Ubud

Pura Tirta Empul: the holy spring purification ritual, respectfully

MyBroBali Travel Guide · 5 min read

Pura Tirta Empul, near Tampaksiring in the Ubud area, is one of Bali's most important water temples, built around a natural spring believed to have healing and purifying properties. It's also the temple where visitors can take part in melukat — a traditional Balinese-Hindu purification ritual — rather than just observing from a distance.

What melukat actually involves

Melukat is a ritual cleansing performed by standing in the temple's stone pools and bowing under a row of water spouts, one at a time, often while offering a short prayer at each. It's rooted in Balinese Hindu belief and practiced daily by locals, not staged for tourists — visitors are welcome to join, but it's worth approaching it as a genuine cultural and spiritual practice rather than just a photo opportunity.

What to bring and expect

• A change of clothes and a towel — you will get wet
• A sarong (rentable at the entrance if you don't have one)
• Small notes for offerings, which are usually available to purchase near the pools
• Modest behavior — this is an active place of worship, not a swimming pool
• Some spouts are reserved for specific purposes or restricted during ceremonies — follow the signage or ask a local guide

If you'd rather just visit

You don't have to enter the water to visit Tirta Empul. The temple grounds themselves — courtyards, carved gates, and the koi-filled pools — are worth walking through even if you skip the ritual entirely.

Getting there

Tirta Empul is about 25–40 minutes from central Ubud, making it one of the easier temple visits to fit into a half-day Ubud itinerary alongside Tegalalang Rice Terrace and the Sacred Monkey Forest.