Tour the main temple courtyard, which contains shrines and pavilions: one for Brahma, Siva, and Krishna, one for Mt. Batur and one for Indra (Dewi Indra).

The temple was built in the 10th century during the Warmadewa Dynasty on the site of a large natural spring. Two Olympic-size pools are used for communal bathing, while 12 waterspouts pour holy water from the sacred springs.

Legend describes how the god Indra’s army had fallen ill after drinking from the nearby river that had been poisoned by the evil king Mayadanawa. To revive his sick troops, Indra pierced the ground to release a spring of pure and sacred water.

The spring was called Tirta Empul, and has been considered the holiest in Bali ever since. A temple was built around the springs and special bathing-pools constructed for devotees.