Tanah Lot, meaning “land in the sea,” was founded in the 16th century by a Hindu priest, Bhagawan Dang Hyang Nirartha, who deemed the spot perfect for a temple after experiencing a divine revelation. The temple is dedicated to the sea god, Varuna, and is one of Bali’s holiest sites, alongside the Ulun Danu Temple. Only Hindu worshippers are allowed inside, while others can admire it from the base of the rock. In 1980, the temple was at risk of collapse due to erosion but was saved through a Japanese loan. Interestingly, like at Ulun Danu, there’s no need to wear a sarong here.

  Photo: Tanah Lot Temple

Photo: Tanah Lot Temple

Our trip to Tanah Lot was the final stop on our Bali journey. Unfortunately, we spent the following two days at home recovering from a severe bout of food poisoning, trying to regain our strength before heading back to Poland.

Upon arriving at the temple, we were met with a bit of a surprise – it turned out that card payments weren’t accepted, so we had to drive a few kilometres back to withdraw cash. Admission for six people, three adults and three children, came to just under £20.

We began our visit by refreshing ourselves with some coconuts we bought at the car park. The path to the temple was lined with countless stalls selling all sorts of items associated with Bali. Near the temple, there were more shops and several restaurants perched on the hillside.

Photo: Souvenir shops in Tanah Lot

As for the temple itself, the view isn’t particularly impressive. It sits on an offshore rock, accessible by walking through the shallow waters, but the upper part of the temple is closed to tourists. The best viewpoint is probably from the hillside restaurants. The rock, covered in trees, with the blue sky and waves crashing around it, creates a beautiful scene, but we weren’t particularly captivated by the temple itself. We spent most of our time admiring the sea and the soothing sound of the waves. Despite the scorching heat, the sea breeze and the refreshing seawater provided us with the greatest relief as we stood by the shore.

Marianna was deep in thought, listening intently to the waves and perhaps to her own inner reflections.

Photo: Marianna listening to the sound of the waves

The children were absorbed in collecting seashells. We found so many different shapes and colours that we couldn’t take our eyes off them. Aliya even found two shell rings!

Photo: Wiktor, Marcel, and Aliya searching for seashells by Tanah Lot Temple

Photo: Seashells at Tanah Lot

We ended our visit by spending time at the restaurants situated on the hill opposite the temple. We had ice cream, pancakes, vegetable noodles, and… another coconut, this time just for me. 😊

Photo: One of the restaurants in Tanah Lot

From this hill, the views are stunning, especially at sunset. However, we preferred to leave a little earlier to avoid driving after dark, which isn’t the most pleasant experience in Bali.

Photo: Tanah Lot Temple, view from a nearby hill