Sunset at Tanah Lot.
Tanah Lot is a a popular motif for tourists taking pictures of Bali. Its an iconic structure. Photographing the rock formation off the Indonesian island of Bali is on every tourists list. Tanah Lot is the home of a pilgrimage temple, the Pura Tanah Lot and literally means "Land in the Middle of the sea" in Balinese language. Located in Tabanan, about 20 km from Denpasar, the temple sits on a large offshore rock which has been shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tide striking it.
It is claimed that Tanah Lot is the work & result of the efforts of the 15th 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 bought him gifts. Nirartha then spent the night on the little island. Later he spoke to the fishermen and told them to build a shrine on the rock for he felt it to be a holy place to worship the Balinese sea Gods. The Tanah Lot temple was built and has been a part of Balinese mythology for centuries. The temple is one of seven sea temples around the Balinese coast. Each of the sea temples were established within eyesight of the
next to form a chain along the south-western coast.
At the base of the rocky island, poisonous sea snakes are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and
intruders. As well as one giant snake which also protects the temple, which was created from Nirarthas scarf
when he established the island. In 1980 the temples rock face was starting to crumble and the area around and inside the temple started to become dangerous. The Japanese government then provided a loan to the Indonesia government of Rp. 800 Billion to restore & conserve the historic temple and other beach locations around the island of Bali. As a result, over one third of the rock which can be seen is artificial created under the Japanese upgrade works. On the down side, the area leading to Tanah Lot is highly commercialised and visito

Sunset at Tanah Lot.
Tanah Lot is a a popular motif for tourists taking pictures of Bali. Its an iconic structure. Photographing the rock formation off the Indonesian island of Bali is on every tourists list. Tanah Lot is the home of a pilgrimage temple, the Pura Tanah Lot and literally means "Land in the Middle of the sea" in Balinese language. Located in Tabanan, about 20 km from Denpasar, the temple sits on a large offshore rock which has been shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tide striking it.
It is claimed that Tanah Lot is the work & result of the efforts of the 15th 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 bought him gifts. Nirartha then spent the night on the little island. Later he spoke to the fishermen and told them to build a shrine on the rock for he felt it to be a holy place to worship the Balinese sea Gods. The Tanah Lot temple was built and has been a part of Balinese mythology for centuries. The temple is one of seven sea temples around the Balinese coast. Each of the sea temples were established within eyesight of the
next to form a chain along the south-western coast.
At the base of the rocky island, poisonous sea snakes are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and
intruders. As well as one giant snake which also protects the temple, which was created from Nirarthas scarf
when he established the island. In 1980 the temples rock face was starting to crumble and the area around and inside the temple started to become dangerous. The Japanese government then provided a loan to the Indonesia government of Rp. 800 Billion to restore & conserve the historic temple and other beach locations around the island of Bali. As a result, over one third of the rock which can be seen is artificial created under the Japanese upgrade works. On the down side, the area leading to Tanah Lot is highly commercialised and visito
Nikon D300 |
Original size: 4500x3000 |
Current: 800x534 |