The Tourist Zoo at Tanah Lot

What is Tanah Lot?

Tanah Lot is Bali’s most famous temple, and a popular destination for pilgrims and tourists alike. Located inside a rock formation just off the Balinese coast, the temple can be reached by foot during low tide.

Like most travel destinations, it is best visited at sunrise, before the crowds arrive.

 

Tourists on the beach at Tanah 0Lot
Scores of tourists all over the beach at Tanah Lot, Bali, Indonesia

Bali’s Tanah Lot, according to Wikipedia:

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 was established within eyesight of the next to form a chain along the south-western coast. In addition to Balinese mythology, the temple was significantly influenced by Hinduism.

At the base of the rocky island, venomous sea snakes are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders. The temple is purportedly protected by a giant snake, which was created from Nirartha’s selendang (a type of sash) when he established the island.

 

Tanah Lot temple, a famous pilgrimage spot for Hindus, during high tide
Tanah Lot temple, a famous pilgrimage spot for Hindus, during high tide

What’s Tanah Lot Really Like?

Carrie and I visited Tanah Lot during a 9 month backpacking trip across Southeast Asia. This is what I wrote on May 31, 2009.

Tourists heading towards Tanah Lot in Bali, Indonesia
Tourists heading towards Tanah Lot in Bali, Indonesia

Our final stop before the airport was the most famous temple in Bali: Tanah Lot. Situated on the ocean, it is a pilgrim location for tourists and locals alike and also has the title of the most photographed spot on the island. Nothing could have prepared us for what awaited us. We thought the gauntlet in Kuta and Phuket was intense.

Before entering the Tanah Lot grounds, visitors have to walk through a quarter mile strip to the main entrance. Both sides of this narrow street are filled with shops and street vendors all packed in like sardines. There is nowhere to go except to follow the crowd or to stop and buy something.

Souvenirs for sale outside Tahah Lot in Bali, Indonesia
Souvenirs for sale outside Tahah Lot in Bali, Indonesia

I would rate the experience as a claustrophobic person’s worst nightmare. Considering it’s the #1 tourist destination in the country, you can imagine the scene … or you can watch the video below

Once inside the gates, the scene was more of the same. The beach was lined with tourists all snapping away, posing, clowning around and taking it in. Fortunately the tide was out so people couldn’t get to the temple itself, or it too would be crawling. I can’t figure out another place that I’ve ever been to that is quite like that. Regardless, the temple itself was beautiful and worth the trek to get to.

Here’s a video of the tourist scene at Tanah Lot in Bali, Indonesia