The Tegalalang Rice Terraces are just a short drive north of Ubud.
Tip: For the journey I would recommend you to enter "Tegalalang Instagram View" on google maps. Then you will get to a small hidden parking lot, from which you can start your tour through the rice terraces perfectly. From my experience, this side of the rice terraces is much less visited by tourists.
From this start, you walk only very briefly along the signposted path, until you already have the super view of the rice terraces. The rice fields are laid out in different levels and you can see the different degrees of maturity of the rice. Some fields are just very flooded and you can see only very small plants and in some fields the rice plant is already very mature.
From the starting point you can move along the small designated paths. Roughly my recommendation would be to look from the direction that you reach the opposite slope, cross it and then reach the road at the slope behind it - this then represents the end of the area. But this should only serve as an orientation for you - there are incredibly many small paths and it's fun to follow them and just let yourself drift a bit.
At the edge of the rice fields you can see again and again small shrines and offerings. These are in honor of the fertility goddess Dewi Sri.
All rice fields are connected to a cleverly designed irrigation system, which comes from mountain streams and springs. This allows the rice fields to be flooded as needed. Bali can have up to 3 rice harvests per year.
On the terraced rice fields like near Tegalalang, work is still done by hand. Due to the poor accessibility, hardly any animals or machines can be used here.
Next to the paths there are often small restaurants where you can enjoy a refreshment like fruit juices or a fresh coconut.
Tip: If you want to try one of the swings at Tegalalang, then I recommend you to do it near the described starting point "Tegalalang Instagram View". On the one hand, from my experience, there are significantly fewer tourists on the road here and on the other hand, the view of the opposite slope is even more impressive than on the other side.
In any case, Tegalalang is worth a visit - the arrangement in this multitude of different levels makes these rice fields a special eye-catcher. I would only advise to get up early and go here, as it is certainly the most pleasant time both from the tourist crowds and the temperatures.
In which countries have you visited rice fields? 😊
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