The Ceking Rice Terrace is right where the cultural life of the Balinese people in Indonesia takes place, and it is definitely a masterpiece of human imagination that can be integrated into the lines of nature.
The Ceking Rice Terraces have applied the contour of the steep hillside by creating a marvelous amphitheater-like cultivation, which looks like a waterfall of green color in the valley. It is the phenomenal engineering in the terraces that first draws the attention of the visitors—the terraces, hand-carved a hundred years ago by the human hand, that have been kept in shape through the generations with the help of the ancient methods.
Ceking is one of the Southeast Asian rice terraces that is characterized by an extremely steep gradient and the unique subak irrigation method that serves it. Ancient water management practice, which is now on the UNESCO list, involves the system of canals, tunnels, and weirs that distribute the water coming out of springs on the mountains to the people. The system does not only refer to agricultural innovativeness but generally to the Balinese way of expressing philosophical concepts referred to as Tri Hita Karana, or the harmonious relationship between humans, nature, and the spiritual world.
What is usually, quite naturally, what impresses visitors first is the three-dimensionality of the terraces: how they seem to undulate and ripple along over the landscape, making fascinating patterns that move during the day and with the changing light.
Keting Rice Terraces, Bali: The Ancient Wisdom of the Living Heritage of Bali
Trickling down terraced lush green hills of central Bali, one can come across the Ceking Rice Terraces, which are a product of centuries of agricultural genius. These emerald-green terraces are not just a beautiful landscape but are also found in the artistic village of Tegallalang near Ubud, which represents a very important element of the Balinese culture, which is the perfect harmony between man and nature.
The terraces also wind along the natural folds of the hillsides, which forms a very picturesque effect of the flowing wave of curved lines upon the land. This is not only illusory in aesthetic design but is also the advanced knowledge of topography, management of water, and sustainable agriculture that Balinese farmers have developed over a long time.
The real feature of the Ceking Rice Terraces is the traditional system of Subak irrigation that supports the terraces, a very old practice that has made the system gain international accolades in respect of its cultural and ecological values. This system provides one of the most impressive accomplishments of humanity in establishing a sustainable state in the landscape of agricultural activity that lasts more than a millennium.
The terraces are even more breathtaking at dawn when the morning light touches the whole landscape with the golden touch, or on the brink of harvest when the fields turn to a sea of swinging golden stems. The terraces change phases as the year progresses, and each phase brings with it its beauty, whether it is the reflective calm of the terraces when the terraces are being planted with water or the green growth and eventually the amber hampers of harvest time.
Geography and Location of Ceking Rice Terrace
Kebun Bunga Jenis Keping Rice Terrace is a tourist attraction that has been made in the green highlands of the Indonesian island of Bali in the village of Tegallalang, which is 10 kilometers north of Ubud in the Highlands Gianyar regency. The beauty site has developed into a cultural scene in modernity, and now it occupies a strategic area serving the main road exiting Ubud and Kintamani, and it is therefore accessible to tourists because it still has its ruralism.
The village of Tegallalang is made up of many small hamlets (the most popular one is Ceking with its marvelous rice paddies). This altitude forms the optimum medium range that is not too cold and not too hot, which is conducive to both rice production and human tolerance of the greenhouse.
Topographically, Ceking offers spectacular scenery that includes high walls of the valleys, which have been professionally chiseled with cascading terraces. These terraces run along the hills in the land, thus forming an amphitheater-like structure with all the terraces running down to the valley in the Pakerisan River. These slopes have gradients of between 30 and 70 degrees in certain places and prove an excellent example of the excellent engineering and agricultural skills of the Balinese people, who have made this seemingly problematic land useful agricultural land.
Tegallalang has an ideal climate for the production of rice. This guaranteed water supply, coupled with the supply of water by the mountain streams and springs, guarantees irrigation of the rice paddies all year round.
Dry Field and Sustainable Agriculture at Ceking Rice Terrace
Ceking Rice Terrace, Bali, can be characterized as the ultimate demonstration of ancient Balinese farming practices that can be dated centuries ago. The local agriculture still uses traditional methods that have worked over generations, which, in addition to creating an eternal source of food, keeps the historic look and feel that brings tourists in droves year after year.
Conventional Ways of Farming
The agricultural practices at Ceking rice terrace bear the reflection of old knowledge that fits well in the mountainous landscape in central Bali. Water buffalo are used by the farmers as they plow the soil using a traditional hand plow known as a tengala. Although it is labor-intensive, this approach avoids compaction of the soil, which would result from heavy machinery, and maintains the fragile terraces as well.
