A Totally Different Spiritual Experience - The holy waters in this temple, reputed to have once revived the dead are an integral part of Balinese faith. Travellers participate during the day and locals only at night. You are provided with a sarong to be respectful as you walk around but to take part in the purification ceremony you must rent a different one. [ Bring your swimwear as you will need it] The ceremony begins with a small offering (small donation) then you progress through a number of pools where at each position you a) pray b) wash your face three times and then put your head under the inflow. This is repeated about 12 times. Spiritually cleansing, quite refreshing and very different. Totally recommended The shopping village on the way out is too much though. The vendors being exceptionally pushy

A deeply spiritual, grounding experience with one disappointing logistical change - This was my second time visiting Tirta Empul Temple, and it remains one of my absolute favourite experiences in Bali. I first did the water purification ceremony in 2023 and returned again in 2026. Both times were genuinely beautiful. The ceremony offers a rare balance of personal reflection and shared experience. You are very much in your own headspace, yet still connected to others around you. There is something incredibly grounding about being immersed in water, ritual, and tradition while surrounded by people doing the same with genuine respect. If you are spiritual by nature, enjoy water, or are interested in Hinduism and Balinese culture, this is absolutely worth the trip. It feels like a meaningful way to honour the religion and way of life, not just observe it. This time, I visited with my parents and sister. My sister and I had already done the ceremony, but it was my parents’ first time, and watching them experience it for the first time was really special. It was calm, respectful, and genuinely moving. One strong recommendation: hire one of the local photographers at the temple. If your whole group is participating in the ceremony, you cannot take cameras or phones into the water. We hired a local photographer and received a large number of high-quality, professional photos for 400,000 IDR (around 40 AUD). For the quality, it was excellent value, and it is a great way to support the local economy while taking home a meaningful memento. The only downside this time was the exit experience. Previously, entry and exit were both via the car park. Now, you are required to exit through a marketplace. I do not mind markets at all and actively support local vendors. I bought items before even realising the market was compulsory. The issue was that the layout felt like a labyrinth, with limited exits and no clear wayfinding. We actually had to double back through the market because we could not find a way out, and vendors were understandably more focused on selling than helping visitors navigate. It was a frustrating and slightly jarring end to what is otherwise a very spiritual, grounding experience. The contrast between the calm of the temple and the confusion of the exit did not quite land. That said, this is still an experience I love and would recommend without hesitation. Just be prepared for the market exit, take your time, and enjoy the ceremony for what it truly is. A beautiful, meaningful connection to Balinese culture and spirituality.

Place of faith n worship - Like Ganges bath for indians. Hindi temple visited by most Hindus. If you wish tongo inside the temple, you must take offerings for worship

a moment out of time - Take a guide to do the cleansing ceremony, it's really worth it with a lot of extra explanations. it's an interesting spiritual experience if there aren't too many people of course

Spiritual morning for us! - Enjoyed this memorable authentic experience! A very spiritual and beautiful time spent at this water temple with our private guide who ensured that we understood the culture, purpose, and rules within the process! He took lots of pictures for us, brought offerings for us, and made our experience a perfect one!

Honeymoon Visit - This was top of my list to experience during our time in Bali. It was absolutely wonderful and would highly recommend if you are in the area. Such a wonderful experience for myself and my husband.

Sacred waters & purification temple !! - We visited Pura Tirta Empul during our time exploring the Ubud region, and it turned out to be a truly memorable experience. The temple is renowned for its sacred water springs, where locals and visitors alike take part in a purification ritual believed to cleanse the soul. You move through a series of water spouts in a specific sequence, making the experience feel both spiritual and immersive. The temple does get quite crowded, especially during peak hours, so visiting early in the day is a good idea. Don’t miss the adjoining section with a tranquil fish pond — it’s a lovely spot to slow down, feed the fish, and capture some beautiful photos.

Touri Temple - The temple is very crowded and has become a tourist attraction. The water ceremony is nice to watch but not recommended. The exit through the market makes it clear what this is all about.