Bali: The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

View To The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces At Sunrise On Bali Island, Indonesia
View To The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces At Sunrise On Bali Island, Indonesia

The Indonesian island of Bali is not only known for its beautiful beaches. The spectacular rice terraces are also popular destinations. If you want to enjoy this away from the tourist crowds, you should go to Jatiluwih. Here you will find a field report with lots of information and photos.

When you think of the island of the gods, images of lush green, beautiful rice terraces probably inevitably come to mind! And rightly so! Because almost a quarter of the island is covered by rice fields.

Rice As Basic Food
Rice As Basic Food

The cultivation areas in Bali extend from the volcanic cone over tropical forests to the coasts! Since 2012, the Balinese rice fields and the Subak cultivation system associated with them have even been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Rice cultivation has a tradition going back thousands of years. Many people live for, all live with rice. It is a staple food and means of payment, even a kind of handicraft at the same time.

It goes without saying that this has created an emotional bond with the product that has provided families with a livelihood for generations. The work is very physically demanding and the pay is modest.

Nevertheless, the Balinese grow their rice with a huge passion, because for them rice is more than just food. Therefore, the rice terraces are considered the heavenly stairways of the Balinese gods.

Rice Fields On Bali
Rice Fields On Bali
Tegalalang Rice Terraces Bali
Tegalalang Rice Terraces Bali

Tegallalang Rice Terraces

The beauty of these cultural landscapes makes the cultivation of rice an absolute highlight, especially for tourists. Driving through the dreamlike rice terraces, which stretch from the center of the island over plains and mountain slopes to the coastal region, is a unique experience for every visitor.

In addition, the growing areas are popular tourist destinations. In the vicinity of the well-known rice terraces, you will find an infrastructure designed for tourism with hotels, restaurants, cafés, and tour operators.

Jobs are also created in this sector, which is closely related to rice cultivation on the island of the gods. You see the importance the little legume enjoys in the Hindu enclave of Indonesia.

Many of the most famous terraced complexes are located in the Ubud area. The provinces of Tabanan in the southwest and Tegallalang in the north of Ubud are particularly popular.

If you want to get away from it all, the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces are an ideal destination. They are very spacious, offer fantastic views, and authentic insights, and invite you to take a long walk through the terrain.

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1Rice cultivation in Bali

Hilly Bali
Hilly Bali

What is special about Balinese rice cultivation is its hilly, even mountainous central land. Particularly impressive is the ingenious and complex, equally incredibly effective irrigation system of the rice terraces. The canal system is widely branched and runs through the fields like lifelines.

Bali Jatiluwih Rice Cultivation
Bali Jatiluwih Rice Cultivation

The irrigation and cultivation technology of the Balinese rice farmers is still considered to be unrivaled and unsurpassed. The water from the mountains is channeled from one terrace to the next via artificial canals.

So the water is constantly moving. This enables Balinese rice farmers to harvest up to three crops a year. Nevertheless, additional rice has to be imported, since domestic production is no longer entirely sufficient due to increasing population and tourist numbers.

Watercourse Through The Rice Terraces
Watercourse Through The Rice Terraces

The work for the farmers is hard and the wages are rather low. Nevertheless, many Balinese families live from rice cultivation. Most rice farmers belong to the Subak irrigation community, which ensures the legal and practical framework for paddy rice cultivation.

Farmers banded together as early as the 11th century because it was difficult for individual rice growers to provide the hilly area with enough water.

Subak means something like “connected water.” This means the countless channels that feed from the watercourses in the area, from rivers, streams, and springs.

The first subtasks were probably built at springs and since these were often provided with a temple, the agricultural community and rice cultivation had a certain religious connection.

Panicles
Panicles

Depending on the variety, the panicles stand in artificially dammed water for between three and nine months. After flowering, the dams are opened and the water drains away.

When the rice is fully ripe, it is harvested and left in the sun to dry. When it is finally dry enough, it is threshed to loosen the rice grains from the ears.

