Pandoraspace

Pura Tanah Lot:  The temple by the sea

According to this article, Pura Tanah Lot means “temple of land in the middle of the sea”.  I cannot argue with that as the temple speaks for itself.

I was told that only the Balinese are allowed to visit the temple on special occasions.  It is off-limits to everyone else.  It is also believed that Pura Tanah Lot was built in honor of the Balinese sea gods sometime in the 15th or 16th century under the direction of the priest Nirantha. (See this article.)  According to local legend, sea snakes guard the temple against evil spirits.

To get to Pura Tanah Lot, LS and I had to pass a number of stores that sell clothes and other Balinese products.  For this reason, I was rather distracted upon reaching the gates of the temple.  I was also distracted by the crowd.  Luckily, LS and I found a quiet spot on top of a hill opposite the temple.  We spent some time on that spot watching strong waves crash against the temple walls.  It was there what I wondered whether there were really sea snakes nearby.  Looking back, I think, maybe if I stayed on that spot any longer that I did, I would have probably gone to embrace the beautiful sea, which was calling to me.