Sun Set Chaser at Tanah Lot Temple

Many visitors arrive at Tanah Lot temple at around sun set time. Located on a rocky little island just by the beach, this temple stand firmly facing the Hindian ocean.

When I arrived at the parking area of the temple, it was around 4 PM. I walked along the main road that lead me to the beach. Along the road, there were many shops and restaurants. These shops were not here 20 years ago when I first came here.

Since it has become popular place, many visitors came here. THe local see this as on opportunity for working and starting business.

Paved road to the beach and the temple.

When I stepped my feet closer to the beach, I saw the hollow rock temple. Well, there are several temples in Tanah Lot. The main temple is called Tanah Lot temple, and one of the little temple perched just on the edge of the main island is called Pura Batu Bolong or the hollow rock temple.

Pura Batu Bolong or the hollow rock temple.

As I looked at the cloudy sky behind the hollow rock temple, I said to myself, I would come again when the sky is brighter. But for now, this will do.

In the past, people can go easily to this little temple. After some time, the local decided to close it to protect it. So, only prayers can go there now.

From this point, I took the photo of the little temple, and then I walked again through the little path.

A lady offer me a hand fan, well, it was hot, but no thanks.

I took another photo of the little temple. It looked different as I walked further toward the sea.

Finally, I arrived at the end of the path. While the little temple was in the right side, this was the main temple located in the left. It's called Tanah Lot temple, named after the village.

The 16th century temple called Tanah Lot.

Tanah in Balinese means land or soil. Lot means south. Hence, Tanah Lot temple means the temple in the south.
The temple is built in around 16 century. There was a priest named Dang Hyang Nirartha who came here and met fishermen. Later he said that he was going to build a temple because the rock was a good place for temple.

There was another path that lead to the main temple of Tanah Lot from where I ended up. So, I went down to the beach. As you can see in the photos, there are already some visitors in the beach near the temple.

The path leading to the main temple.

When I was there, the tide was low. I could walk easily on the beach. There were little ponds consist of water here and there caused by the previous high tide. There were some little fish in those ponds.
When the tide is high, people can not walk on the area near the Tanah Lot temple. The temple will be isolated by the sea water and become separated from the main island, Bali.
It's good time to go there when the tide is low that you would have more places to explore.

The main island on the left, and the island where Tanah Lot temple is, in the right. This would be full of water (waist-deep) when the tide is high.

In a corner of the little island, there was a spring believed to be holy. Many visitors were waiting the be blessed by the local priest.

Near the island, I saw two men looking for sea urchin (I asked them, so I knew). There was a little girl standing on a rock gathering what these men caught.

Two men hunting for sea urchin.

Catch of the day.

I resumed my exploration in the beach near the temple while waiting for the sun set. I was not so sure there would be perfect sun set as the there were clouds covering the sun. Strange, the clouds only cover the sun, but it did not cover other part of the sky😅 .

The clouds only cover the sky, and left the other part uncovered.

There are quite a numerous areas where we could wait for the sunset. Poeple can sit and wait for the sun set on the beach. Some people wait the bench and the lawn near the hollow rock temple. Some would spend their time in cafes on the higher ground opposite the temple.

Those umbrellas were cafe where poeple sit and drink waiting for the sun set.

At the end of the day, I had to accept the reality that the cloud did not want to get away from the sun. As I started walking back, I snap another photo of the hollow rock temple and the sky. I could come back again another day for a good sun set. But I must say, even there was no perfect sun set, Tanah Lot temple is a beautiful and serene place.

People walking back as evening come.