Guide · The arch shrine

Batu Bolong temple at Tanah Lot, the rock with the hole

Some of the best-known sunset photos labelled Tanah Lot show a different shrine: Batu Bolong temple at Tanah Lot, a small temple on a rock arch a short walk north along the shore. Here is what it is and how to see it.

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Editorial team, tanahlottempletour.comUpdated October 23, 2026Reading time about 6 minutes33 sources

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Quick facts

01What it is: A shrine on a rock with a hole in its middle.¹
02The name: Batu Bolong means hollowed stone.²
03Where: Some 300 m north of Tanah Lot.³
04Best time: Sunset, says the official site.⁴
05Rituals: Sea offerings of the Pakelem ceremony.⁵

A shrine on a bridge of rock

Walk north along the cliffs from Tanah Lot and the coast gives you a second surprise. Pura Batu Bolong stands on top of a rock that juts into the sea, and that rock has a hole right through its middle.¹ The waves run through the opening while the shrine sits above them on what looks like a natural bridge.

The name says exactly that: Batu Bolong means hollowed stone, and the Ministry of Tourism adds that it is said to be the twin of Tanah Lot.² Wikipedia places it some 300 m north of the main temple.³ The two are easy to mix up, and arch photographs online often carry the caption Tanah Lot.

The official site describes the opening as shaped like a crescent moon, an ardhacandra, and says that photographed from Njung Galuh it makes a distinctive panorama with the waves crashing in turn.⁶ That angle, from the point next to the small Dewi Sri temple, is the one to look for.

A shore walk

From the main temple to the arch and on

Start

Tanah Lot

The sea temple on its rock, reached at low tide.⁷
North

Enjung Galuh

Dewi Sri temple and a fine sunset point.⁸ ⁹
The arch

Batu Bolong

The shrine above the crescent-shaped hole.⁶
West of it

Batu Mejan

About 100 m on, the temple of holy water.¹⁰
Optional

Pakendungan

The temple of the kris legend, north-west.¹¹

Why photographers love it at dusk

The official site is direct about it: Batu Bolong is a special attraction for visitors who want to capture their moment at Tanah Lot, especially at sunset.⁴ With the sky behind it, the arch becomes a frame within the frame, and on a clear evening the light shows through the gap.

Go early to find a place along the wall. The Enjung Galuh area, which the official site counts among the best places to watch the sunset, shows the main temple from many angles too, so you can switch between both subjects without moving far.⁹ ¹² Bring a lens or phone mode that can handle a bright sky and a dark rock; the contrast is strong.

If you are on the half-day sunset trip, you have 2 hours at the temple area, enough to cover both views at a calm pace. On the full day booked here, Tanah Lot is listed for 1.5 hours, so decide before you arrive whether the arch or the main rock is your priority.

Side by side

The arch shrine and its famous neighbour

At the shrine	Batu Bolong	Tanah Lot
Stands on	A rock arch	An offshore rock
Reached	From the cliff path	On foot at low tide
Known for	The hole in the rock	The sea god's temple
Rituals	Pakelem offerings	Pujawali every 210 days
Best light	Sunset	Sunset or early morning

From the official Tanah Lot site, the Ministry of Tourism and Wikipedia.¹ ⁷ ¹³ ⁵ ¹⁴ ⁴ ¹⁵

Three shrines on one walk

Arch, holy water or Dewi Sri

For photos

Pura Batu Bolong

The shrine on the arch

Means: Hollowed stone
Best: At sunset
Ritual: Pakelem offerings

See them on the map

Holy water

Pura Batu Mejan

Also called Beji temple

Where: About 100 m west
Spring: Shows at low water
Purpose: Purification

See them on the map

Sunset point

Pura Enjung Galuh

On a point into the sea

Devoted to: Dewi Sri
View: Many angles
Best: Golden hour

See them on the map

Decision helper

How much of the shore to see

Choose the walk that fits your time

I have very little time I want the best sunset photo I want to see holy water I am staying for the Kecak

Just the arch view

Batu Bolong is a short walk north of the temple.³

Enjung Galuh at dusk

One of the best places to catch the sunset, says the official site.⁹

Continue to Batu Mejan

About 100 m west of Batu Bolong, also called Beji temple.¹⁰

Walk to the stage

The route passes Enjung Galuh, Batu Bolong and Batu Mejan.

