Tanah Lot , The Land From God

  Tanah Lot is a rock formation off the Indonesian island of Bali, located precisely in countryside of Beraban, district of Kediri, sub-province of Tabanan. About 20 km from Denpasar, and 13 km from city of Tabanan, wide of Tanah Tanah Lot is 202.830 m2 and the circle is 2.509 m. Tanah Lot visited by one million of domestic and foreign tourist every year, so that Tanah Lot becoming one of the tourism icon in Bali. All of that thing because of Tanah Lot have different characteristic with the other, that is ; looks like a floating one if the tide is high but when tide is low, people can walk to the temple. There is a cave which are inhabited by holy snake. People believe and the priest that guard the cave say if we touch the snakes we will got blessing from god and embrace by kindness , according to the belief the snake belong to the God in the temple.

History
Tanah Lot consist of 2 words. Which is Tanah means "Land" and Lot mean "Sea" in Balinese language. So, Tanah Lot means " Land in The Sea". 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 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 for he felt it to be 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.
At the base of the rocky island, poisonous sea snakes are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders. A giant snake purportedly protects the temple, which was created from Nirata’s scarf 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. The Japanese government then provided a loan to the Indonesia government of Rp 800 billion (approximately USD $130 million) to conserve the historic temple and other significant locations around Bali. As a result, over one third of Tanah Lot's "rock" is actually cunningly 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 carefully planned set of Balinese market-format souvenir shops which cover each side of the path down to the sea. On the mainland cliff tops, restaurants have also been provided for tourists.

Border of Tanah Lot

North : Rice Field
East : Bali Nirvana Resort  ( owner by bakrie corporation, the place that nia ramadhani and the son of bakrie held the glamour reception of their wedding )
South : Indian Ocean
West : Indian Ocean and River of Kutikan

source : wikipedia.com & tanah lot.net

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