International Devotees Flock to Bali’s 11-Spout Pelisan Temple for Sacred Melukat Ritual
Perched on a high plateau in Kintamani, Bali, Pelisan Temple boasts Pancoran Solas, a sculpted bathing enclave cradled by volcanic ridges. Pure mountain springs rise nearby and course through eleven carved stone spouts that supply prayer pools below. Devotees hold that each stream carries healing force. For Balinese Hindus, melukat weaves ritual immersion with focused meditation to purify the body and guide the soul toward Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa.
Through each sacred outlet, worshippers cleanse both body and mind of lingering impurities. The rite serves as tapa brata, a spiritual discipline uniting people, the natural world, and the divine. Locals from Kintamani villages come regularly to melukat, and devotees travel from other parts of Bali, from farther regions in Indonesia, and even from overseas to take part in this deeply rooted Hindu tradition.
Visitors pass under a sculpted stone gateway before seeing a weathered signboard inscribed with the temple name in intricate Balinese lettering. Just inside, a set of polished stone steps lead to a wantilan, a pavilion where melukat participants wait for the blessing. Nearby, facilities include separate changing chambers, secure lockers, and baskets of fresh sarongs and white sashes. An ancient meru tower and stone statues of guardian deities stand along the path, adding to the sense of reverence.
Behind the main courtyard, reflecting pools teeming with brightly colored koi mirror the lush canopy overhead. When sunlight filters through frangipani and banyan branches, the water shimmers like liquid jade. Narrow stone walkways thread between these fish ponds, inviting worshippers to pause and contemplate the passing clouds. The gentle gurgle of water over moss-covered walls combines with distant birdcalls to create a setting that feels both alive and serene.
Melukat ceremonies occur every morning, offering individuals a chance to renew their spirit before sunrise. Attendance soars on feast days such as Saraswati, Banyu Pinaruh, Purnama (Full Moon), Tilem (New Moon), and Kajeng Kliwon. On these sacred calendar dates, worshippers arrive in rows to purify themselves, carrying canang sari baskets filled with flowers, fruits, and incense. The air fills with soft chants as each devotee enters the water in measured sequence.
Within Balinese Hindu cosmology, the number "eleven" carries great weight. It represents an ideal union of thought, word, and deed and echoes the ten syllables of the dasaksara—its sacred mantra—plus an additional point signifying oneness with God. Devotees approach each spout with this awareness, mindful that every drop reinforces the link between earthly life and the unseen spiritual realm.
Rituals begin at the inner sanctuary, where a local pemangku chants invocations and bestows blessings on each person. Worshippers then move to the eastern jet of holy water and follow a precise circuit, progressing from one spout to the next. Beneath sculpted water-carriers carved into stone, they wash head, face, arms, and torso as they hold silent prayers. This sequence continues until the eleventh jet, the highest one near the heart of the temple, which concludes the rite of tirta pemurnian, or sacred purification.
After emerging from the pools, many worshippers speak of a pronounced sense of weightlessness and renewed focus. Some describe tears of release or visions of pure light, and others report a serene calm that lingers for days. A number of devotees return to Pancoran Solas on regular intervals, believing that repeated melukat strengthens both mind and spirit.
Today, Pelisan Temple’s Pancoran Solas remains an enduring heritage landmark for local communities and visiting pilgrims. Its cool mountain breezes, verdant foliage, and eleven water spouts draw those in search of ritual renewal. Families from Kintamani, young and old, often pass traditions here, ensuring that melukat at Pancoran Solas endures across generations.
Pancoran Solas offers more than sacred bathing. It teaches that genuine purity extends beyond skin-deep to the heart and mind. Each drop of holy spring water carries the promise that individuals can rediscover original clarity and balance in life.
