The name Tampaksiring comes from two Balinese words, namely visible (meaning "palm") and siring (meaning "oblique"). That said, according to a legend recorded on lontar leaves Usana Bali, the name was derived from the former footprints of a king named Mayadenawa. This clever and powerful king, but unfortunately he had bad personality. This king also considered himself a god and ordered his people to worship him. As a result of Mayadenawa's character, Batara Indra was angry and sent his army to destroy Mayadenawa. Mayadenawa ran into the forest. In order to lose track of his pursuers, he walked by tilting the soles of his feet. In this way, he hoped that his pursuers would not recognize that the traces he left behind were human tracks/traces.
 
However, in the end Mayadewana's attempt failed, and he was caught by his pursuers. However, before that, with the remnants of his supernatural powers he succeeded in creating a poisonous spring which caused many of his pursuers to die after they drank the water from the spring. Batara Indra then created another spring as an antidote to the poisoned water. The antidote water was later named Tirta Empul (meaning "holy water"). The forest area that King Mayadenawa passed by walking on his tilted legs became known as Tampaksiring.
                                                                               
According to history, in one corner of the Tampaksiring Palace area, facing the Tirta Empul pool at the foot of the hill, there used to be a resting building belonging to the Gianyar Kingdom. On its land now stands Wisma Merdeka, which is part of the Tampaksiring Palace which was first built.
 
The Tampaksiring Presidential Palace was established on the initiative of President Soekarno where President Soekarno wanted a resting place for the President of the Republic of Indonesia and his family and also for state guests visiting Bali.
 
Considerations for selecting the location of Tampaksiring, where the air is cool and its location is far from the city crowds so that it is considered suitable for a resting place.