Jatiluwih is one of the most beautiful rice terraces in Bali and a living monument to human labor. In July 2012, the Jatiluwih rice terraces were recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Jatiluwih covers approximately three hundred hectares of rice fields, where nearly 400 people are engaged in agricultural work.
Rice terraces are found in many parts of Asia and Indonesia, but it is only in Bali that you can witness the intricately organized irrigation system known as Subak.
Subak, in a broader sense, is a social model of Balinese agricultural communities united by a common irrigation system and the community itself. Its purpose is to irrigate the flooded fields of its members.
Subak is also a system for distributing water resources across multi-level terraces. Its main elements include dams, channels, tunnels, weirs, artificial waterfalls, and drainage systems.
For irrigation, there is a carefully designed system of channels where water is sourced from mountain rivers, ensuring continuous rice field irrigation. Such conditions allow for harvesting rice crops 3-4 times a year.
Many islands in Indonesia, including Bali, are volcanic in nature. Therefore, the soil is rich in micro and macro elements, creating ideal conditions for agriculture.
The Subak system has been known since the 11th century. Currently, there are about 1,300 Subak communities in Bali, comprising around 260,000 farmers.
The mountain range in the north ensures even distribution of rainfall throughout the valley. It is not as hot as near the ocean and not as cold as in the northern mountainous regions like Kintamani and Bedugul.
Along the road, there are lookout points where you can stop and admire the terraces.
Special routes are laid out on the Jatiluwih rice terraces, and there are signs indicating directions.
The entrance fee to the terraces is 40,000 Indonesian Rupiah.
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