|
TANAH
LOT
From
the village of Marga, the trip west returns
to the main route leading to Tabanan. At
the crossroads of Kediri, a side-road branches
to the sea, ending on a green hill which
slopes down to the beach and to the remarkable
temple of Tanah Lot, suspended on a huge
rock offshore. Set apart from the land by
a stone basin, the rock has been carved
by incoming tides. Tanah Lot, with its solitary
black towers and tufts of foliage spilling
over the cliffs, recalls the delicacy of
a Chinese painting. If hearsay is to be
believed, there dwells inside one of the
shrines at Tanah Lot a huge snake, discreetly
left undisturbed by the Balinese.

Although
a small sanctuary, Tanah Lot is linked to
a series of sea temples on the south coast
of Bali: Pura Sakenan, Pura Ulu Watu, Pura
Rambut Siwi and Pura Peti tenget. All these
temples are related to the principal mountain
sanctuaries: Besakih at Gunung Agung, Pura
Batur at Batur and Plura Luhur at Mt. Batukau.
The upland temples venerate deities associated
with mountains and mountain lakes, while
the sea temples include homage to the guardian
spirits of the sea within their ritual.
These main temples are often listed with
the sad-kahyangan the six holy "national"
temples, which exact tribute from all Balinese.
The chronicles attribute the temple at Tanah
Lot to the 16th century priest Nirartha.
During his travels along the south coast
he saw the rock-island's beautiful setting
and rested there. Some fishermen saw him,
and bringing gifts, invited him to stay
at their hut. Nirartha refused, saying he
preferred to spend the night on the little
island. That evening he spoke to the fishing
folk and advised them to build a shrine
on the rock, for he felt it to be a holy
and fitting place to worship God. The villagers
kept their promise. The beaches of Tanah
Lot are ideal for relaxing, especially in
the late afternoons, when the temple on
the rock dissolves into a striking silhouette
against the evening sky.

Target
out of the landscape by tides, wind and
rain, the high off shore sentinel rock of
Tanah Lot. Supports a picturesque see temple,
which cans small here ached by a scramble
over the wet rocks.
This
Temple was built in the 15th century by
the priest, Pedanda Bahu Rawuh or Danghyang
Nirartha from Majapahit Jawa. Near this
Temple there are several small and big shrines,
the biggest one is Pekendungan Temple. There
is a spring considered sacred not far from
this temple.

Tanah
Lot is 13 km from Tabanan is Beraban village.
When the tide is low people can walk to the
temple. It looks like a floating one if the
tide is high. There are many caves under the
temple lived by the peaceful sea snakes,
which has white and black colors.
It's
located 16 kilometers west of International
Airport Ngurah Rai, or a 20 minutes drive
through Sunset Road. Coming in from Java Island
through Gilimanuk, and arriving at the Kediri
intersection, at the Wisnu Murthi statue,
turn right. In front of the Kediri police
Station, turn left, and keep following this
smooth road. In less than 10 minutes you will
be there. Admission is Rp 1,000.- per
person.
|