Where Healing Begins in Bali

We speak with Mangku Budi, a local Hindu priest, about the spiritual significance of the water - and how its flow echoes a wider journey of transformation at COMO Shambhala Estate.

Bali's longest river begins in the island's mountainous north near the volcanic caldera of Lake Batur. From there, the river winds its way south through dramatic gorges, rainforests, rice terraces and villages, passing through the grounds of COMO Shambhala Estate before continuing on its journey to Bali's southern coast, where it empties into the Indian Ocean. To the Balinese Hindu community, the Ayung River represents more than a body of water: it signifies purity, and the flow of life. Directly beneath the grounds of COMO Shambhala Estate, the Ayung River meets a second river, the Tibakauh. This powerful convergence is considered a symbol of cleansing, purification and renewal in Balinese culture.

All water is spiritually sacred in Bali, and none more so than that which bubbles up in springs - points of purest origin that signal a fresh energetic transfer, and the unseen becoming manifest. That's what makes COMO Shambhala Estate's position so important. Not only does it sit above the confluence of the mighty Ayung River - the sound of water audible from several of the Estate's private residences - but it also has a freshwater spring, Toya Mampeh, or ‘The Source', which feeds into the river. The spring is located in Kedara, a peaceful water garden.

Toya Mampeh - meaning ‘Flying Water' - is one of three holy springs in the area, explains Mangku Budi, a Hindu priest at the local Pura Puseh and Pura Taman Sari Desa temples. Mangku is a multi-generation priest, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. The spring at Kedara is central to his spiritual practice because it's aligned with the Hindu god Vishnu, the protector of cosmic order. “Vishnu is often associated with water, because it symbolises the primordial state from which creation emerges,” he explains. “Water is both creation and destruction; the ultimate representation of transformation.” That's why the spring is said to carry healing powers and the potential for blessings. For generations, it has been a site for ritual purification, believed to heal the body, calm the mind and renew the spirit.

“When you take part in a water blessing at Toya Mampeh, you're tapping into a concentration of power that nourishes one of our country's most important spiritual arteries,” says Mangku Budi: “you're connecting to something greater than yourself.” He describes how these ceremonies, while rooted in local tradition, also offer resonance for anyone who takes part. The most auspicious times to engage in the ceremony are during full or new moons: “these are moments of natural transition or flux, when stagnant energy can be washed away.” Around these times, the spring is often surrounded by offerings: flowers, fruit, rice water, coconut, flour, and eggs - gifts of gratitude for the blessings the water bestows.

Guests at COMO Shambhala Estate can take part in a private water blessing, presided over by Mangku. It's a profound ritual that forms part of COMO Shambhala Estate's wider integrative approach to wellness, combining ancient tradition with modern wellness treatments. The spring's benefits reach into every aspect of a stay. The water is meticulously filtered, then used throughout the Estate's facilities, including in the hydrotherapy pool. It's even incorporated into COMO Shambhala Ginger Tea, ensuring a literal and symbolic connection to the water's vitality.

But does secular appreciation of the spring honour local reverence? “Our connection to water is sacred, but it's also everyday,” Mangku Budi reflects. “To use this water is to participate in a living tradition. It marks a return to the self.” And as the spring's clear waters continue through Kedara to meet the Ayung River below, they carry more than just gentle momentum. They carry stories, intention, and a gentle invitation: to flow, to transform, and to begin again.

For more information, or to book a private water blessing at COMO Shambhala Estate, contact our concierge team.