Situated to the northeast of the city of Denpasar, the temple town of Tampaksiring is popular with those who are interested in ancient temples intertwined with natural beauty.
Most people travel to Tampaksiring to visit the ancient temple complex, which is one of the best examples of candis temples found in Indonesia and perhaps the entire world. However, there are plenty of other attractions here such as sparkling springs and a modern palace.
It is possible to spend the night in Tampaksiring as there are a number of good hotels and guest houses available, with restaurants serving tasty home-cooked food. However, Tampaksiring is just a few hours away from Denpasar and Ubud, making this a good daytrip destination for those who prefer to use a city as base.
Getting There
Getting to Tampaksiring is fairly straightforward as it is just a 3-hour drive from the Denpasar, which is served by Ngurah Rai International Airport. Buses run regularly to Tampaksiring from Denpasar’s large bus station, which is located near the airport. There are also buses to Tampaksiring from nearby towns and cities such as Sayan and Ubud.
Need to Know
- Worth it? Only if you are in the area and want to explore the ancient temples.
- What to do: wander around the ancient temple complex, visit the palace, relax near the springs.
- Best time to go: during the dry season between May and September.
- How long? A day or less is enough to explore Tampaksiring.
- Trivia: mystery still surrounds the original purpose of Tampaksiring’s ancient temples.