This is the final product that you will find on the plate when you order Nasi Campur or Nasi Goreng.

Panicles In The Rice Field
Panicles In The Rice Field

What particularly favors rice cultivation is the humid monsoon climate and the fertile volcanic soil. These are ideal for planting wet rice, black, brown, or white rice.

However, only white and red rice is grown in the Jatiluwih rice terraces. The latter particularly benefits from the high-altitude climate in the shadow of Mount Batukaru.

2The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

Bali Jatiluwih
Bali Jatiluwih

Arriving in Jatiluwih, you will pass through a checkpoint where there is a small entry fee of 25,000 rupees. The warm ladies at the entrance will wave you through with an inviting smile. Of course only after payment.

Bali Jatiluwih
Bali Jatiluwih
Jatiluwih Path Through The Rice Terraces
Jatiluwih Path Through The Rice Terraces

Then it goes uphill on a winding road that already leads through the cultivation fields. After about 5 minutes you will see some warungs, restaurants and small shops on the right-hand side.

There are places to park your scooter for free everywhere. On the left is the “entrance” to the trekking path that runs through the rice fields.

The path is paved and easy to complete. Various routes lead through the entire area. You can choose the right path on a map at the entrance.

The individual routes are of different lengths and marked with different colors.

Jatiluwih
Jatiluwih

You can also walk directly through the rice fields on small paths and experience up close how the rice farmers work. In contrast to other places, the work here is authentic and not just posed for tourists.

However, some of the rice farmers are happy to chat a bit and if you ask nicely, you can certainly take a souvenir photo.

With a few provisions in your luggage, there are also various opportunities to catch your breath with a small picnic.

Atiluwih Work In Rice Field
Atiluwih Work In Rice Field
Rice Terraces Of Jatiluwih
Rice Terraces Of Jatiluwih

The location below the mountains and the extensive area is particularly beautiful. This gives you countless great views and varied photo opportunities.

My recommendation is to visit the rice terraces in the morning or mid-morning when the sky is usually not overcast.

It’s still beautiful in the afternoon, but the chances of sunshine decrease a bit.

Bali Jatiluwih
Bali Jatiluwih

3Jatiluwih: Location and Getting There

Jatiluwih At The Foot Of The Mountain
Jatiluwih At The Foot Of The Mountain

Jatiluwih is located at the foot of Gunung Batukaru, about 40 kilometers northwest of Ubud and north of Canggu. Batukaru rises up to 2200 m.

The rice terraces, on the other hand, are about 700m above sea level. With the scooter, you need one and a half hours from both starting points.

The closer you get to Jatiluwih, the better the signage. Alone the journey through the beautiful landscape of central Bali is worth the trip.

On The Way To Jatiluwih
On The Way To Jatiluwih

In Ubud, Canggu, or Kuta you can book day trips with various tour operators. Or you just jump into a taxi and let them take you to your destination.

If you have experience, I recommend doing the tour on your own, with a motorbike or scooter. You can stop at a temple, a food stall, or at a viewpoint along the way.

The journey alone is an experience in itself since you are not only moving to areas where tourism completely shapes the landscape.

It goes through small villages inhabited by rice farmers or farm workers. Cheerful children in school uniforms wave friendly from the roadside, where small food stalls invite you to a short soup break or a pyramid made of palm leaves filled with nasi campur.

It is also a good idea to stock up on some fresh fruit at one of the small village shops. This is definitely cheaper here than in the shops and restaurants directly on the rice terraces.

4Conclusion

Jatiluwih means “beautiful” and it truly is. In contrast to the terraces at Tegalalang, you will find peace and authentic originality here.

The vastness of the rice terraces is particularly impressive. A great day trip from which you will definitely take a lot of great pictures.

Here you can find more interesting Bali sights.

5Tours & Activities

Finally, a few quick tips for your stay in Bali.

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About This Article

Anand Agarwal
Written by: Anand Agarwal
1 votes - 100.00%
Updated: October 19, 2022
Views: 2966
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