Tirta Gangga Bali

Tourism is an activity conducted by tourists in the tourism destinations for getting relaxation and the enjoyable moment. “The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who travel and stay in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business, and other purposes” (Maulidiyah, 2019, p.42). By doing some activities in the tourism sites, the tourists can enjoy their time and get satisfaction in their lives. In general, tourism is a social, cultural and economic phenomenon that entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes. Actually, tourism is a complex set of industries including accommodation, recreation and entertainment, food and beverage, transportation, and travel service. It encompasses domestic, inbound, and outbound travel for business, leisure, etc. And because of this large scope, tourism development requires participation from all walks of life, including private businesses, governmental agencies, educational institutions, communities, and citizens. Tourism can bring a number of benefits, including the enhancement of economic opportunities by creating more jobs for local residents, increasing incomes and by the stimulation or creation of local and regional markets. In Indonesia, there are many tourism destinations in every Province. One of many provinces in Indonesia that has many types of tourism sites is the special region of Bali.

As we know, Bali is the best tourist destination that is well known among the tourist. The tourism area in Bali has a unique, exotic, and amazing panorama. So it is not surprising that the island of Bali is awarded as the best tourist spot in the world. Foreign tourists prefer to come to Indonesia especially Bali because Bali has a long summer. When in their country it is winter, they like to come to Bali for sunbathing on the beach while having a vacation. Many beautiful beaches that they can visit in Bali. Tourism in Bali provides many tourism destinations that still has a strong connection to their religion and local customs. There are many beautiful places shown Balinese culture, the place representative about Balinese people live even in the kingdom era. One of them is Tirta Gangga water palace, Ababa, Abang, Karangasem.

Tirta Gangga water palace is one of the famous tourist destinations in the east part of Bali. Tirta Gangga located at Abang Sub-district, Karangasem Regency in the east part of Bali. Tirta Gangga built-in 1948 by King of Karangasem, Anak Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem and it was almost destroyed by the earthquake in Singaraja area and an eruption of nearby Gunung Agung but has subsequently been rebuilt in 1970. In the middle of the park, there are many small statues are intentionally set on the stone to decorate the park in order to make a good looking for visitor. This water park is constructed in a very unique of Balinese and Chinese architecture. We can find the resting place of the last king in that place. Before this water palace is found, there is big wellspring found in this area which the local society believes that this water comes from the land is holy spring, therefore, they call this place is Embukan means wellspring. The spring is then enabled to meet the needs of the population will be water and also as a“pemurnian” (purification) of the Gods. Tirta Gangga water palace is the heritage tourism area that is functioned as the dwelling of offspring King of Karangasem, Anak Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem, A. A Gede Widoere Djelantik until now.