One ritual you shouldn't skip on a trip to Bali is Melukat — the Balinese Hindu purification ceremony.
Most people think of it as a simple cleansing with holy water, but Sudamala Temple is famous for something more: sacred springs said to recharge your energy.
Here's everything you need to know about experiencing Melukat at Sudamala.
Its official name is Pura Tirta Sudamala.
— and just 30 minutes from central Ubud, making it an easy add-on if you're already staying there.
Admission is cash only At the entrance, you'll pay for parking and admission. Foreign visitors pay 20,000 IDR (roughly $1 USD),
cash only — small bills come in handy. From there,
This slope gets tough on the way back it's a five-minute walk down to the temple.
Wear comfortable shoes, since the path back up is a bit of a climb!
If you'd rather skip the walk uphill, motorbike taxis wait nearby and will take you back up for 10,000 IDR (about $0.50).
Honestly, walking back up felt like a lot, so I hopped on one — best decision ever!
One of the friendly motorbike taxi drivers A Temple in Harmony with Nature
Here's the holy water The first thing that greets you is this view.
Sudamala has two separate holy water areas — one dedicated to charging your energy, and another flowing right through the river, used for purification.
Holy water flows through the river too You'll cleanse yourself in the river first before moving on to the energy-charging springs.
・・・
Each temple has its own order for the ritual — at Sudamala, you start with the river first.
What Is the Melukat Ritual Like?
The priest here is called a "Mangku" Once you arrive, a priest greets you with a short blessing, welcoming you to the temple.
A canang offering for prayer You'll place a small offering (about 2,000 IDR, roughly $0.10) on a canang and light incense together as part of the prayer.
What's a canang?
It's a small daily offering used throughout Balinese Hindu life
— a handmade palm-leaf basket filled with flowers,
priced at just 1,000–2,000 IDR (about $0.05–0.10) and usually paired with incense.
Shoes off, into the river After prayers, you'll step into the river for the purification ritual. Sandals and shoes come off — you enter barefoot.
Bathing in each spring, one by one Several springs flow through the river, and you'll scoop the water with your hands — three splashes each on the face, mouth, and head — finishing with a full pour over your head.
For the mouth splashes, you just mime drinking — no actual sipping required.
A truly surreal experience At one spot, holy water bubbles up naturally from the riverbed, so instead of splashing it on, you simply float above it to be cleansed.
Floating there, you'll hear a strange bubbling sound right by your ears — a genuinely surreal moment.
Then comes the main event: the energy-charging holy water!
The steps are the same as before — three splashes each on the face, mouth, and head, finished with a pour over the head.
After bathing in all nine springs, you'll finish with water from the goddess and the god — and the goddess's water feels noticeably different, which caught me by surprise!
The final purification ritual Once the ritual is complete, the priest sprinkles a final blessing and presses a few grains of rice onto your forehead.
You'll be soaked from head to toe, but you'll walk away with a strange, refreshing sense of calm.
Then it's time to head out!
The temple does have lockers, a changing area, and restrooms —
but when I visited, they were too grubby to use comfortably, so I ended up changing behind a car in the parking lot!
5 Tips for Your Melukat Visit
5 Tips for Your Melukat Visit
Wear a sarong and sash to enter the temple
Skip it if you're on your period — entry isn't allowed
Bring a canang offering and incense
Carry small bills (2,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 IDR)
Pack a quick-change outfit
A sarong and sash are required for Melukat — a kebaya top is nice but not essential, a T-shirt works fine.
(Some temples lend sarongs and sashes on-site.)
Even without doing Melukat, entry is off-limits during menstruation — worth keeping in mind.
Bring a canang offering as a sign of respect before the ritual — your guide or driver can usually help you get one.
Small bills make things easier for offerings, lockers, and admission.
You'll end up soaked down to your underwear, so pack a full change of clothes, plus a towel. Since proper changing rooms are limited, an easy-on, easy-off dress is your best bet.
So, what do you think? Sudamala Temple has a gentle yet powerful energy all its own — well worth the visit.
Quick Info
Area Bangli Name Pura Tirta Sudamala Map Google Map Admission 20,000 IDR Locker 10,000 IDR Note Not open to those menstruating. Sarong & sash or kebaya required.
If getting there on your own sounds like a hassle, a Melukat tour with transfer included is a smart, stress-free way to go!
▼Grab Lunch Nearby After Your Visit
More Temples for Your Next Melukat
・Authentic Melukat at Jatiluwih, Bali's World Heritage Site
・A Photogenic Melukat at This Sacred Hindu Temple
＼ Good to Know／
Pair Melukat with sightseeing and shopping — a car charter makes it effortless.
See you in the next post!
