The seaside temple of Pura Tanah Lot is probably the most famous and most photographed place in Bali. Every hotel offers sunset tours out to the temple, and every visitor has seen photos of it before they’ve even visited. There’s really only one reason for its iconic status: it’s beautiful.

Of course, such a popular tourist attraction is bound to fall victim to commercialization, and at Tanah Lot, a flea market of vendors and warung (food stalls) greets you as soon as you enter the property. It’s a bit jarring at first to hear the calls of salespeople and to see the swarms of tourists, especially when you consider that Pura Tanah Lot is one of the most sacred Hindu temples in the country. But don’t let the chaos deter you. A trip to Bali isn’t complete without seeing this famous site firsthand.

The Tanah Lot temple sits on a rock a few metres away from land, and when the tide is in, it becomes its own island, with steps that look like they disappear deep into the sea. But when the tide recedes, visitors can walk across the ocean floor to the base of the temple (but not inside – the temple is only open to practicing Balinese Hindus).

At the base of Tanah Lot, visitors can enter a small cave with a sacred spring and receive a traditional good will blessing, done with a sprinkle of water and a dab of rice to the forehead. At dusk, when the sky turns shades of pink and orange and casts rays of light that look too pretty to be real, you can see why a Tanah Lot sunset is the most photographed scene in Bali.

Sadly, much of the structure had to be rebuilt, after thousands of years of erosion and earthquakes had all but destroyed the temple and the rock it sits on. Today, approximately one-third of the rock is artificial. Some might see this as a disappointment, but it would have been more of a disappointment if nothing had been done and the erosion had washed it out to sea.

History of the Tanah Lot temple places it as being built sometime around the 16th century. The story says that a saint named Dang Hyang Dwi Jendra, who had dedicated his life to spreading Hinduism, was the creator of the temple. It’s believed he settled in the village of Beraban, near the current site of Tanah Lot, and began to preach.

Nearby, he found a large rock along the coast, in the shape of a bird, and chose that as his spot for meditation. The villagers embraced Dang Hyang Dwi Jendra’s teachings, and, by abandoning their prior beliefs, they angered the village’s priest, Bendesa Beraban Sakti, who tried to run the new man out of the village.

When confronted, Dang Hyang Dwi Jendra responded by pushing his meditative rock out into the sea. He created sea snakes from his scarf to guard the new island; it’s still said that those snakes live in caves underneath the temple, guarding the god of the sea.

The island was named “Tengah Lot,” meaning “land in the minds of the sea.”

When to go to Tanah Lot

The best time to visit Pura Tanah Lot in Bali is during the dry season from April to September. While the temperature stays warm year-round, it can get quite humid during the wet season. Note that peak tourist season generally runs from July to early September, as well as from late December to mid-January. Prices are usually much higher at these times of year, and accommodations book up fast. For cheap flights to Bali, you may wish to avoid the peak seasons.

An annual arts festival, featuring traditional Balinese dancers, is held at the temple in late May.

Odds n’ ends

• The entrance fee to Tanah Lot temple is 10,000 rupiah (approximately $1 USD) for foreigners, as well as between 2,000 and 10,000 rupiah for parking (depending on whether you’re arriving by motorcycle, car, or bus).
• Remember that Tanah Lot is first and foremost a religious temple. While visitors won’t necessarily need to wear a sarong or sash (unlike at other temples), they should still dress and act in a way appropriate to a religious site.

Places to eat

Tanah Lot Restaurants

There are four restaurants on the property; all are open from 8 am to 7 pm, and serve a mix of Indonesian, Chinese, and European foods. The parking lot is also lined with warung stalls for quick eats.

Bumbu Bali

Okay, so it’s not exactly close to Tanah Lot, but this restaurant in Nusa Dua is a must-eat. Offering delicious Indonesian dishes in a romantic on-the-beach setting, it’s considered one of the best restaurants in Bali. It’s pricier than your average Balinese meal, but still very affordable – especially considering the quality. A great place to splurge.

This article originally appeared on thecircumference.org.

Featured image: Wikimedia Commons