I was fortunate enough to visit Pura Tirta Empul Temple Ubud during the Chinese New Year and Tết holiday. After doing some research, I became increasingly curious about this famous water purification temple located north of Ubud.
In this guide to Pura Tirta Empul Temple Ubud, I’ll explain how to get there, what to wear, the purification process, and the total costs you can expect during your visit.
Visiting Pura Tirta Empul
Pura Tirta Empul Temple Ubud sits roughly 9 miles (15 km) from central Ubud. The temple opens daily from 7am to 5pm.
- Entrance fee: 50,000 IDR per person
- Payment method: Cash only (bring small notes)
Make sure you carry cash, as card payments are not accepted.
What should I wear?
As with most temples in Indonesia, visitors must dress respectfully. However, you don’t need to bring special clothing.
Upon entering Pura Tirta Empul Temple Ubud, staff provide a traditional Indonesian sarong. If you do not plan to take part in the water purification ritual, they will give you a standard skirt to cover your legs.
How to get there?
I would recommend either booking a Grab or riding a scooter to the temple as the journey along windy and often treacherous roads is part and parcel of the fun. I personally opted for the latter, which at some points I must admit I regretted during the heavy down pouring of rain. The total journey took around 1 hour, however this was extended as I was forced to pull over at a local cafe as the rain became too intense.
Tip: Don’t forget your rain jacket.
What to expect at the temple
Once you arrive and pay your ticket you’ll be dressed in a skirt to cover your knees and led into the complex. After short look around the area, it was clear that the main focus of this attraction is the water cleansing/healing. There isn’t really any signage which provides any valuable insights into the area, so please be aware that if you are interested in learning more about the temple, perhaps a guided tour would be beneficial.
Water purification and healing cost
To enter the purification pools, you must rent:
- A special sarong
- A locker for your belongings
Cost: 25,000 IDR per person (cash only)
The changing facilities are clean and well organised. You’ll find toilets and private changing rooms.
Additionally, I hired a photographer. This service costs 300,000 IDR. While optional, it can be a nice way to capture the experience. However, whether it’s worth the money depends on your budget.
Experience
Now, after you are dressed you are free to access the purification pools. In total there are 22 fountains over the course of 3 separate pools. Each of these pools has differing rituals and significance. The temple itself is Hindu, but according to what I have read the cleansing has no direct affiliation with any one religion or set of beliefs it is primarily a way in which some see as a avenue to ‘cleanse ones soul’ .
The water is fairly cold, but being from Scotland luckily I have experienced far worse. Our photographer instructed us to perform some sort of ritual which involved splashing your face with the ‘holly water’. After the conclusion of the final pool, which did have a bit of a tailback while waiting to enter. The photographer proclaimed that our souls were now cleansed. Great I thought, however it’s going to need more than that!
Is it worth it?
Yes, why not. It’s a nice scenic drive to the temple and the atmosphere is quite relaxing, furthermore the experience of splashing cold water on your face is not only refreshing, but somewhat rejuvenating. As someone who is not particularly spiritual I enjoyed these aspects more than the philosophical elements. So in my humble opinion, if you’re in Ubud give it a go, maybe you’ll reawaken your spiritual side… who knows.