Information
Landmark: Tegallalang Rice TerracesCity: Bali
Country: Indonesia
Continent: Asia
Tegallalang Rice Terraces, Bali, Indonesia, Asia
Overview
In the heart of Bali, just outside Ubud, the Tegallalang Rice Terraces ripple across the hills in vivid green layers, making them one of the island’s most iconic and breathtaking sights.The lush, green terraces of rice ripple down the hillside, admired for their striking symmetry, vivid beauty, and time‑honored farming methods.The rice terraces, with their bright green steps curving down the hillsides, have come to symbolize Bali’s countryside and its deep-rooted farming traditions.The Tegallalang Rice Terraces sit about 10 kilometers, or six miles, north of Ubud in Bali’s Gianyar Regency, where green stepped fields spill down the hillsides.It’s only about a 30‑minute drive or motorbike ride from Ubud, and soon you’re winding into a lush valley where the terraces sit surrounded by thick jungle, swaying palms, and a handful of quiet, traditional villages.From every angle, the area opens up to sweeping views of emerald-green hills, drawing tourists eager to soak in Bali’s natural beauty.The Tegallalang Rice Terraces, patterned like giant stairways, showcase the Subak irrigation system-a traditional Balinese method that’s kept water flowing through these fields for over a thousand years.The Subak system works as a cooperative network, with farmers sharing water so every rice paddy stays wet enough for healthy growth.Recognized by UNESCO, this system boosts crop yields while keeping the land’s natural harmony intact, like terraces stepping gently down a hillside.Terraced Fields: At Tegallalang, rice paddies step down the hillside in neat tiers, each one catching the sun like a shallow green balcony.The terraced layout keeps rain from washing soil away and makes the most of every drop of water.In planting or harvest season, the lush green rice paddies spill down the hillside like soft steps, drawing photographers and nature lovers who can’t resist the view.Stone terraces still cling to the hillsides, where local farmers work the soil using age-old methods handed down from their grandparents.It’s common to spot farmers bent over in the fields, planting or harvesting rice by hand, and the sight lends the place a genuine, earthy charm.Bring your camera to the Tegallalang Rice Terraces, where emerald-green steps spill down the hillsides, and capturing the view is one of the best things to do.Terraced fields spill down the hillsides, their green steps catching the light, making a perfect backdrop for photographing Bali’s wild beauty.The best light for photos comes at sunrise and sunset, when the sun’s soft glow throws long shadows across the green fields and sharpens every curve and edge.On the walking tour, visitors stroll through the rice fields, feel the cool breeze on their skin, and wander past stretches of bright green stalks swaying in the sun.Local guides can walk you through the rice terraces, sharing stories of their history, explaining how the farmers plant and harvest each season, and revealing why these green steps mean so much to the community.Strolling through the rice terraces lets you feel the warm sun on your back and truly soak in the quiet, unspoiled beauty of rural Bali.Swing and Scenic Views: Lately, visitors flock to Bali’s swings and picture-perfect lookout points scattered around the Tegallalang Rice Terraces, where the breeze carries the scent of fresh rice stalks.You can hop on the giant swings that soar out over the rice fields, the wind rushing past as the landscape spreads wide beneath you.The swings create a moment you won’t forget, the kind you’d snap a photo of with the sun glinting off the chains.Around the rice terraces, you’ll find cafés and restaurants where you can sip coffee while watching sunlight ripple across the green fields.These spots dish up fragrant Balinese classics alongside familiar international fare, making them an inviting place to unwind after a full day of exploring.Several of these restaurants open onto terraces that look out over the fields, so you can linger over your meal while watching the wind ripple through the grass.In Tegallalang, the art markets buzz with color and chatter as local vendors offer handmade treasures-smooth wood carvings, woven baskets, and soft, hand-dyed clothing.While browsing for souvenirs and handmade crafts, visitors also help support the local community.Morning, right at sunrise, is the ideal moment to see the rice terraces-cool air brushes your skin, and the soft, golden light spills over the fields, making every photo glow.With fewer tourists around, the place feels calmer-you might hear nothing but the soft crunch of your footsteps on the path.In the afternoon, the rice terraces glow under the high, bright sun, their green steps shimmering in the heat.The bright green rice fields glow against the deep blue sky, though this season often brings more people wandering the narrow paths.Harvesting season in Bali shifts from place to place, but most fields turn golden and ready for cutting sometime between April and September.Right now, the rice fields glow gold, signaling it’s time to harvest, and the green terraces fade into warm shades like dry straw in the sun.Come this season, you can watch farmers slice ripe stalks by hand and see traditional harvesting come to life.It usually costs a small fee-about IDR 10,000 to 20,000, or roughly 70 cents to $1.50-to wander through the rice terraces and take in the bright green steps under the sun.The money we collect keeps the site running and helps local farmers, from repairing fences to stocking the market tables.Dress Code: The rice fields are working farmland, so wear sturdy shoes or easygoing sandals-you’ll be walking along narrow, sun‑warmed terraces.When you visit nearby temples or other sacred places, dress modestly-cover your shoulders and knees, the way you might in a quiet chapel.At the entrance, local guides wait with warm smiles, ready to lead tours that bring the area’s history, culture, and farming traditions to life-like letting you run your hand over the rough grain of an old wooden plow.If you really want to understand the Subak irrigation system and the old ways of tending rice, hire a guide-they can point out the narrow water channels glinting in the sun and explain how they’ve worked for centuries.Just outside Ubud-the island’s cultural heart-you’ll find the Tegallalang Rice Terraces, their emerald steps spilling down the hillside.In Ubud, you can wander through the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, step inside the ornate halls of Ubud Palace, and spend hours exploring its art galleries, quiet museums, and serene yoga retreats.Just a short drive from the rice terraces, Tirta Empul is a Hindu water temple known for its crystal-clear spring, where visitors cup the cool, sacred water in their hands, believing it can heal.Visitors can join a traditional purification ritual, stepping into the temple’s cool, clear pools to bathe.Just a short drive from Tegallalang, Gunung Kawi is an ancient temple complex carved deep into sheer cliffs, where towering rock-cut shrines rise from the cool, mossy stone.The place holds deep historical roots and a strong spiritual pull, like the worn stone steps of an ancient temple.Just a short drive to Batubulan, Bali Bird Park bursts with the colors and calls of tropical birds, offering visitors of all ages a lively mix of learning and fun.If you’re heading to Bali, don’t miss the Tegallalang Rice Terraces-lush green steps that seem to spill down the hillside.Their sweeping views, layered terraces, and rich cultural roots invite you to step into Bali’s farming traditions and feel the warm earth beneath your feet.
