Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

Jatiluwih Rice Terraces are extensive stepped rice fields in Jatiluwih Village, Penebel District, Tabanan Regency, Bali, on the southern slopes of Mount Batukaru at about 700 meters elevation. Covering approximately 600 hectares, they form the largest and most intact example of Bali's traditional subak cooperative irrigation system. Inscribed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape of Bali Province in 2012, the terraces are noted for their scenic scale, agricultural heritage and ongoing traditional cultivation.

Visitors can expect wide, gently sloping valleys covered with layered green and golden rice terraces following the contours of the hillside, intersected by subak irrigation channels and small shrines. Paved and dirt walking and cycling tracks loop through the fields with elevated viewpoints and warungs overlooking the landscape. The area remains active farmland with farmers working the fields, offering opportunities for short treks, photography and observing traditional Balinese agricultural practices against a backdrop of Mount Batukaru.

The terraces exemplify the subak system, a cooperative water management system developed in Bali since the 9th century. Jatiluwih was inscribed in 2012 as part of the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province UNESCO World Heritage Site, representing the long-standing democratic and egalitarian irrigation practices and the philosophical concept of Tri Hita Karana.

The landscape embodies the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, emphasizing harmony among people, nature and the spiritual realm. The subak system integrates religious rituals, communal cooperation and sustainable agriculture, with water temples and shrines playing a central role in managing water distribution and agricultural cycles.