Batu Bolong means "hollowed stone", depicted from its obvious characteristic. It is said to be the twin of Tanah Lot

Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia (indonesia.travel)Source 2

A working temple, not a viewpoint

Batu Bolong is more than a backdrop. During the Pakelem ceremony, a sacrifice made to the sea at Segara Kidul, the official site says the offered animal is drowned around the Batu Bolong rock.⁵ The temple holds its own festival, its pujawali, on Wednesday Wage of the Langkir week in the Balinese calendar.¹⁶

That makes it part of the same ritual landscape as Tanah Lot, which is dedicated to Bhatara Segara, the god of the sea.¹³ Visitors are asked to follow the restrictions of the management and the temple custodians, because parts of these sites are sacred space.¹⁷ If the path onto the arch is closed, it is closed for a reason.

Dress as you would for any temple, with shoulders and knees covered. The listing booked on this site asks for exactly that at some of its stops and says the rule is strictly enforced, so carry a sarong or scarf.

Map

Tanah Lot, its shore temples and the roads to it

The temples on the rocks around Tanah Lot, the drive in from south Bali and Ubud, the highland stops of the full-day tour, and Uluwatu at the other end of the coast.

Street map of the Tanah Lot shore with Tanah Lot on its rock, Pura Penataran, Pura Jro Kandang, Pura Enjung Galuh, Pura Batu Bolong, Pura Batu Mejan, Pura Luhur Pakendungan and the ticket counter — The temples on the shore

Map of south Bali from Tanah Lot on the west coast east to Kediri, Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta, Ngurah Rai Airport, Denpasar and north-east to Ubud — From south Bali and Ubud

Map of west Bali from Tanah Lot on the coast north-east to Pura Taman Ayun, north to Jatiluwih and to Pura Ulun Danu Beratan on Lake Bratan — Up to the terraces and the lake

Map of the south-west coast of Bali with Tanah Lot in the north, Kuta, Ngurah Rai Airport and Jimbaran in the middle and Pura Luhur Uluwatu on the Bukit peninsula — Tanah Lot and Uluwatu

1
Tanah Lot
The sea temple on its rock, reached on foot only at low tide.⁷ ¹³
In Google Maps ↗
2
Pura Batu Bolong
A shrine on a rock with a crescent-shaped hole, loved at sunset.⁶ ⁴
In Google Maps ↗
3
Pura Batu Mejan
Also called Beji temple; a spring shows on the beach at low water.¹⁰ ¹⁸
In Google Maps ↗
4
Pura Enjung Galuh
A temple for Dewi Sri on a point that is a fine sunset spot.⁸ ⁹
In Google Maps ↗
5
Pura Jro Kandang
Where farmers pray to the god who rules crop pests.¹⁹
In Google Maps ↗
6
Pura Penataran
Its Madya shrine sees worship above all at high tide.²⁰
In Google Maps ↗
7
Pura Luhur Pakendungan
Its festival every 210 days brings the sacred kris from Kediri.¹¹ ²¹
In Google Maps ↗
8
Ticket counter
Foreign adults pay IDR 75,000 by the official price list.²²
In Google Maps ↗
9
Kediri
The large sign at its main crossroads marks the turn to Tanah Lot.²³
In Google Maps ↗
10
Canggu
One of the pick-up areas of the full-day tour.
In Google Maps ↗
11
Seminyak
Another pick-up area for the tour booked here.
In Google Maps ↗
12
Kuta
Free pick-up area of the half-day sunset trip as well.
In Google Maps ↗
13
Ngurah Rai Airport
About 30 km from Tanah Lot, says the Ministry of Tourism.²⁴
In Google Maps ↗
14
Denpasar
Tanah Lot lies 20 km to its north-west.²⁵
In Google Maps ↗
15
Ubud
Pick-up there too; the highland loop also meets at Ubud Palace.
In Google Maps ↗
16
Pura Taman Ayun
The royal water temple inside the UNESCO subak listing.²⁶
In Google Maps ↗
17
Jatiluwih
Rice terraces in the Catur Angga Batukaru heritage area.²⁷
In Google Maps ↗
18
Pura Ulun Danu Beratan
On Lake Beratan near Bedugul, built in 1633.²⁸ ²⁹
In Google Maps ↗
19
Pura Luhur Uluwatu
A cliffside temple 70 m above the Indian Ocean.³⁰
In Google Maps ↗
20
Jimbaran
On the south-coast day that pairs Uluwatu with Tanah Lot.
In Google Maps ↗

