Sawah Terasering Tegalalang, Bali’s carved rice valley near Ubud
Published on 08/27/2026 at 13:22 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
On the hills north of Ubud, Sawah Terasering Tegalalang turns a narrow Balinese valley into stepped bands of rice paddies that hug the contours of the slope. Set in Tegallalang district on the island of Bali in Indonesia, the terraces form part of the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province, which received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2012 for its subak irrigation system.Cultural Landscape of Bali Province
A terraced valley shaped by water and contour
Sawah Terasering Tegalalang occupies a steep valley north of Ubud, where the land drops away in a series of terraces planted with rice. Each level follows the natural curve of the hillside, creating a layered profile that reads from a distance as a green amphitheatre.
The terraces belong to the wider Tegalalang Rice Terrace landscape within Tegallalang district in Gianyar Regency, on Bali’s central plateau.Tegalalang Rice Terrace landscape Irrigation channels carry water along the edges of the paddies, forming a visible network that connects the upper slopes with the valley floor. From the roadside, paths descend into the valley and cross between the plots, bringing visitors close to both the planted fields and the watercourses.paths descend into the valley
Subak heritage in the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province
The terraces at Sawah Terasering Tegalalang are part of Bali’s subak tradition, a cooperative irrigation system that channels water from upland sources through canals and weirs to the paddies.Bali's subak tradition This system and its associated temples and landscapes were recognised in 2012 when UNESCO inscribed the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a World Heritage Site.inscribed the Cultural Landscape
Within this inscription, Tegallalang sits in the Pekerisan Watershed component, alongside sites such as Tirta Empul and the shrines of Gunung Kawi further downstream.Pekerisan Watershed component Sawah Terasering Tegalalang gives a tangible view of how water, agriculture and ritual are linked in Bali’s interior, with the terraced landscape forming part of a broader cultural geography rather than a standalone monument.
Between working fields and viewpoints
Sawah Terasering Tegalalang lies along Jalan Raya Tegallalang, the main road that runs north from Ubud towards Kintamani and Mount Batur.Jalan Raya Tegallalang The landscape sits roughly 9 km north of central Ubud, at an elevation of around 600 m (about 1,970 ft) above sea level, placing it in the cooler uplands of Bali’s interior.roughly 9 km north
The valley combines working rice plots with viewpoints and small structures along the rims and within the terraces.combines working rice plots Narrow earthen paths and stepped trails thread between the fields, and in some places simple bridges span the irrigation channels, giving a sense of the terrain’s gradients and the way the terraces fit together as a continuous agricultural slope.
Visiting Sawah Terasering Tegalalang: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Sawah Terasering Tegalalang is 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 terraces descend a steep hillside into a narrow valley, with stepped paths and earthen tracks that can be uneven underfoot.
- The landscape lies in Gianyar Regency in central Bali, where 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 located?
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 should visitors expect when exploring the terraces?
Visitors encounter a steep terraced valley planted with rice, with narrow paths, steps and small bridges that weave between the paddies and irrigation channels.
What makes Sawah Terasering Tegalalang distinctive among Bali’s landscapes?
The site combines a working subak-irrigated rice landscape with layered terraces that form part of the UNESCO-listed Cultural Landscape of Bali Province near Ubud.
