Bali sights
Tanah Lot Temple
Bali's most photographed temple, sitting on a wave-carved offshore rock cut off by the sea at high tide. Legendary at sunset, and reachable on foot across the rocks when the tide is low.
About
Tanah Lot — 'land in the sea' — is the most iconic image of Bali, a 16th-century temple sitting on a craggy rock that the tides cut off from the shore twice a day. Like Uluwatu, it is attributed to the wandering priest Nirartha, who is said to have asked local fishermen to build a shrine here after sensing the rock's holiness; legend holds that venomous sea snakes guard the base from intruders. The temple itself is open only to worshippers, but the real draw is the spectacle: at low tide you can walk across the wet rocks to its foot, and at sunset the silhouette of its multi-tiered meru against a burning sky is one of the great sights of Indonesia. The surrounding clifftops have been developed with walkways, viewpoints, and a long parade of souvenir and snack stalls, so come early or stay late to sidestep the tour-bus crush.
Good to know
Opening hours and entry fees vary by season — check before you visit.