Tirta Empul Temple & bathing and self-purification ceremony
Tirta Empul Temple is one of the largest and busiest Hindu Balinese water temples located in the village of Manukaya, near the town of Tampaksiring. The temple is famous for its holy spring water as well as the bathing and self-purification ceremony, locally known as the 'melukat' ritual. In the central yard of the temple, visitors will see two sacred purification pools where local Balinese and Hindu worshippers dip their heads under the water spouts to cleanse and purify themselves. Behind the pools is the inner courtyard or the Jeroan, including a rectangular water spring filled with green algae, which feeds the purification pools, a large koi fish and some brightly decorated shrines. This is a quiet place where people come to pray. Visitors can also enjoy wandering around or just sit and relax in a calm and serene atmosphere.
