Tirta Gangga Water Palace

The Tirta Gangga royal water garden is a favourite retreat in the regency of Karangasem, east Bali. It was built in 1946 during the reign of the late raja of Karangasem, Anak Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem (1887 - 1966). Tirta Gangga saw a series of restorations following the destructive hot showers of volcanic ash from the 1963 Mount Agung eruption. The lavish water gardens owned by the royal Karangasem family feature 1.2ha of pools, ponds and fountains surrounded by neatly cut lawns adorned with stepping stones, ornate statues and tropical gardens. Tirta Gangga is located in the village of Ababi, an approximate 75km east of Denpasar. The complex is a cool retreat in the eastern highlands, perched on the south-eastern slope of the island’s highest mountain, Mount Agung. The Tirta Gangga complex was built around the same time as the Taman Soekasada Ujung, another site located near the coast and 8.5km south in the village of Tumbu. Tirta Gangga, like its sister royal bathing complex, consists of tropical gardens, wading pools, fish ponds, and fountains.