TIRTA GANGGA WATER PALACE

Tirta Gangga is a lavishly decorated water garden located in Bali, spread over 1.2 hectares of crystal water pools, natural koi ponds, and surrounding tropical gardens. Formerly, these grounds were part of the ancient royal palace of the Karangasem kingdom, which was later turned into an ornamental garden. Marvel at the beautiful garden accented with bathing pools, ornate fountains, stone carvings and breezy pavilions.

Titrta Gangga allows you to travel back in time and explore the beautiful, manicured gardens of Karangasem water palaces. Located in the village of Ababi, Tirta Gangga Water Palace is a popular retreat in the regency of Karangasem, east Bali that boasts of ponds, pools and fountains. For an immersive experience, consider including Tirta Gangga in your Bali tour packages. Discover the allure of this historical gem as part of a curated itinerary that captures the essence of Bali's beauty and cultural richness.

You will find yourself surrounded by neatly cut lawns adorned with ornate statues, stepping stones, and tropical gardens on your visit to this place. The name ‘Tirta Gangga’ alludes to the holy river Ganga in Hinduism and bears of great significance for the Hindu heritage of the Balinese people.A number of pilgrims could be found at the site who carry back the springwater in pots bearing its spiritual value.

The central attraction of the garden is an imposing eleven tiered fountain that spouts water in a number of gorgeous cascades. There are numerous impressively carved stone figures holding cudgels that are scattered around the beautiful gardens, mostly of ancient Hindu deities.

Visitors can easily get to the middle of the pond by following the polygonal stepping stones that trace the paths. Swarms of large red carp and koi fishes can be seen roaming in the clear waters, and you can feed them from your own hands too! On the other side, a couple of exquisitely carved Balinese dragon statues seem to be the sentinels of a connecting bridge between the two sides of the pond, Click Insta-worthy pictures and soak in the interrupted calm at this historic garden of East Bali.

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Highlights

• Tirta Gangga, in the Karangasem regency in East Bali, was once a part of the royal palace surrounded with captivating landscapes, fascinating history and traditional markets.
• This is a lavishly decorated water garden located in East Bali, spread over 1.2 hectares of crystal water pools, natural koi ponds, and surrounding tropical gardens.
• One can witness the unique architecture of Bali and China in the form of stone carvings of ancient deities, stepping stones, and breezy pavilions.
• The central attraction of the garden is an imposing eleven tiered fountain that spouts water in a number of gorgeous cascades.
• The garden has many ponds with large red carp and koi fishes that can be seen roaming in the clear waters of the garden, and you can feed them from your own hands too!

How To Reach

Location- Jalan Raya Abang Desa Adat, Ababi, Kec. Abang, Kabupaten Karangasem, Bali 80852, Indonesia

One can find shuttles and cabs to the destination from the Ngurah Rai International Airport located in the town of Denpasar in Bali- the airport closest to the Tirta Gangga Royal Water Garden. It takes approximately 2.5 hours to travel from the airport in Denpasar to the garden located near Abang, covering a total distance of 81. 6 km. 

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Best Time To Visit

April to October are the best time to visit the Tirta Gangga Water Palace. These months are perfect to enjoy the beauty of this place as during this time there is less rain and humidity. You can visit the place during early morning and late afternoons to avoid the heat of Bali.

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Other Essential Information

History of Tirta Gangga

The name ‘Tirta Gangga’ is famous because of its water palace owned by the Royals of Karangasem. It was designed and constructed in 1948 by the last Raja of Karangasem. The water gardens are the most important contribution of the king, as the island people were surprised to see the Raja working with the laborers to help the construction of this garden. 

This water garden is constructed under a huge banyan tree that stands at the foot of a hill. Tirta means “bless­ed water” and the “Gangga '' refers to the Ganges, the holiest river in India. The place was named Tirta Gangga because of a holy spring during construction on the 1.5 hectare garden.The clear water that flows here is often used for ceremonies in the temples of the surrounding ar­eas.

The religious importance of the spring inspired the King to build himself a private country house that is just near to this spring and set amidst a beautiful recreational garden.

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Places to Visit Near Tirta Gangga:

• Pura Lempuyang Temple- The Pura Lempuyang Temple is famous for its remarkable architecture. The temple consists of more than 28 structures on seven ascending stairs. This is a beautiful and peaceful place to experience the calmness from the hustle-bustle of the city.
• Ujung Water Palace- This water palace boasts of magnificent statues, beautiful water pools, and ornamented pillars to get a visual treat. October is the best time to visit this place.

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