On our way back down from the volcano, we wanted to stop at Tirta Empul, and join the Balinese at  the sacred Hindu temple in the middle of Bali’s jungle, famous for its holy spring water where Hindu Bali people go for purification.

Legend has it that the sacred spring was created by the god Indra. His forces had been poisoned by Mayadanawa, so he pierced the earth to create a fountain of immortality to revive them. So the main attraction here is a long rectangular pool carved of stone, filled with koi and fed by the sacred spring via 12 fountains. Balinese worshippers first make an offering at the temple, and then climb into the main pool to bathe, pray and get purified. Many then collect the holy water in bottles to take home.