Sawah Terasering Tegalalang: Bali’s carved rice valley near Ubud

On the hills north of Ubud, Sawah Terasering Tegalalang turns a narrow Balinese valley into a stepped landscape of rice fields shaped along the contours of the slope. Set in Tegallalang district on the Indonesian island of Bali, the terraces form part of the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province, which received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2012 for its subak irrigation system.

A terraced valley in Bali’s interior

Sawah Terasering Tegalalang lies in Tegallalang district north of Ubud, on the island of Bali in Indonesia. The terraces occupy the sides of a small valley where the land falls away sharply from the roadside viewpoints into a bowl of tiered paddies and coconut palms.Tegallalang Rice Terrace is described as an agricultural landscape carved into steep slopes in central Bali The setting is rural yet closely tied to Ubud, with the main access along Jalan Raya Tegallalang.

The terraces sit in Gianyar Regency in central Bali, part of a belt of rice-growing villages stretching through the island’s volcanic uplands. The landscape lies roughly 9 km north of central Ubud, at an elevation of around 600 m (about 1,970 ft) above sea level.The elevation of around 600 metres and the distance of about 9 km from Ubud are widely cited From the roadside, paths lead down into the valley and across the terraces, giving close views of the irrigation channels and planted paddies.

Subak irrigation and UNESCO recognition

The structure of Sawah Terasering Tegalalang is closely tied to Bali’s subak irrigation system, a cooperative network managed through village water temples. In this part of Bali, farmers channel water along small canals and through simple weirs before guiding it onto each terrace in sequence.The wider Tegalalang landscape is cited as a representative example of Bali’s subak irrigation heritage The stepped topography at Tegalalang shows how this system shapes the land, with narrow bunds holding water in shallow, mirror-like fields.

Subak is deeply rooted in Balinese history and religion, with its origins linked to the sage Rsi Markandeya in the eighth or ninth century. Over generations, farmers in the Ceking valley north of Ubud carved and maintained terraces that follow the natural contours of the hillside.Historical overviews connect the area’s terraces and their water management to Rsi Markandeya and the early development of subak In 2012, the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province, including the Tegallalang Rice Terrace area, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site for the way this irrigation network underpins both agriculture and ritual life.The Tegallalang Rice Terraces are listed as part of the UNESCO-recognised Cultural Landscape of Bali Province

Walking among the terraces

A visit to Sawah Terasering Tegalalang centres on moving between different levels of the valley. Narrow earth paths and steps run along the edges of the paddies and across the slopes, linking viewpoints near the road with lower terraces beside the stream that runs through the valley floor.Descriptions of the site highlight paths that descend from the roadside into the terraced fields The routes can involve steep sections of earthen steps or simple concrete stairways cut into the hillside.

From different points on the terraces, visitors see views back towards the cafés and small structures at the rim of the valley, and across to other slopes planted with rice. Parts of the landscape carry local names such as Ceking Rice Terrace, reflecting the hamlet at the heart of the valley.Local guides describe the site as being in the Ceking area of Tegalalang village Between planting and harvest, the paddies form layered bands of green, interspersed with coconut trees and simple shelters used by farmers.

Visiting Sawah Terasering Tegalalang: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Sawah Terasering Tegalalang lies in Tegallalang district north of Ubud on Bali, along Jalan Raya Tegallalang, and is reached by road transport such as car or scooter from the town.
• The landscape drops from the roadside into a steep valley, and access to many viewpoints involves steps, narrow paths and uneven, sometimes muddy ground along the terrace edges.
• The terraces sit in a rural part of Gianyar Regency in central Bali, with rice fields, small villages and other agricultural landscapes nearby along the same road.
• The official language is Indonesian and the currency is the Indonesian rupiah.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Sawah Terasering Tegalalang

Where is Sawah Terasering Tegalalang?

Sawah Terasering Tegalalang is in Tegallalang district north of Ubud, in Gianyar Regency on the Indonesian island of Bali, along the main road known as Jalan Raya Tegallalang.

What can visitors expect at the terraces?

Visitors find a steep valley of terraced rice paddies, footpaths and steps linking different levels, with views of planted fields, irrigation channels and coconut trees.

What makes Sawah Terasering Tegalalang distinctive?

The site combines a dramatic terraced valley, active rice cultivation and Bali’s subak irrigation network, and forms part of the UNESCO-listed Cultural Landscape of Bali Province.