Pura Tanah Lot: The Sea Temple

Pura Tanah Lot is a very busy and crowded place, especially on sunny days, there are hundreds of tourists around trying to get the best views of the temple from various angles, so the best time to visit the temple is during the low seasons (mostly from mid-January to mid-April and mid-September to mid-December) during these periods there are lesser crowds and accommodation/flight costs are fair.

The best time of the day to visit the temple is during the evenings at sunset, as the view is absolutely breathtaking, however, expect more crowds during this time. Another good thing to note is that a Tanah Lot tour is best done during low tides, because this makes for the best angle views and you are allowed to walk to the base of the temple and be blessed by the priests there. 

1. Relax and Enjoy the Scenery at Kuta Beach

It's more than just white sands and sparkling waters at Bali's most famous beach resort. Kuta Beach is the epitome of paradise on earth, it is no wonder that it attracts thousands of people. This famous beach was once a small fishing village but now serves as a major hotspot for tourists coming to Indonesia. Which is why this is the perfect spot to relax and unwind after hours of adventuring through the glamorous base of the Tanah Lot. The beach is home to lots of surfers and many other water activities, so you might want to grab those surf boards and catch some of the best waves on the planet.

2. Step into Historical Royalty at the Pura Tama Ayun in Ubud

Since you are already invested in temples in Indonesia, why not take your temple game even higher by paying a visit to another historical and world heritage temple in Bali. Tama Ayun is among the most aesthetically pleasing temples in Bali and is located in a mystical park sheltered by trees and ponds, just a few kilometers from the village of Mengwi (south Bali) it is a temple built to honor various historical deities and gods. The temple has a rift in form of canals and can only be accessed through a bridge that leads you to a wide spaced grassy courtyard, which leads to another courtyard that houses multiple shrines, and ponds filled with lots of lotus blossoms.

3. Visit the Monkeys at Alas Kedaton Sacred Sanctuary in Tabanan

Alas Kedaton is a popular monkey forest sanctuary - a sacred one at that. The sanctuary is made up of 6.4 acres of land purely inhabited by big bats and monkeys. The forest sanctuary is located at Kukuh village in Tabanan and makes for a top spot to drop by during your Pura Tanah Lot adventure. The crab-eating macaque is the major breed of monkey found in this sanctuary, and Bali in general, as these primates are native to Southeast Asia. While here, you can have a double adventure by heading to the middle of the Kedaton forest to gasp in awe at the Alas Kedaton temple; a Hindu temple relic which was built around 1178 AD.

4. Be Inspired at the Agung Rai Museum of Art in Ubud

What better place to catch up on some quality art work by famous artists like Walter Spies and many others, than the Agung Rai Museum. This museum was established by a Balinese man Agung Rai, someone who was so passionate about arts and today is home to a range of artistical masterpieces with highlights of works from 19^th century Javanese artist, Raden Saleh (notable work being the drawing of the Javanese Nobleman and his Wife) and other remarkable works from the likes of Affandi, Le Mayeur, Sadali, Hofker and Bonnet. Exhibits also features works like classical Kamasan paintings and Batuan themed works from the early 30's and 40's. If you are lucky, you might witness the local kids come out to do the famous Balinese Kecak dance.

The Tanah Lot temple is a 45-minute drive from Ubud. Bali and from there it is only a 45-minute drive from Ubud to Tanah Lot. You can easily get a taxi from Kuta or Seminyak, however taxi fares can be unreasonably priced, so be ready to bargain. While getting there is a straight forward affair, returning from the destination can be a hassle, especially during the evenings when the traffic gets congested with tourist buses and taxis alike.

Good to know

• Entrance fee costs, IDR 60,000, roughly USD 4,18.  An additional small donation is expected after entering the temple. 
• Accessing the top of the temple is restricted to the temple’s priests and locals only. However, you can walk around the base of the temple and visit the small shrine. 
• If crowds aren't your thing, then you might want to avoid visiting Tanah Lot during major holidays like the Nyepi Balinese New Year in March, Indonesia's Independence Day (17^th August) and festivals like the Galungan -the most prestigious religious festival that is held every 210 days and lasts for 10 days.
• The tide is something that varies throughout the day, so you might want to check the tide times before embarking on your trip.

Indonesia is blessed with so many cultural sites and exotic places, Bali being a top spot on the list, and Pura Tanah Lot is without a doubt a wonderful travel destination in Bali. The beautiful temple is something everyone needs to see and experience at one point or another.