Jatiluwih Rice Terrace

Jatiluwih opens daily, from 8:30 am – 6:00 pm. Try visiting just after it opens or after 4:00 pm when the temperature is more tolerable. There is an entrance fee of IDR40,000 (October 2020). Jatiluwih Rice Terrace is located in the middle of Bali at the foot of Mount Batukaru in the village of Jatiluwih of Tabanan Regency. It is also about 850 metres above sea level in the Penebel district. Hence, the atmosphere can be cool at times.

In June 2012, UNESCO had recognised Jatiluwih as one of the World’s Cultural Heritage Site as the rice fields are being watered by a traditional method called the Subak Irrigation System preserved from the 9th century & passed down through generations. Since farmers depend on the Subak, different Subaks from the 150 rivers & streams in Bali come together & merge into a single system to irrigate the rice terraces. These successful Subaks were due to the stringent management undertaken by the villagers themselves through the village cooperatives who gained recognition as the dominant factor in Bali’s entry on the heritage list.

It is the biggest rice terraces in Bali, comprising over 600 hectares of incredibly well-maintained rice terraces & fields that follow the hillside topography of the Batukaru mountain range & is probably a replica of rice terraces in the 9th century. Hence, the landscape is far larger & the green fields are more expansive, magnificent & stretches by the kilometres.

The rice stems are much longer at Jatiluwih. So, at ground level, they look less terraced than at Tegalalang.

There are fewer cafes & restaurants in Jatiluwih & the locals do not hound you for donations. So, you can afford to chill & relax even more. The atmosphere is more laidback, less crowded & the paths are easier to walk on.