Tanah Lot is a rock formation off the island of Bali. It is home to the ancient Hindu pilgrimage temple Pura Tanah Lot (literally “Tanah Lot temple”). The temple sits on a large offshore rock and is only accessible on foot at low tide.
Tanah Lot means “Land (in the) Sea” in the Balinese language. The main deity of the temple is Dewa Baruna or Bhatara Segara, who is the sea god or sea power. At the base of the rocky island, venomous sea snakes are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders.
Tanah Lot is claimed to be the work of 16th-century religious figure Dang Hyang Nirartha. He is at the origin of the chain of 7 sea temples that surrounds Bali. Each of the sea temples was established within eyesight of the next.
In 1980 the temple’s rock face started to crumble and the area around and inside the temple was becoming dangerous. Over one-third of Tanah Lot’s current “rock” is actually cleverly disguised artificial rock, created during a Japanese-funded and supervised renovation and stabilization program.
About 300 meter north of Pura Tanah Lot lies the Pura Batu Bolong temple, often overlooked by tourists, but one of my favorite temples during sunset.
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