Tirta Gangga

Tirta Gangga is a royal water garden in east Bali, about 15 minutes from Amlapura, built in 1946 by the last raja of Karangasem. The name means "water from the Ganges", and the spring that feeds it is considered holy.

It is compact — roughly a hectare — and beautifully designed across several levels. The centrepiece is the lower pool, crossed by a line of round stone stepping stones just above the water, with large koi swimming between them. That crossing is the photograph everyone comes for, and it is genuinely charming, especially early before other visitors are queueing at the far end.

Above it are tiered fountains, a striking eleven-level nawa sanga fountain, stone guardians and demons drawn from Balinese and Chinese mythology, and manicured lawns leading up toward the hills.

The garden was badly damaged when Mount Agung erupted in 1963 — it sits close to the volcano — and what stands today is largely a careful reconstruction, which does nothing to diminish it.

You can swim in two spring-fed pools on the upper level for a small extra fee, and buy fish food for the koi. Entry is inexpensive and an hour is enough. It combines naturally with the Lempuyang temple gates 30 minutes away and with Sidemen or Amed on an east Bali loop.

What is Tirta Gangga? A royal water garden in east Bali built in 1946 by the last raja of Karangasem, known for its koi ponds, stepping stones and tiered fountains.

Can you swim at Tirta Gangga? Yes — two spring-fed pools on the upper level are open for swimming for a small additional fee.

How long do you need at Tirta Gangga? About an hour covers the garden comfortably, or longer if you swim.

What are the stepping stones at Tirta Gangga? A line of round stone blocks set just above the water across the lower koi pond — the garden's signature feature and its most photographed spot.

What is nearby? The Lempuyang temple gates are about 30 minutes away, with Amed on the coast and the Sidemen valley both within an hour.