Bali Heaven Official Blog

The name Jatiluwih itself comprises of two parts. Jati means real and Luwih means special or beautiful. Hence Jatiluwih is a place of real beauty. It is located at a height of 700 meters from sea level with a cool climate. It is also one of the more culturally rich places in Bali boasting of the Petali Temple which is famous for the power of Ida Dalem Waturenggong, king in Keraton Gelgel. Located in the Kecamatan Penebel, Kabupaten Tabanan administrative area, Jatiluwih is very close to the border of Mount Batukaru national park.

How to get there
Jatiluwih Rice Terrace is just 65 km from Denpasar making it easy to visit for those tourists especially reaching Bali through the Ngurah Rai International airport located very close to Denpasar. For those travelling by road, Jatiluwih can be approached through the road that leads from Denpasar to Bedugul. Then you need to take the left downward from the Baturiti town. One can also travel from Tabanan to the north, which leads to Batukaru or the Wangaya village. This route is best for those who want to enjoy the journey too as it is beautiful with its vegetation. There is a hot spring at Penetahan village. One can also visit the Batukaru Temple en-route Jatiluwih thus making the most of the trip.

Major Attractions
Jatiluwih produces one of the best qualities of rice in Indonesia. Obviously tourists will be treated to a vista or beautiful paddy fields and terraces filling the sight with greenery. It is one of the tourist places in Bali for those who want to unwind. Even the Dutch built their security headquarters here. One can enjoy the colors, especially during harvest time when there is the green of the paddy fields and the dark yellow. There is in fact, a view point right on top of the hill from where one can enjoy the scenic beauty of Jatiluwih. The western and eastern borders of the places have many traditional red clay houses where the rice is sold.

Trekking and Leisurely rides
With Mount Batukaru close by, trekkers have a field time with many hills. The peak of Mount Bautkaru rises 2671 meters above sea level making it the second highest in Bali after Mount Agung. There is also a temple on top of Mount Batukaru. One can also hire a horse to ride up and down the green slopes and enjoy the nature that has been so well preserved in this land.

Cultural Attractions
Jatiluwih is known for some unique ceremonies such as Patirtan, conducted in the Petali Temple on Wednesdays based on the Balinese calendars. This temple is very sacred to the locals purely because they believe it is the worship center of the God of agricultural power, Hyang Widhi Wasa. Another temple in the area that can be visited is the Pucak Rsi Temple. Tourists can also undertake a day trip from Jatiluwih to the Watukaru temple. Jatiluwih has been listed as one of the heritage sites of the world by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), with the irrigation systems used in the area being an interesting aspect due to the way they are organized and the water shared between farmers.

As the mercury goes up, one place in Bali which will surely be a cool retreat for you is the highland area of Bali, comprising of Candi Kuning, Pacung, Pancasari, Wanagiri and Bedugul itself. Located 1400 meters above sea level Bedugul is located on the crater of an extinct volcano and is surrounded by beautiful lush green vegetation that is supported by 3 lakes, Bratan, Tamblingan and Buyan.

How to get there?

This lush green area is located 50km to Denpasar’s north. One can reach there on bemos which ply regularly to Bedugul from Denpasar on one side and Singaraja on the other. If you want to enjoy the scenic beauty even more closely a taxi ride or a motorcycle ride through the area is not a bad idea at all.

Things to Check Out

There are quite a few attractions which you shouldn’t give a miss when in Bedugul. The waterfalls in the area, although less visited are really fascinating. They really roar during the rainy season and are well worth the visit. The Munduk waterfall is 1km west of Munduk market and is one of the best spectacles the island has to offer. The 50 meter high Gitgit waterfall is near the Gitgit village which can be reached after cross Lake Bratan on the way to Singaraja, a small distance from the main road.

For those who are really interested in plant species, you can visit one of the 4 official botanical gardens in Indonesia, the Bali botanical gardens. You can identify it from the front entrance which has giant statue of stone. If you have love for trees and plants, this 160 hectare area could keep you interested all day long.

Jatiluwih which is 8km from Bedugul is a scenic marvel with lush green, terraced rice paddy fields nestling under the shadows of the beautiful Mount Batukaru. Those who love hiking and trekking will enjoy the landscape. There are a couple of refreshment cafes too. This place was nominated by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as one of the world heritage centers. The Lake Bratan temple, known locally as the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan is one of the showpieces of Bali and is perhaps a part of every tourist’s Bali album. Located on Lake Bratan’s western shore, the beautiful temple provides a picturesque view by almost looking like floating on the water. It was constructed in the early part of the 17^th century and is dedicated to the goddess of the lake, Ida Batara Dewi Ulun Danu (Dewi Ulun Danu), a stunning silhouette on the banks of the lake and a true snap for the photographers.

Trekking enthusiasts can join any of the organized treks to Mount Catur which is 2096 meters high. One can also take strolls and treks around Jatiluwih enjoying the scenery. 20km south of the central Bedugul, one can enjoy the Angseri hot springs. For those who love some buzz, the Bukit Mungsu traditional market in Candikuning is the place to pick tropical fruits, exotic spices, strawberries, orchids and corns. You can also find crops of coffee, cloves, vanilla and cacao in the surrounding area.