Tanah Lot means “Land [sic: in the] Sea” in Balinese language,  Located in Tabanan, about 20 km from Denpasar, the temple sits on a large offshore rock which has been shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tide.

Tanah Lot is claimed to be the work of the 15th century priest Nirartha. During his travels along the south coast he saw the rock-island’s beautiful setting and rested there. Some fishermen saw him, and bought him gifts. Nirartha then spent the night on the little island. Later he spoke to the fishermen and told them to build a shrine on the rock for he felt it to be a holy place to worship the Balinese sea gods.

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 were established within eyesight of the next to form a chain along the south-western coast.

At the base of the rocky island, poisonous sea snakes are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders. A giant snake purportedly protects the temple, which was created from Nirata’s scarf when he established the island.

In 1980 the temple’s rock face was starting to crumble and the area around and inside the temple started to become dangerous. The Japanese government then provided a loan to the Indonesia government of Rp 800 billion (approximately USD $130 million to conserve the historic temple and other significant locations around Bali. As a result, over one third of Tanah Lot’s “rock” is actually cunningly disguised artificial rock created during the Japanese-funded and supervised renovation and stabilization program.

The area leading to Tanah Lot is highly commercialized and people are required to pay to enter the area. To reach the temple, visitors must walk through a carefully planned set of Balinese market-format souvenir shops which cover each side of the path down to the sea. On the mainland cliff tops, restaurants have also been provided for tourists.

The temple probably dates to the fourteenth century. It was built on the south slopes of Mount Agung, the principal volcano of Bali. The temple is actually a complex made up of twenty-two temples that sit on parallel ridges. It has stepped terraces and flights of stairs which ascend to a number of courtyards and brick gateways that lead up to the main spire Meru structure, which is called Pura Penataran Agung. All this is aligned along a single axis and designed to lead the spiritual upward and closer to the mountain which is considered sacred.

The symbolic center or main sanctuary of the complex is the Pura Penataran Agungand and the lotus throne or padmasana is the symbolic center of the main sanctuary and ritual focus of the entire complex. It dates to around the seventeenth century.

A series of eruptions of Mount Agung in 1963, which killed approximately 1,700 people also threatened Puru Besakih. The lava flows missed the temple complex by mere yards. The saving of the temple is regarded by the Balinese people as miraculous, and a signal from the gods that they wished to demonstrate their power but not destroy the monument the Balinese faithful had erected.

Annually there are at least seventy festivals held at the complex each year since there is a yearly anniversary celebrating almost every shrine. This yearly cycle is based on the 210-day Balinese wuku calendar system.

It had been nominated as a World Heritage Site as early as 1995, but remains unvested.

A cast of hundreds of the world’s rarest and most beautiful birds greet you as you stroll through tropical gardens; highly endangered endemic Bali Starlings, South American Macaws and Australian Cockatoos in their kaleidoscopic plumage, stately African Crowned Cranes and Tanzanian Flamingos milling serenely by the waters edge and Pelicans floating quietly in shimmering lotus ponds, are just some of the marvelous sights you will experience.

The variety and radiance of Indonesian Parrots will captive and enthrall you, and rare Cassowaries, Black Palm Cockatoos, Hornbills and one of the world’s largest and most varied collection of “Birds of Paradise” will fascinate you.

Birds aren’t the only exciting creatures at the park. Rare Komodo Dragons also make their home here. gardens the BALI BIRD PARK offers more than just a glorious myriad of bird life; a backdrop of ponds and waterfalls creates a perfect environment for, not only our birds, but also a Lotus and Wafer Lily collection.

As you stroll throughout the park, your eyes will continually alight on a multitude of diverse Palms and rich tropical flora. Wander through our mist-shrouded Walk-In Aviary – home to free flying birds in a dense rain-forest setting. With our advanced nursery, fully trained staff and Park Veterinarian, Bali Bird Park is a caring home for the birds and an unforgettable experience for visitors all ages.

At the restaurant our talented chefs combine the freshest ingredients in a variety of Indonesia and Western dishes, served for your pleasure in an unforgettable setting… watching Flamingos and listening to song birds rarely heard outside of Indonesia.

A perfect way to relax and enjoy a gourment meal and why not start your day in a realm of natural fantasties – “Breakfast with the birds:. At the Bali Bird Park we tempt you to linger and enjoy our fascinating living world a little longer.

The complex of this water palace is the combination of Balinese and European architectures. There are 3 big and large ponds inside the area. In the middle of the main pond, there is a building that connected to the edge of the pond by 2 bridges.

On the most tip of the highest level of this complex, we will find a great statue of “warak” (rhinoceros). Beneath the warak there is a Bull statue. From this high place we will see a marvelous view of sea, hills with lush and green forest, the beauty of Mount Agung combined with the green terraced rice fields.

The greatness of Ujung Water Palace had been destructed by the explosion of Mount Agung in 1963 which was made worst by the great shake happened in 1979. However, the recovery effort had been performed to bring back the glory of this complex of water palace by holding a reconstruction and revitalization project on it. Although it is not as great as it was, the amaze of the past still can be seen here this moment.