Open the map in Google Maps

Checklist

For the walk to the arch

Wear and carry

A sarong or scarf for the temple grounds
Water for the sunny cliff path
A hat if you come before sunset

Remember

Stay behind closed barriers
Let people pass on narrow paths
Keep your Tanah Lot ticket

Video

Tanah Lot temple walking tour with street sounds

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Its neighbours along the shore

Batu Bolong is the middle stop on a short shore walk. About 100 m to its west, the official site places Pura Batu Mejan, also called Beji temple, where people come for holy water.¹⁰ The Ministry of Tourism calls its spring Tirta Penglukatan, believed to purify against all negativity.³¹ South of it, a spring shows clearly on the beach when the sea drops.¹⁸

Closer to Tanah Lot stands Pura Enjung Galuh, built for prayers to Dewi Sri, the goddess of prosperity, and Pura Jro Kandang, where farmers pray for protection from crop pests.⁸ ¹⁹ Further north-west lies Pura Pakendungan, linked by legend to the kris that the priest Nirartha left in Beraban.¹¹ ³²

The map on this page shows how close together they all are. If you have time after the main temple, walk the path north past Enjung Galuh to the arch and on to Batu Mejan; it turns a single famous view into a small pilgrimage along the cliff.

Seeing the arch on an organised tour

No listing we compare makes Batu Bolong a separate stop, but every tour that gives you time at Tanah Lot puts you within walking distance of it. The half-day sunset trip spends 2 hours in the area, the slower highland day gives Tanah Lot 2 hours as well, and the full day booked here lists 1.5 hours. The shorter highland loop allows 45 minutes, which is tight if you also want the arch.

Tell your guide early that you want to see the arch. Guides know the path and can point you to the viewpoint at Njung Galuh, which the official site names as the place where the hole frames the view best.⁶ That way you spend your time looking rather than searching.

If the arch matters more to you than anything else on the day, the sunset trip is the most generous with time. It runs as a small group of up to 5, starts from $20 and leaves you at the temple area for the last of the light. The cost calculator on our sunset page totals it for your group.

Getting there from the main temple

Batu Bolong is one of the temples of the Tanah Lot area, and the official price list shows a single entrance ticket: IDR 75,000 for a foreign adult and IDR 40,000 for a child, and it names no separate fee for the shore temples.²² From the shore below Tanah Lot, follow the cliff path north towards Enjung Galuh and you will see the arch ahead of you.

The Kecak show at Tanah Lot sits on the same route. Its listing says that on the way to the stage you pass Pura Enjung Galuh, Pura Batu Bolong and Pura Batu Mejan, and that the stage is about 100 m from the main temple. If you plan to stay for the dance, you will walk past the arch anyway.

The paths are paved but uneven in places, and they get busy before sunset. Allow time to stop, let people pass on the narrow sections, and keep an eye on children near the low walls above the water. Footwear with grip helps on the steps down to the viewpoints, and a small bag is easier than a backpack in the crowd at dusk.

Tips for a good visit

Come at the end of the afternoon if you want the classic silhouette, or in the morning if you want fewer people around; the Ministry of Tourism recommends very early mornings at the main temple for smaller crowds.¹⁵ Bring water; the cliff path has little shade.

Check the tide only if you also want to walk out to Tanah Lot itself. The arch is seen from the cliffs, and its view does not depend on the water, while the main rock can be reached on foot at low tide only.⁷ High water often makes the waves through the hole more dramatic.

