Tanah Lot is a rock formation off the Indonesian island of Bali. It is home to the pilgrimage temple Pura Tanah Lot (literally "Tanah Lot temple"), a popular tourist and cultural icon for photography and general exoticism. [1] Tanah Lot Temple Tanah Lot means "Land [sic: in the] Sea" in the Balinese language.[2] Located in Tabanan , about 20 kilometres (12 mi) 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 16th-century Dang Hyang 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. [3] 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 was established within eyesight of the next to form a chain along the south-western coast. In addition to Balinese mythology, the temple was significantly influenced by Hinduism. At the base of the rocky island, venomous sea snakes are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders. The temple is purportedly protected by a giant snake, which was created from Nirartha's selendang (a type of sash) when he established the island. Restoration In 1980, the temple's rock face was starting to crumble and the area around and inside the temple started to become dangerous. [4] The Japanese government then provided a loan to the Indonesian government of Rp 800 billion (approximately US$ 130 million [5] ) to conserve the historic temple and other significant locations around Bali. As a result, over one third of Tanah Lot's "rock" is actually cleverly disguised artificial rock created during the Japanese-funded and supervised renovation and stabilization program. Tourism 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 set of Balinese market-format souvenir shops which cover each side of the path down to the sea. On the mainland clifftops, restaurants have also been provided for tourists. See also Indonesia portal Indonesian architecture Hindu temple architecture. Sightseeing Tanah Lot, Bali, is one of the famous tourist attraction with beautiful sunset. Usually tourists will come to Tanah Lot Temple in the afternoon before sunset. While waiting for the sunset of the tourists can do various activities such as capture the moment with photos, tour around the park, or just sitting around enjoying the wind blowing around Enjung Galuh or Sunset Terrace. After sunset ended, there was a show that can be enjoyed by tourists in Tanah Lot that is the Kecak Dance Show. Kecak dance is played mainly by men, where the number of players in the tens or more dancers who sit in line and a circle with a certain rhythm voices calling for "cak", raising his hands. This kecak dance created in the 1930s by Wayan Limbak and with a German painter Walter Spies. They create a dance based on ancient traditions and take sanghyang from parts Ramayana story. This dance became popular when Wayan Limbak the Balinese dancer with her tour around the world to introduce the Kecak dance. Until now become a dance Kecak Balinese art fame. Kecak Dance in Tanah Lot take from Ramayana Epic as the theme of their dance, especially the episode of Prince Rama and his wife Princess Shinta and his brother Laksamana as the legal heirs of the throne were exiling themselves to the forest to give his brother Bharata to sit on the throne. This exile has brought the situation become fatal for them when Princess Shinta was abducted by the king of Demon of Alengka Pura. The abduction of Princess Shinta is the start of the big war called Bharata Yudha between Prince Rama assisted by the fleet of monkeys soldiers and the demon fleet of Rahwana of Alengka Pura. Kecak Dance in Tanah Lot is also equipped with a dance that uses a means of fire. This was demonstrated when Hanuman rescue Dewi Shinta. Ravana who know their arrival, finally ordered his men to burn Ramadewa and Lakshmana. By the time they are having difficulty, Hanuman came to save them from the terrible fire that followed. After that Hanuman and the other monkey troops, destroy fire that created by Ravana. If you come to the Tanah Lot at Sunset afternoon, try to watch this Kecak dance performance. Kecak Dance is held at the Surya Mandala Cultural Park Tanah Lot. This place is located on the west Batu Bolong temple or adjacent to the restaurant Melasti. Kecak Dance is held every day at 06.30pm. For tickets can be found at the Information office near the beach or can be obtained directly at the Surya Mandala Cultural Park.

Tanah lot temple