Most visitors to Tampak Siring focus on either Tirta Empul Temple or Gunung Kawi Temple—or, of course, both. Tirta Empul centers on a sacred spring where foreigners can enjoy a water blessing and purify themselves in the bathing pools alongside Balinese worshippers. Gunung Kawi occupies a valley and features historic rock-cut shrines shaped like Javanese temples (candi) as well as mysterious carved caves known as meditation cells. Most Tampak Siring tours either depart from Ubud or feature sights in Ubud and/or Kintamani.
Tampak Siring is a must for photographers, and history and culture enthusiasts.
You’ll need a sarong to visit both Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi; they are available on-site.
Ubud guides and tour companies can arrange traditional Hindu water blessing rituals at Tirta Empul Temple.
Tampak Siring sits about 8 miles (13 kilometers) north of Ubud. There is no public transport, so most visitors hire a private driver or join an organized tour from Ubud.
While Gunung Kawi is relatively peaceful most times, Tirta Empul Temple is a popular destination for bus tours. If you’re looking to experience the serenity of this sacred spring at its finest, visit Tirta Empul early in the morning and then head to Gunung Kawi, about 1 mile (1.3 kilometers) down the road.
Known by some as the Valley of the Kings, Gunung Kawi is one of Bali’s most historically important sites and speaks to the rich heritage of tiny Tampak Siring. The 10 rock-cutcandi shrines pay tribute to long-dead Balinese royalty and date back about 1,000 years, to when Bali’s irrigated rice cultivation system (subak) was founded.