight, truly worth embracing lies beyond this gate. The Indian Ocean takes centre stage in this view, with the left-hand path leading to the floating temple of Tanah Lot and the right-hand path leading to the clifftop Batu Bolong.
Geographically, Tanah Lot and Pura Batu Bolong are very different. Pura Batu Bolong is built on a clifftop, while Tanah Lot Temple is built on a rocky outcropping in the sea. These shrines, however, share the same epistemological ideologies that encourage religious peace and harmony. While the majority of tourists were walking towards the semisubmersible Tanah Lot, I chose to take the backroads to Pura Batu Bolong. During my brief walk, I heard mysticism echoing off the walls on my left. On the other hand, on my right, there was an open market ostentatiously displaying satiny Buddha portraits and a plethora of quirky souvenirs that immediately drew my attention away from everything else.
I wandered around for a while before entering the Pura Batu Bolong’s gate. The temple was closed on this day, but I was allowed to look around and take photographs. Pura Batu Bolong is a temple perched on top of a perforated rock cliff above Canggu beach. It looks out over the vast Indian Ocean, which makes it gleam in the sunlight. If you visit this temple at sunrise or sunset, you’ll have a chance to capture some stunning images of Batu Bolong and the surrounding coastline.
Pura Batu Bolong, the temple, was built in the 16th century to honour Ida Batara Segara, the lord of peace, purification, and harmony. The name of this temple, on the other hand, is derived from the Indonesian translation of a perforated rock with a hole. Despite the temple’s centuries-old foundation, the Balinese Hindu community continues to offer daily prayers to it. Pekelem, Melasti, Piodalan, and the Purnama Kapat are some of the ceremonial rituals performed at this temple. According to legend, this temple was built by Hindu priest Nirartha, who combined Hinduism’s spiritual elements with Balinese mythology.
A Tri Mandala, a central Madianing courtyard, and a Nistaning Mandala can be found at Pura Batu Bolong. Pura Batu Bolong, according to another story, was built to commemorate the emergence of four wells at Canggu beach. Regardless of how it came to be, Pura Batu Bolong represents the celestial universe and is a well-kept, sacred site that you must not miss while visiting Tanah Lot. I sat here in peace, soaking up the tranquillity of the realm before making my way to Tanah Lot’s floating temple.
Tourists can walk across the water to the temple’s rock base on a low tide day at Tanah Lot. The closer you get to this temple, the more you realise why it is Bali’s most beautiful. Tanah Lot Temple stands still, rather immersed, in the ocean of low-frequency waves, with an ideal backdrop. If you have ears to hear, these ocean waves make beautiful music. The cool ocean breeze infused fresh air on this particular day, reminding me that I was away from the city and amid nature. The temple’s unique architecture and history drew me in like a magnet, and I was drawn in by an unexplainable pull.
The temple of Tanah Lot, like Pura Batu Bolong, gets its name from its location. Tanah Lot means “land in the sea” in the Balinese language. This 16th-century church is perched atop a large rock that is said to have been shaped over time by the ocean tides. The temple, on the other hand, was founded by Dang Hyang Nirartha, a Hindu traveller who came across the Shaivite priesthood. They say that one day, while travelling along Bali’s southern coast, Nirartha came across this divine rock and stopped to rest. He decided to spend the night on this small magical island after a few fishermen noticed him and brought him offerings.
He eventually built a shrine on this small island with the help of the same fisherman, and the two of them began worshipping the Balinese sea god Dewa Baruna. What’s fascinating is that Nirartha’s sash purportedly protects the temple by transforming him into a giant snake. Nirartha wore the sash or the long loop of cloth around his waist, but he had no idea that a piece of clothing would eventually become material. From beneath the rocky island of Tanah Lot, real nocuous sea snakes guard the island today. And, no, evil spirits are not permitted inside.
Tanah Lot’s temple silhouette isn’t the only piece of Bali’s iconic architecture. Seven other sea temples dot Bali’s southern coastline, each within eyeshot of the other. It’s a unique trail of sea temples with breathtaking views and philosophical perspectives. The more you wander, the more you’ll discover. However, if you plan on visiting this coastline, rent a cab because returning to the city from this underdeveloped village may be difficult. If you’re staying in Kuta, make sure to visit the Krishna Oleh Oleh Mall on your way home.
It’s the best place in Bali to find reasonably priced clothing, food, and a wide range of intriguing souvenirs. If you’re a caffeine junkie, this is the place to go because you’ll find Bali’s famous Luwak Coffee on sale. When it comes down to it, a hot cup of Luwak coffee will not only revive neoteric musings but will also open the door to new mystical exploration.
