The escalating reopening of tourism sites in Bali following the restart of domestic tourism on 31 July 2020 saw the popular Tirta Gangga Water Palace in the Village of Ababi, Abang, Karangasem open its door to visitors. The Royal Baths date from 1946 when they were first built by the then King of Karangasem, A.A. Ngurah Ketut Karangasem. The 1963 eruption of Mount Agung destroyed much of the bathing pools that have now been restored to their former beauty serving as a highlight stop on any tour of East Bali.
RadarBali reports that on Thursday, 20 August 2020, domestic visitors from Bali and other islands of Indonesia were flocking in substantial numbers to the Tirta Gangga Water Palace built by the King of Karangasem to honor his beloved wife. Included among Thursday’s visitors were also a few foreign nationals stranded in Bali due to closed international borders occasioned by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
During the preceding months of shutdown, the Tirta Gangga Water Palace has been undertaking improvements to maintain its time-honored popularity among both domestic and international visitors to Bali. Among the upgrades are a new Kids’ Corner featuring a range of recreational equipment for the younger set’s enjoyment.
Before the pandemic, the average number of daily visitors to Tirta Gannga approached 2,000 people. Visitors during the reopening period are now around 400 people per day.
Visitors to the Tirta Gangga Water Palace are subjected to “new normal” health protocols that include physical distancing regulation, the mandatory use of face masks, and numerous hand sanitization locations. A loudspeaker system infringes on the Water Palaces serenity with repeated admonitions to follow various health protocols.
Employees of the Tirta Gangga Water Palace have undergone Cleanliness, Health, and Saftey Certification provided by both the Province and Regency.
Workers are reported pleased to be called back to work after languishing at the homes for the past months.