Pura Tanah Lot
Pura Tanah Lot Temple is located on the territory of the Indonesian island of Bali on a towering cliff, washed on all sides by the sea. Translated, it means: "a temple standing in the sea." The temple is built in the form of a pagoda, as a symbol of the sacred abode of the gods. Pura Tanah Lot is one of the main temples in Bali. There are six more temples along the coast of Bali, the peculiarity of which is that standing on the territory of one, you can see the next temple.
At high tide, the structure of Pura Tanah Lot resembles a fabulous ship sailing among the endless expanses of the sea. The waves crashing against the rocks have polished the temple to a high gloss over the millennia.
You can visit it only at low tide and good weather, which is when the narrow passage from the island to the cliff breaks off. Two pairs of gates have been erected in front of the entrance to the complex. At the first gate, the sculptures look at visitors with a scrutinizing gaze, as if assessing. The second gate is located on the seashore, beyond which there is a view of Pura Tanah Lot. There are many different statues and monuments on the territory of the temple.
According to legend, this holy place was built by a Hindu brahmin in the 15th century, who came to light from a spring on a rock. At the foot of the cliff, inside the cave, there was a huge snake created from a brahmin's scarf. The snake guarded the temple, keeping evil spirits away from it.
Pura Tanah Lot Temple is interesting for both pilgrims and ordinary tourists. The first was as prayers, and the second was to see the unusual beauty of the building, the local beauty of nature and magnificent sunsets. However, only Hindu believers who climb the stairs carved into the rock are allowed into the middle of the temple. Tourists are not allowed to enter the middle of the temple, they can only visit the lower part of the cliff. There are two caves at the foot of the cliff, which can only be visited with guides. The guards of the cave, venomous snakes, live in one, and a stream flows from the walls of the second, whose water is considered healing. Everyone can drink this water. This island is also popular with tourists because of the magnificent pictures taken against the background of Pura Tanah Lot. The photogenic nature of the temple is especially beautiful at sunset.
Half a century ago, the rock began to collapse. Japan helped save the shrine from destruction. They were the ones who helped with the money to strengthen the rock. Therefore, part of it is already inauthentic, half of the base of the rock has been replaced with cement mortar. The temple is under UNESCO protection.
