Pura Luhur Pakendungan: The Quiet Temple in the Tanah Lot Area Where the Ki Baru Gajah Keris Is Carried

Most Tanah Lot visitors head straight for the temple on the rock and wait for sunset. Yet on the northwest side of the same area, still in Beraban village, Kediri district, Tabanan, stands Pura Luhur Pakendungan, a temple whose origins, according to the Tanah Lot tourism management, cannot be separated from those of Pura Luhur Tanah Lot.

Dang Hyang Nirartha’s Footsteps in Alas Kendung

According to the official Tanah Lot website, on a holy journey from Pura Rambut Siwi, Dang Hyang Nirartha (also known as Dang Hyang Dwijendra or Ida Pedanda Shakti Bawu Rawuh) saw a bright light on the southern coast. He reached a dense forest west of Tanah Lot called Alas Kendung and meditated there; that spot later became Pura Luhur Pakendungan.

• Two roles: a Dang Kahyangan temple and also the Pengulun Subak (irrigation-society) temple for Kediri district.

The Ki Baru Gajah Keris and the Kuningan Ritual

The sacred Ki Baru Gajah keris, believed to be a gift from Dang Hyang Nirartha, is normally kept at the Merajan Agung of Puri Kediri. On every Kuningan day (Saniscara Kliwon Kuningan), hundreds of customary villagers carry it on foot about 14 km to Pura Luhur Pakendungan in the ngerebeg tradition, accompanied by baleganjur gamelan. During the three-day ceremony, the keris rests in a special meru shrine at the temple. The ritual is understood as nangluk merana, warding off epidemics and crop pests.

• The temple’s pujawali also falls every 210 days on Kuningan, when worshippers arrive in large numbers.
• The next Kuningan falls on 23 January 2027 according to the Balinese calendar. It is a day to watch respectfully from a distance, not for casual sightseeing.

Visiting Etiquette

• The inner courtyards of temples in the Tanah Lot area are generally reserved for worshippers; admire the architecture from outside the walls.
• Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered; bring a sarong and sash if you want to approach the temple grounds.
• Come in the morning when it is quieter and cooler, then continue to Tanah Lot Temple before sunset.

Practical Info & Reservations

• Location: Tanah Lot tourism area, Beraban village, Kediri district, Tabanan (northwest of Tanah Lot Temple) – View on Google Maps
• Access: about 30–60 minutes’ drive from Canggu, or about 1–1.5 hours from Ngurah Rai Airport, depending on traffic.
• Area tickets (official Tanah Lot website): domestic adult IDR 30k, child IDR 20k; international adult IDR 75k, child IDR 40k; car parking IDR 5k, motorbike IDR 3k. A planned 2026 fare increase was postponed as of March 2026, so double-check at the ticket counter.
• Hours: the Tanah Lot area is generally open from morning until around 7 pm.
• Reservations: not needed; just turn up and buy tickets at the counter.
• Instagram: search on Instagram

Tanah Lot is best enjoyed without rushing home after sunset. Compare prices & book a hotel voucher around Tabanan or Canggu on AccessiaPass, so you can return to Pakendungan the next morning while it is still quiet.