Bali Heaven Official Blog

Tirta Gangga Water Palace

Tirta Gangga means the sacred water from the Ganges. It is the name of a village in East Bali and also the name of the water palace built in 1946 by the king of Karangasem, by the name Anak Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem. Even to this date Tirta Gangga belongs to the royal family of Karangasem. Known for its extreme rural beauty, the place holds a special place of reverence for the Hindu Balinese people. The water garden incorporates a unique architecture with Balinese and Chinese styles.

Reaching Tirta Gangga

Tirta Gangga Water Palace is located in the Abang district in Ababi village. It is very easy to reach Tirta Gangga. The place is 83 km of Denpasar. Those arriving at Ngurah Rai International airport will find that Denpasar is very close to the airport. It is a 3 hour journey from Denpasar to Tirta Gangga. There is a large bus station in Denpasar and a lot of buses ply between the two places regularly. Besides Tirta Gannga is just 6 km from Amlapura which means a 10 minute bus ride form the place. It is also a common side trip from the resort towns along the coast like Candidasa and Amed. One can use the public buses or charter the buses from nearby towns such as Karangasem or even from Candidasa. The road route to Tirta Gangga, for those who are driving themselves, is also very easy to figure out.

Tirta Gangga Attractions

The Water palace
The king had built a magnificent complex measuring around 1.2 hectares studded with a maze of pools. The palace was destroyed in the 1963 eruption of Mount Batur but has been amazingly restored to its original royal grandeur. The palace’s centerpiece has two beautiful pools and an 11 tiered water fountain along with many sculptures and carvings. The palace also has the rest house of the kind and another complex full of swimming pools where one can enjoy themselves in the royal baths. The place is also called “embukan” or spring water by many people as there was a spring in the area before the palace was built. This spring is considered to be very religious and sacred because it was also used to wash the Gods.

Scenic Attractions
The rural area of Tirta Gangga is full of some stunning views that include rice paddy terraces, hills and at some points even the sea in the distance, situated as it is on a high ridge. One can enjoy the sunrise and sunset views too and bask in the old Balinese culture. The Lempunyang Temple is another attraction in the area situated 10km from Tirta Gangga. The temple is one amongst 9 directional temples in Bali. The upper part of the temple is closed, although a Balinese driver could arrange with the priest to have it opened for you.

The predecessor of the king who built Tirta Gangga had constructed another water palace called Taman Ujung, which isn’t as beautiful as Tirta Gangga but is worth a visit. Tirta Gangga is also a great area for trekkers and photographers.