Jatiluwih is the grandest rice landscape on Bali. More than 600 hectares of terraces spill down the slopes below Mount Batukaru in Penebel district, Tabanan, curving around hills and dropping into valleys as far as the eye can see. Since 2012 the area has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for Bali's subak system, within the Catur Angga Batukaru component of the site.
The terraces are shaped and watered by subak, the cooperative irrigation system through which Balinese farmers share water from springs and rivers, coordinated through a network of water temples. Here the water comes from the forested slopes of Batukaru, one of the island's sacred mountains. Planting and harvest follow a shared calendar, and small shrines stand in the fields to honor Dewi Sri, the rice goddess.
At roughly 700 to 850 meters above sea level, Jatiluwih is cooler and calmer than the terraces near Ubud. Walking trails of different lengths wind along the dikes and irrigation channels, past farmers at work and small huts where they rest. Early morning brings mist lifting off the fields and clear views up to the mountain before clouds gather.
Highlights
- More than 600 hectares of terraces
- Marked walking trails through the fields
- Views up to Mount Batukaru
- Living subak irrigation in action
Good to know
- Stay on the marked paths and dikes to avoid damaging crops and channels.
- Combine with Pura Luhur Batukaru, a short drive up the mountain.
- An entrance fee applies, collected at the road into the terraces.
On the map
Bali 2027 Travel Guide
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