| Tirta Gangga | |
| Location: | Karangasem Regency, Bali, Indonesia |
| Client: | Karangasem Royal |
| Start Date: | 1946 |
Tirta Gangga is a former royal palace in eastern Bali, Indonesia. Named after the sacred river Ganges in India, it is noted for the Karangasem royal water palace, bathing pools and its Patirthan temple.[1]
Tirta Gangga is near the village of Ababi in County Abang,[2] about 7 kilometres north of Amlapura (Karangasem District) and south-east of Mount Agung.
The complex was built in 1946 by the last king of Karangsem I Gusti Bagus Jelantik, who was also responsible for the construction of Ujung Water Palace.[3] Tirta Gangga was intended as a recreation place for the king and his family.[2] It was destroyed almost entirely by the eruption of nearby Mount Agung in 1963.[3]
The temple complex covers one hectare.[4] The springs that fill up the various ponds are to the northwest, on higher ground. Its waters are used for irrigation, economic activity and recreation.[2]
Tirta Gangga is also called “Taman Rijasa” (Rijasa garden) because some rijasa trees (- Elaeocarpus Grandiflorus) were planted.[2]
Tirta Gangga upholds the beliefs in Balinese Hinduism that the river Ganges and its waters are sacred. Its water is used as holy water (tirta) for religious activities[2] The Patirthan temple illustrates the historic significance of Tirta Gangga in the Balinese tradition as a pilgrimage and holy water site.[5] [6]