Situated just six kilometers from the city of Amlapura in east Bali, the sleepy village of Tirta Gangga is surrounded by intense natural beauty.
Most visitors come to Tirta Gangga to take a dip in the water palace, which was built in 1947 by the Anak Agung Anglurah Ketut, last king of Karangasem. However, Tirta Gangga is also a great place for walking as it is situated on a high ridge, offering stunning views of the surrounding rice paddies, rolling hills and even the sea far in the distance.
Tirta Gangga’s close proximity to Amlapura means that it is possible to visit the village on a daytrip as there are regular buses running between the two locations. Although there are a few modest places to stay in Tirta Gangga, there are more accommodation options and restaurants in Amlapura.
Getting There
Most visitors to Tirta Gangga tend to arrive at Ngurah Rai International Airport, which is located just outside the city of Denpasar. There is a large bus station near the airport, with several buses each day traveling to Tirta Gangga (3 hours). There are also regular buses from Amlapura (10 minutes) and well as towns and cities such as Candidasa.
Need to Know
- Worth it? Only if you are in the area and want to visit the water palace.
- What to do: splashing around in the royal baths, hiking through the countryside, visiting the palace.
- Best time to go: during the dry season between May and September.
- How long? A few hours is enough time to explore Tirta Gangga.
- Trivia: Tirta Gangga means ‘water of the Ganges’ in the local dialect.