Jatiluwih Rice Terrace - An Underrated Balinese Adventure

Bali is a popular holiday destination for Australians with 1.18 million Aussies travelling to Bali in 2017 alone. While most Aussies are well acquainted with the cheap booze, sandy beaches, and wild nightlife, many miss out on exploring the fantastic scenery Bali has to offer as it is further away from the city centre. Currently, there are 8 UNESCO sites in Indonesia, and one of them includes the cultural landscape of Bali that comprises of five major rice terraces and their water temples. Two of the famous rice terraces are Tegalalang and Jatiluwih.

Tegalalang rice terrace is conveniently located 9km away from Ubud city centre and therefore is comparatively popular among tourists. However, this convenience comes at the price of massive crowds and tourist traps. Having lived in Indonesia for a few months at this point, I preferred going somewhere less explored and peaceful which lead me to Jatiluwih rice terrace.

JATILUWIH

Located approximately 90 mins away from Ubud city centre, this rice terrace nests at the foot of Mount Batukaru. The area comprises of 636 hectares of luscious fields at an altitude of 700m above sea level. In Bahasa, the words Jati means really and luwih means beautiful and true to its name, this flowing sea of green is one of the most extensive and picturesque rice terraces in Bali. This heritage site not only captures the spectacular view Ubud has to offer but also offers visitors a visual platform to observe the traditional Balinese way of life and culture.

UNESCO HERITAGE SITE

To understand the rationale behind this UNESCO world heritage site, one must understand the Subak system that manifests the Tri Hita Karana philosophy behind traditional farming. The Tri Hita Karana philosophy dictates that relationship between God, human and nature should remain intact to achieve prosperity and harmony in life. The subak method of irrigation invented in the 9th century comprises of five rice terraces (including Jatiluwih) and the water temples associated with these rice terraces. The subak method utilizes the Tri Hita Karana philosophy to ensure all three elements are in balance with each other.

Every 105 days, the water temples hold a cultural festival to celebrate the cultural landscape of the Bali province. This time frame also corresponds to the length of rice-growing season allowing farmers to use this festival as a guide to efficiently deploy water towards the rice terraces. Recognising the pivotal value of rice terraces in Balinese culture, the UNESCO declared the rice terrace system of the Bali province as a world heritage site in 2012.

COSTS

ENTRY

Fees for Foreigners: 40,000IDR [AU$4]

Fees for Locals & foreign students with KITAS: 15,000IDR [AU$1.50]

TRANSPORTATION

Most resorts in Bali/Ubud area would happily organise a rental car for you. However, if you are traveller on a budget or with a friend/partner, I recommend hiring a scooter and making your own way there.

Scooter: Between 50,000 - 70,000IDR [AU$5 - $7]

Car rental with driver: 600,000IDR [AU$60]

WHEN TO VISIT

I would recommend visiting the rice terraces early morning or late afternoon. I visited the terrace at dawn just in time for the sunrise and there was not a single soul in the area. I had plenty of time to explore the area and experiment with my drone. I was so early that the ticket office was closed and I would have gotten away with a free entry had I not run into a ticket officer as I was leaving the terrace. It was indeed an exhilarating experience exploring the area without running into tourists at every corner (something you will appreciate if you have been in Bali for a while). The recommended months to visit are between June to July (harvest season) and between October to February (monsoon season). Just remember to carry a poncho or an umbrella if you visit during the monsoon season.

TIPS

• Always have a bottle of water, sunscreen and mosquito repellent with you when exploring the rice terraces.

• If you want to spend a few hours hiking the rice terraces, I recommend staying at an accommodation nearby and visiting Jatiluwih over two days. The area itself is very rural as it is mostly farming communities so you will most likely have to stay in high-end resorts nearby or find a local homestay.

Have you visited any rice terraces in Bali? If so, please share your stories in the comments.