Checking out Tirtagangga with Angie in Karangasem Bali

Tirtaganga in Karangasem is one of 3 ‘waterpalaces’ that were built by Anak Agung Anglurah .

The Tirtaganga water palace was built in 1946 and is the best one to visit. Set in a lovely slope of the hill overlooking the distant coastline, Tirtaganga has pools of fresh water for visitors to swim.

Angie said she’d like to check the site out and we pulled in. Its located about 15 minutes (6km) from Amlapura and quite close to the Ryoshi restaurant that sits overlooking the valley.

Entrance to Tirtaganga is 3,500rp and swimming is 5,000rp extra.The site is open daily from 7am-6pm. Its still worth going and has a small restaurant inside. The place actually has a website

Angie asked the man at the door who she should contact to organize weddings and he offered to hook her up with his brother who would fit her with an outfit…obviously a little mis communication.

As always with Balinese cultural sites there are fruit sellers outside and a line of stalls selling snacks. To the rear of the restaurant are rooms for rent. We checked one out and saw it was basic, large, had 2 bedrooms and okay bathroom for 500,000rp. This is expensive in my opinion but if you want to be in Tirtaganga that’s what it will cost. There are some other rooms too for 250,000rp and $100. In the immediate vicinity there are atually several guest houses.

Tirtagangga is a good place to escape the heat and is perfect for people staying in Candi Dasa.

Though I always recommend strongly that people get their own transport to explore Bali ( a Suzuki, SUV or motorbike ) you can also get to Tirtagangga by using bemos, the local mini vans. Perama buses, the better bus company here also serves Tirtagangga.

Using Perama travel times are;
Tirtagangga to:Air Sanih-2 hours, Kuta-4 hours 30 mins, Lovina-2 hour 30 mins, Mataram (Lombok)-6 hours 30 minutes, Padang Bai-2 hours, Sanur-4 hours, Tulamben-1 hour, Ubud-2 hours 30 mins.

Here is the bemo time of travel:
Tirtagangga to: Air Sanih-2 hours, Culik-30 minutes, Amlapura-20 minutes, Lovina-3 hours, Singaraja 2 hours, Tulamben-1 hour. The times the bemos leave are very much up in the air.

Heading back in the direction of Kuta we enjoyed lovely views of the paddies and mountains through the area around Amlapura and Candi Dasa. We swung through Klungkung, Gianyar sing local streets before heading to Lebih on the coast and the fast track road to Sanur and Kuta. The journey form Tirtaganga was probably just short of 3 hours due to traffic.

Photos will follow.