Respect the barriers: if the path onto the arch is closed, stay behind it. Photo sessions and drone flights for any commercial purpose must be reported to the management first.³³ A quick question at the information point saves trouble, and the staff there can tell you whether a ceremony is planned for the day.

Your day in the west

The sea temple, the terraces and the lake in one day

Hotel pick-up in south Bali or Ubud, a live guide, free cancellation up to a day before.

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You ask,we answer.

What is Batu Bolong at Tanah Lot?

A small sea temple on a rock arch. Pura Batu Bolong stands on a rock jutting into the sea with a hole in its middle.¹

How far is Batu Bolong from Tanah Lot?

Some 300 m. Wikipedia places Pura Batu Bolong some 300 m north of Pura Tanah Lot, along the cliff path.³

Do I pay extra to see Batu Bolong?

The official list has one ticket. Foreign adults pay IDR 75,000 for Tanah Lot; the list names no separate fee for the shore temples.²²

What does Batu Bolong mean?

Hollowed stone. The Ministry of Tourism adds that it is said to be the twin of Tanah Lot.²

When is the best time to photograph the arch?

At sunset. The official site calls it a special attraction for visitors, especially at sunset.⁴

Can I walk onto the arch?

Only when the path is open. Visitors must follow the restrictions of the management and the temple custodians.¹⁷

Sources

What this text is based on

1
Daya Tarik Wisata Tanah Lot (official site)Batu Bolong Temple
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2
Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia (indonesia.travel)Tanah Lot
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3
WikipediaTanah Lot
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4
Daya Tarik Wisata Tanah Lot (official site)Batu Bolong Temple
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5
Daya Tarik Wisata Tanah Lot (official site)Batu Bolong Temple
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6
Daya Tarik Wisata Tanah Lot (official site)Batu Bolong Temple
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7
WikipediaTanah Lot
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8
Daya Tarik Wisata Tanah Lot (official site)Njung Galuh Temple
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9
Daya Tarik Wisata Tanah Lot (official site)Enjung Galuh Area
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10
Daya Tarik Wisata Tanah Lot (official site)Batu Mejan Temple
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11
Daya Tarik Wisata Tanah Lot (official site)History & Natural Environment
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12
Daya Tarik Wisata Tanah Lot (official site)Enjung Galuh Area
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13
Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia (indonesia.travel)Tanah Lot
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14
Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia (indonesia.travel)Tanah Lot: Sejarah, Filosofi, dan Pura Laut Ikonik di Bali
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15
Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia (indonesia.travel)Tanah Lot
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16
Daya Tarik Wisata Tanah Lot (official site)Batu Bolong Temple
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17
Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia (indonesia.travel)Tanah Lot: Sejarah, Filosofi, dan Pura Laut Ikonik di Bali
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18
Daya Tarik Wisata Tanah Lot (official site)Batu Mejan Temple
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19
Daya Tarik Wisata Tanah Lot (official site)Jro Kandang Temple
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20
Daya Tarik Wisata Tanah Lot (official site)Penataran Madya Temple
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21
Daya Tarik Wisata Tanah Lot (official site)History & Natural Environment
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22
Daya Tarik Wisata Tanah Lot (official site)Ticket Price
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23
Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia (indonesia.travel)Tanah Lot
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24
Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia (indonesia.travel)Tanah Lot
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25
WikipediaTanah Lot
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26
WikipediaSubak (irrigation)
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27
ANTARA News BaliPetani Jatiluwih Rasakan Manfaat WBD
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28
WikipediaPura Ulun Danu Bratan
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29
WikipediaPura Ulun Danu Bratan
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30
Uluwatu Temple (official site of the managing body)Uluwatu Temple
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31
Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia (indonesia.travel)Tanah Lot
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32
Daya Tarik Wisata Tanah Lot (official site)History & Natural Environment
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33
Daya Tarik Wisata Tanah Lot (official site)Ticket Price
↩

Keep reading

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The sea temple story: Nirartha, the rock and the holy snake

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