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All Indonesia Abang Tirta Gangga Water Palace

Tirta Gangga Water Palace

Sacred waters rescued from the wrath of a volcano.

Abang, Indonesia

Added By
Annetta Black
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Beautiful fountain surrounded by lush gardens   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Beautiful fountain surrounded by lush gardens   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
So many koi!   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Across the bridge   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Possibly my favourite place in all of Bali   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Taman Tirta Gangga   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Taman Tirta Gangga   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Taman Tirta Gangga   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Taman Tirta Gangga   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Taman Tirta Gangga   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
  tylskie / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Walking amongst the manicured lawns, pools and beastly statuary of the Tirta Gangga water temple in Bali, it is hard to imagine the ruined state they were in not that long ago.

Construction on the gardens began in 1948, led by the last Raja of Karangasem (under the Dutch colonial rule). Built as a labor of love, the raja could often be seen getting his hands dirty with the local workers, creating a carefully arranged garden out of the rough hillside surrounding a holy natural spring.Everything came to a dramatic halt in February 1963, when Mount Agung erupted explosively. Although spared from the lava flow, earthquakes and smothering ash devastated the gardens, killing the plants and trees. In the wake of the eruption the property was abandoned, and by the time the staff returned the gardens had been looted, the plants dead and covered in ash. For the next decade and a half, the gardens declined into further ruin.An ambitious restoration process began in 1979, and was extended by the raja’s grandson until the gardens were returned to their former glory.

Related Tags

Water Water Temples Volcanoes Geology

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Located approximately fives miles north of Amlapura.

Community Contributors

Added By

Annetta Black

Edited By

Martin, siewch, Jaszmina Szendrey, tylskie...

  • Martin
  • siewch
  • Jaszmina Szendrey
  • tylskie
  • katielou106

Published

December 17, 2012

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Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirtagangga
  • http://wikitravel.org/en/Tirta_Gangga
  • http://www.hoteltirtagangga.com/
  • http://www.hoteltirtagangga.com/
Tirta Gangga Water Palace
Tirta Gangaa
Abang Village
Abang, 80852
Indonesia
-8.391954, 115.601848
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Pura Lempuyang Luhur

Abang, Indonesia

miles away

Amed Beach

Abang, Indonesia

miles away

Besakih Temple

Rendang, Indonesia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Abang

Abang

Indonesia

Places 3

Nearby Places

Pura Lempuyang Luhur

Abang, Indonesia

miles away

Amed Beach

Abang, Indonesia

miles away

Besakih Temple

Rendang, Indonesia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Abang

Abang

Indonesia

Places 3

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