The Sacred Tanah Lot

'Tanah Lot' is a tourist object in Bali, Indonesia. Here there are two temples are situated on top of a boulder. One is located on top of the boulder and the other is located on the cliffs similar to Pura Uluwatu. Tanah Lot temple is part of Dang heaven temple. Pura Tanah Lot sea temple is a place of worship of the gods who guard the sea.

Location

Tanah Lot is located in the Beraban Village Beraban Kediri District Tabanan Regency, about 13 miles west of Tabanan. To the north there is a Tanah Lot temple which situated on a bluff that jutted into the sea. This cliff connect with the land and shaped like a bridge (arch). Tanah Lot is very famous of it's beautiful sunset, the tourists are usually crowded in the afternoon to see the beauty of the sunset here. Temple ceremony or feast day is celebrated in this temple once every 210 days, just like the other temples, close to the celebration of “Galungan and Kuningan” that is precisely on Holy Day Cemeng Langkir Buda. At that time, there will be many peoples who pray at the temple.

History

According to legend, this temple was built by a Brahmin who wander from Java. He is Danghyang Nirartha who succesfull in strengthening Bali's people beliefs in the teachings of Hindu population and build Sad heaven on the 16th century. At that time the ruler of Tanah Lot, Bendesa Beraben, jealous of him because his followers began to leave and follow Danghyang Nirartha. Bendesa Beraben told Nirartha Danghyang to leave the Tanah Lot. He agreed and before leaving Tanah Lot he move boulders into the middle of the beach Stone with his strength (not into the sea) and built temples there. He also changed her shawl into a snake to guards the temple. These snakes are still there today and scientifically this snake species including sea snakes that have the characteristics of flat tail like a fish, striped yellow and black, have 3 times more potent venom of cobra snakes. End of the legend states that Bendesa Beraben 'finally' become a follower of Danghyang Nirartha.