Batu Bolong, the famous temple located within the Tanah Lot complex in Tabanan Regency, is under threat of damage. Local authorities, temple officials, and village leaders are working together to preserve this sacred site for the Balinese. Their efforts are focused on stabilizing the cracks in the cliffs. The head of the Tanah Lot Tourism Office, Wayan Sudiana, stated that this crucial measure aims to protect both the temple and its visitors.
Sudiana said, “We hope that after the completion of this initial stage, the restoration process will proceed as planned, ensuring Batu Bolong Temple remains safe for tourism and religious activities.”
Assistant Tourism Manager Putu Toni Wirawan confirmed that 50% of the work has already been completed. He explained, “Currently, construction has reached 50% and will continue after the Pujawali ceremony, celebrating the temple's founding, on October 9, 2024.”
Despite the ongoing Galungan and Kuningan festivals, which are also celebrated at the temple, the reinforcement work has not disrupted the ceremonies. On the day of Galungan, the temple saw 5,561 visitors, with another 4,970 on Galungan Manis.
Since Bali's borders reopened after the pandemic, the popularity of Tanah Lot among tourists has been steadily rising, despite the increase in entrance fees to 75k rupiah earlier this year. The work at Batu Bolong contrasts with the efforts to preserve Uluwatu Temple, where large sections of limestone cliffs have been removed to allow heavy machinery access for the "Uluwatu Seawall" project. This controversial project has sparked concerns among residents and visitors, who believe it may be causing more harm than good.
Despite public outcry over environmental damage, local leaders insist that the reinforcement work is the only long-term solution to save both the Uluwatu and Batu Bolong temples, which were originally built on cliff edges.
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