- Address: Ababi, Abang, Ababi, Abang, Kabupaten Karangasem, Bali 80852, Indonesia
- Website: www.tirtagangga.nl
- Year of construction: 1948
- Working time: daily, from dawn to sunset
Tirth Gangga (also often there are variants of writing "Tirtha Ganga" and "Tirtaganga") - amazing water palace in Bali , near the city of Karangasem. This magnificent place surrounded by gardens, fountains and numerous ponds is not in vain considered one of the main attractions of the island. Every year it is visited by a large number of tourists.
Tirth Gangga (also often there are variants of writing "Tirtha Ganga" and "Tirtaganga") - amazing water palace in Bali , near the city of Karangasem. This magnificent place surrounded by gardens, fountains and numerous ponds is not in vain considered one of the main attractions of the island. Every year it is visited by a large number of tourists.
general information
The name of the palace is translated from Indonesian as "the sacred waters of the Ganges River". On the map of Bali, the water palace of Tirth Gangga can be seen in the east of the island , not far (literally a couple of kilometers) from the ancient city of Amlapur. Also nearby is the Hindu Temple of Lempuyang .
The palace with adjoining parks occupies more than a hectare. There are various colorful performances on its territory. Interestingly, the site dedicated to the palace of Tirth Gangga, created the grandson of the last Raja Karangasema.
History of construction
The idea to build this unusual palace originated in the last raja of Karangasema, Anak Agung Anglurah Ketuta, in 1946. Construction began in 1948, and the Raja himself worked at the construction site as a laborer.
In 1963, the palace was almost destroyed by the eruption of the volcano Agung . Later it was partially restored, but the earthquake in 1976 again destroyed it. Serious restoration of the palace began only in 1979. And today in Tirtha Gangge restoration and restoration work is carried out. Not so long ago were:
- The walls of Saraswati pond are strengthened;
- a channel has been repaired, through which water enters the Versailles pond;
- the Lotus pond was renewed;
- near the lower pool tiles are laid.
It should be noted that while the territory is constantly open for visits.
The architecture of the complex
The Palace of Tirth Gangga is a sample of a mixture of Indonesian and Chinese styles. It consists of 3 complexes:
- lower - a system of lakes with a lot of fountains;
- medium - large swimming pools;
- the upper - in fact, the palace itself - the residence of the last rajah.
Tirth Gangga are eleven multi-level fountains, small ponds with ornamental fish, pools, carved bridges, water mazes, walking alleys and, of course, many statues of Hindu gods. On the stones of the "water maze" must necessarily go through a certain sequence - it is believed that due to this you can get beauty and health.
There are a lot of very diverse plants here - one can say that the palace is simply buried in greenery. And near the sacred source, which beats from the earth next to the sacred tree of banyan, a temple is built, in which various religious rituals are held today.
Infrastructure
Souvenir shops are located near the entrance. In the palace itself there is a restaurant, so you can easily spend a whole day here, admiring the unique structure and not worrying about how and where to refresh yourself.
On the territory of the palace you can stay for a night: there are 4 bungalows at the Tirta Ayu Hotel and Restaurant Bali. Manage the hotel and restaurant with him the descendants of the last Raja Karangasema.
How to get to the water palace?
Tirtha Gangga is located about 5 km from the capital of the island, Denpasar . You can drive to the palace by car in 17 minutes by Jl. Teuku Umar and Jl. Teuku Umar Barat or for 20 - on Jl. Imam Bonjol and Jl. Teuku Umar Barat.
The admission fee is about 35 000 Indonesian rupees (about $ 2.7), for the right to swim in the sacred body of water you will have to pay extra. Guide services will cost from 75 000 to 100 000 rupees (from $ 5.25 to $ 7.5).