Bali Hai's Sunsets

Monday, September 21, 2009  , , ,  

Bali, Indonesia
September 2009


Tanah Lot - Temple In The Sea
  


   
Tanah Lot is a rock formation off the Indonesian island of Bali. It is home of a pilgrimage temple, the Pura Tanah Lot (literally "Tanah Lot temple"). Tanah Lot means "Land in the Sea" in Balinese language. Located in Tabanan, about 20 km from Denpasar, the temple sits on a large offshore rock which has been shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tide. The temple itself is built on a small promontory which is only accessible at low tide. During high water the rock takes on the appearance of a large boat at sea, such is its shape.
   

   
It is claimed to be the work of the 15th century priest 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 as a holy place to worship the Balinese sea gods.
  

   
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 were established within eyesight of the next to form a chain along the south-western coast. 



Uluwatu Temple (Pura Luhur Uluwatu) is one of Bali's nine key directional temples. Though a small temple was claimed to have existed beforehand, the structure was significantly expanded by a Javanese sage, Empu Kuturan, in the 11th Century. Another sage from East Java, Dang Hyang Nirartha, has been credited for constructing the padmasana shrines and is claimed to have attained Moksha here. Even more remarkable than the temple itself is its location, perched on a steep cliff 70 metres above the roaring Indian ocean waves. There are more steep headlands on either side and sunsets over Uluwatu are a sight to behold.


Although the long-tailed macaques can be notorious for their aggressiveness, they are fascinating photography subjects when juxtaposed with the majestic cliffs and the spellbinding sunsets....

   
Officially known as Pura Luhur Uluwatu ("Luhur" means "something of divine origin" while "Uluwatu" can be broken into "ulu" which means "land's end" and "watu" means "rock" in the old language). Pura Luhur Uluwatu is regarded as one of the six most important temples in Bali. Its location on the south westernmost precinct of this magical island guards the Balinese from the evil spirits of the ocean.

Just minutes before it sets, the sun hides behind some cumulus clouds, 
casting a soft glow over the inward-rolling waves...



More photos are available on Merlion Wayfarer Goes World's Picasa at :

Bali Hai's Sunsets


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