Pura Luhur Tamba Waras or Tamba Waras Temple is on the Southern Slope of Mount Batukaru, an extinct volcano and the second-highest mountain in Bali.
“Tamba” means medicine and this temple has a unique place among the temples of Bali as it features heavily in the local traditional medicine.
If you fancy spending some time in unspoiled natural beauty a long way from the crowds of places like Seminyak and Kuta, this is a must-see spot on the island.
Where Is Pura Luhur Tamba Waras?
The Pura Luhur Tamba Waras Temple is on the Southern Slope of Mount Batukaru in a bamboo grove by Sangketan Village.
It was constructed to be in line between the summit and the main city of Tabanan and with Luhur Batukaru Temple further up Mount Batukaru. Thus you can still follow the same line between all these points today.
Address: Sangketan, Penebel, Tabanan Regency, Bali 82152, Indonesia
How To Get To Pura Luhur Tamba Waras?
To get to Pura Luhur Tamba Waras you will need to either hire a private car and driver or use your own transport. While it’s easy to get a Grab or Gojek to this area, you will find it impossible to get home again after you visit the temple.
The good news is that arranging your own transport here is very cheap and even a private car and driver shouldn’t cost more than 500,000 IDR (that’s $35 USD or $50 AUD) for 8 hours, including all petrol!
When Is The Best Time To Visit Pura Luhur Tamba Waras?
There’s no bad time of year to visit temples in Bali and this temple is rarely busy even during the peak season.
It’s also worth noting that it’s quite a long way above sea level, so you should bring a coat or hoodie to keep warm here.
Is There An Entrance Fee At Pura Luhur Tamba Waras Temple?
No, there is no entrance fee to spend time on the ground at this temple. However, you may have to pay to rent a sarong and shawl at the entrance as you cannot enter any temple in Bali without being properly dressed.
This won’t be expensive and you can always buy a sarong and shawl elsewhere and bring it with you, instead.
This is also a place where Hindu devotees pay perform the “melukat” cleansing ritual and to take part in that, you must bring two Balinese coconuts as offerings.
You will be given a black and white bracelet in return for your coconuts, once the ritual is complete.
About Pura Luhur Tamba Waras Temple
Pura Luhur Tamba Waras Temple was originally known as the “Pancoran Sapta Pura Luhur Tamba Ganges Sane”.
Historical records show that this place, sometimes called Tambo Waras or Tamba Waras by the locals or “Medicine Healing” (“tamba” means “medicine”, “waras” is “healing” or “healed”), has been a pharmacy warehouse for many centuries.
It was founded as a place of worship for the manifestation of Ida Sang Hyang Widhi (the one true god of Balinese Hinduism) as a healing god.
The locals then used it to store natural and herbal remedies.
It’s said that back in the 12th century, the King of Tabanan Regency, Cokorda Tabanan seemed to be dying of a sickness that no one understood.
His servants prayed for help and they were given a mystical vision. Their vision told them to enter Batukaru Forest and walk into the centre.
As they did so, they found smoke rising from some burned coconuts on the ground. They followed the magical instructions they’d been given in their dreams and performed a ritual at this spot.
The forest guardian is said to have emerged from the trees and provided a cure for the king.
When the king returned to good health, he commanded that the Tamba Waras Temple be geographically located where the miracle had taken place.
What To Expect At Pura Luhur Tamba Waras
This is a very local temple and you won’t find many visitors here except on festival days when the local community turns out in force.
It’s a very pleasant temple to wander the grounds and you will find that it’s a photographer’s dream location as there are no crowds to get between you and the things you want to photograph.
There is an onsite pharmacy as you might expect at this temple and you will find that many locals come here to seek medical treatment.
If you like to pray or meditate at temples on the island, this is a fabulous place for it.
Where To Eat Near Pura Luhur Tamba Waras
We need to stress that there are no restaurants within walking distance of this temple and you should ensure that you have transport to get to any of these options nearby:
Niente Bali Restaurant – a wonderful place with a very beautiful setting. They do some of the best sate lilet that we’ve ever had.
Warung RAMA – a very basic nasi goreng restaurant that serves the local population. You must pay in cash here.
Bamboo Forest by WHM – don’t let the basic menu fool you, this gorgeous restaurant has some of the most talented cooks on the island. Every meal here is first-rate.
Warung Wayan Jatiluwih – this place has one of the best views in Bali but the food is very hit-and-miss.
Standard Lokal (Urutan Babi Asap) – a very basic local restaurant serving incredible food in a beautiful location. Their sambal is out of this world.
Where To Stay Near Pura Luhur Tamba Waras
There isn’t a huge amount of choices of accommodation in this area and most places are a reasonable drive from the temple and quite basic. Your options include:
Pondok Di Kebun – a lovely place in the rainforest where you will find you’re awoken by the sounds of birds chirping outside your window. The staff are lovely and the rooms are spacious and clean.
Buana Asti Homestay – a charming homestay that’s very easy to book a room at and where you will be treated like one of the family. It’s a great way to support the local community.
Pondok I Made Suta – a very basic boarding house but an extremely cheap place to stay if you’re trying to maximize your budget for other things.
Pondok Ayu Padma – this mountain cabin may or may not be accepting visitors and it’s always hard to get in touch with them. But if you can stay here, the view is incredible.
Jebug Arum – a pleasant and calm oasis in the rainforest where you are guaranteed to get a good night’s sleep.
Things To Do Near Pura Luhur Tamba Waras
There are some excellent things to do in the area and the first three are all within walking distance of the temple:
-
Mount Batukaru Hiking – the mountain doesn’t see anywhere near as many visitors as Mount Agung or Mount Batur and it’s a shame because it’s very beautiful and the views from the summit are incredible.
-
Explore Batukaru Forest – the bamboo grove in this area is lovely and you don’t have to trek the entire mountain to appreciate the natural wonder of this part of Bali.
-
Luhur Batukaru Temple – this temple is further up the mountain and it’s sort of a sister temple to this one. It’s very much worth seeing.
-
Seandan Rice Terrace – we love rice terraces in Bali and if you want an amazing view without any crowds, this is the place to go.
-
Belulang Hot Springs – a perfect place for a hot bath without spending a fortune where you can soak in the mineral waters of Bali.
FAQs
Is Pura Luhur Tamba Waras Worth It?
Yes! We’d definitely recommend visiting Tamba Waras Temple as it’s one of the most fascinating spots in Bali. As the mountain gets very few visitors compared to the two active volcanoes on the island, it’s also a great place to escape the crowds and get in touch with the “real Bali”.
This ancient pharmacy warehouse is mentioned in early historical records and it’s a real place of worship that has been left completely untouched by tourism. This makes it one of the most fascinating temples on the island.
Final Thoughts On Pura Luhur Tamba Waras
Pura Luhur Tamba Waras Temple is a wonderful place to visit and Mount Batukaru is an area of unspoiled natural beauty a long way from the crowds of Bali’s beach towns.
If you feel like spending some time around a real hidden gem on the island, then you can do much worse than visit Tamba Waras Temple and while you’re there, you can do a little hiking and see Batukaru Temple too.
Read more about the best temples in Bali here.
