Tucked away just north of Ubud, Pura Tirta Empul is Bali’s answer to a sacred spa day. This ancient Hindu water temple, built in 962 AD, is dedicated to Vishnu, the god of water - so you know it’s got some serious spiritual street cred. The main attraction here is a natural spring, said to be the “elixir of life,” bubbling up into crystal-clear pools, where 30 waterspouts feed two sacred purification pools.
Join the locals in the melukat ritual, where a dip under the spouts is believed to cleanse the mind, body, and soul. And don’t miss the inner courtyard (jeroan), often overlooked by tourists. It’s a peaceful spot where people come to pray, surrounded by the temple’s large water spring, green algae, and little fish darting through the reeds. Oh, and did we mention it’s right below the Presidential Palace of Tampaksiring?