Tirta Gangga – Bali’s most beautiful water palace & hidden paradise
Suddenly it becomes very quiet in Tirta Gangga. Around me I hear only the birds and the buzzing of insects. At this time of day it is very quiet here at the Tirta Gangga Water Palace. Only some busy employees quickly scurry through the complex and clean the pools and walkways.
Around me I do not see a soul at this moment. A look at the clock tells us that it is now time for breakfast. So I leave my little vantage point and go back to the hotel a few meters away. In this article I have some tips for your trip for you.
A tourist attraction in Bali that is not really one at all? There is also this. If you are looking for a hidden and almost lonely corner, you should plan a visit to the water palace of Tirta Gangga (or Tirtagangga. I visit the water palace together with and stay at the Tirta Ayu Hotel
Tirta Gangga Water Palace – An Idyll in Bali
Coming – Your way to Tirta Gangga
The water palace Taman Tirta Gangga with the many water pools and koi carps is open daily from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. The entrance fee for tourists is 10.000 IDR (approx. 0,70 Euro). The use of the swimming pool costs an additional 10.000 IDR. Tirta Gangga is located in the east of Bali, about six kilometers from Amlapura (Karangasem).
The travel time from Denpasar is about 2 hours. The best time to visit Tirta Gangga is early in the morning or late in the evening, when there are no school classes on the grounds of the Water Palace.
If you stay at the Tirta Ayu Hotel, right on the grounds of the water palace, you don't have to pay an entrance fee and can stay on the grounds after 5:30 p.m. or before 7:30 a.m. in peace and quiet and all alone. A tremendous benefit and very relaxing. This is how I did it and I can only recommend it.
The history of Tirta Gangga
Tirta Gangga is a water palace and village in eastern Bali. Nearby are the coastal towns of Amed and Candidasa. Tirta Gangga is known for its beautiful and elaborate water gardens and the nearby rice fields.
By the way, Tirta Gangga means "water from the Ganges". This sacred water is represented by water fountains, pools and gardens. Your camera should be ready at any time!
Tirta Gangga was built in 1948 by King Anak Agung Anglurah, the King of Karangasem and is a place that Balinese Hindus visit with great reverence. Unfortunately, the site was almost completely destroyed in a volcanic eruption in 1963. The site has since been rebuilt and restored to its original condition.
Tirta Gangga – What to see here?
The 12.000 square meter water palace invites you to drift and explore with its decorative ponds, fountains and lush gardens. The main attraction is the 11-tiered lotus water fountain, which serves as the unofficial symbol of the water palace. There are also many beautiful carvings and statues decorating the gardens.
The water circulating in the garden is considered sacred and is used for important religious festivals and ceremonies. The area around the water palace is also breathtaking. Beautiful green rice fields abound, serving as a great photo opportunity. The surrounding hills and mountains that dominate the horizon do the rest.
Tirta Gangga and the many fish
What struck me immediately are the thousands of fish swimming in the created pools. Especially huge Koi carp swim around the figures in the ponds. For little money (5.000 IDR approx. 0,35 Euro) you can buy fish food from the locals here.
Especially in the early morning the fish are very (!) hungry and almost jump on the small platforms of the pools. More and more fish come and demand their delicious breakfast.
Best to feed the fishes when no other tourist is feeding them. Then you will have the most fun and hundreds of fishes around you.
The rejuvenating waters of Tirta Gangga
For the locals the water of Tirta Gangga is sacred. Many sacred ceremonies take place here in the complex, which also includes a small temple. By the way, this picture is typical for Bali. Everywhere you will find no shrines or even temples to pay respect to the gods.
The water here in Tirta Gangga is said to have a very special effect, because it is said to help the one who bathes in the water to a younger self. It is worth a try, isn't it??
Staying at the Tirta Ayu Hotel
Since I also like it quite sociable and especially uncomplicated, I look forward to my overnight stay in a resort on the grounds of the Water Palace.
The hotel offers with the restaurant a view of the gardens. During breakfast or even dinner, you can still dream a little bit and do not have to concentrate on other thoughts.
The few rooms of the hotel are designed in typical Balinese villa style and have a great outdoor bathroom. In the rooms you are really only a stone's throw away from the grounds. A small but beautiful pool invites you to cool off a bit.
If you feel like it you can relax in the pavilion next to the pool with a Balinese massage and drift a bit. Best to stay until the last visitor has left and you can enjoy the twilight in the palace complex alone.
The first stop of my Bali round trip with Erlebe Fernreisen
I am during my round trip through Bali on the road with Erlebe Fernreisen . For 7 nights I explore Bali and make 4 different stops. The first stop is Tirta Gangga including an overnight stay at Tirta Ayu Hotel.
Erlebe Fernreisen offers this combination in one module, which you can find here:
All Bali inspirations at a glance:
Do you have any questions about Tirta Gangga Water Palace?
Did you like this article? Do you have anything else that needs to be added? Let me know in the comments!
Open and honest: Thanks to Erlebe Fernreisen for the invitation. As always, my opinion is not influenced by this. I only report about places and things I can really recommend from the bottom of my heart. Tirta Gangga and the Tirta Ayu Hotel are among them.