The most impressive type of farming system can be seen in its water management. The subak irrigation system is a cultural heritage granted by UNESCO, and it administers water conveyed along natural springs and rain with the help of a network of bamboo pipes and tiny canals. This system of shared communal water has made sure that every terrace gets well-maintained water, with farmers having their own coordination effort, which has been done through routine meetings at water temples in the locality.
Not to mention pest control at Ceking is mostly natural. Bamboo stakes are planted strategically in the farms by farmers to brilliantly welcome birds that eat the insects. They also release ducks into the fields after harvests to clear up leftover grain and rodents, and in the process, their manure fertilizes the farms, a classic integrated pest management practice that might have been evident before even the invention of modern agricultural science.
Rice Cultivated
The majority of terraces are given to planting a variety of rice, which have certain sets of qualities:
Bali Red Rice (Beras Merah): This one is the local variety, and this variety appears with a reddish-brown color and nutty flavor. It contains many vitamins and antioxidants and needs additional time (5-6 months) to turn out to be even healthier, but I like it due to the health and cultural aspects.
White Rice (Beras Putih): White rice types, which include most fragrant types, are cultivated and receive particular attention during ceremonies in the Balinese Hindu context at frequencies of the Mansur type.
Staggering of Planting and Harvesting
The agricultural time cycle at the Ceking Rice Terrace is the same one that is followed by the tropical weather situation with wet and dry seasons:
Primary Growing Season (November-April): This is the season when most rice is planted, and this season starts with the rainy season.
The Water Management System: Subak Water Management System in Ceking Rice Terrace
The terraced fields of Ceking not only represent technical achievements of the agricultural work but are living proof of the most advanced traditional system of irrigation in the world. Because these emerald cascades are supported by the subak system, centuries of collective knowledge and the united efforts of the populace are present.
Governing the subak system is a reciprocally very straightforward yet clever premise: natural springs in the volcanic barriers provide feeders of water to the system, which runs through bamboo pipes, stone channels, and tunnels to the terraced fields. What stands out about this system is that it provides water equally to farms at the different elevations and to different farmers so that there is enough irrigation of the fields that are higher and lower.
The place of control of this complicated system of water conduct is called the water temple (pura subak). It is not that farmers cannot determine how much water they need, but the water allocation is done by a pragmatic combination of agricultural convenience and spirituality. Priests and community leaders hold regular meetings to decide on irrigation schedules and water releases, which are time-set within the Balinese ceremonial calendar as well as the seasonality requirements.
The real brilliance of this system is the fact that it is self-regulating. The terraces are built with a slight inward lean so that the water tends to distribute itself horizontally across the field, after which it is washed off through small exit points down to the terrace lower down. These openings are regulated by allowing farmers to open or close them at will by use of simple wooden or stone plugs, and this provides the farmer with exact control over water in their fields.
How to Visit Ceking Rice Terrace: The Need-to-Knows
The Ceking Rice Terrace at Tegallalang will provide the visitors with a spectacular experience, which will also be different according to season and time of day. Your visit to this famous Balinese scenery will be even better with knowledge of planning the time of visit, the visiting experience, and how to visit the places responsibly.
November to April is the best time to visit Madagascar, as it is the rainy season in the country. The airline flights are cheaper during this weather since it is rainy.
Ceking Rice Terrace is available to the visitors throughout the year, yet the temporal nature of your visit can influence it significantly:
Morning (6.00 AM – 9.00 AM): This period of morning is the most magical. The diffused light is good for painting the terraces since it is a nice time to capture images. A morning visit would mean an absence of the tourists on top of the increased comfortable temperatures.
Late Afternoon (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM): This is also a fantastic time since the sun sets golden and gives out golden light on the landscape. The light can form a few dramatic stains, which cause the shapes of the terraces to stand out in the afternoon sun.
Accessibility Information
Terrain Difficulties: A staircase, which is not easy to walk through in this region, is found at Ceking Rice Terrace, as terrains are not the regular ones. The list of major top sites that are proximate to the park area can be accessed by most of the visitors, and the terraces would require eight steps downwards.
- One had to go traveling through the jungle of mud roads.
- Steep and here and there slippery steps
- His land is hilly, and he lives on it.
Top Photography Spots at Ceking Rice Terrace
The Ceking Rice Terrace in Tegallalang provides photographers with the picturesque scenery of undulating emerald terraces, bestowing the beauty of the agriculture sector in Bali. To make this landscape immortal with your camera, it all depends on where and when to take the shots.
Prime Viewpoints
The principal viewing platform near the parking station gives the classic single panoramic view that everyone has seen in a postcard. But a little exploration is worth the persistence of the photographer:
- Karsa Kafe point of view: This point is about 1 km+ around the main entrance gate, and it provides a less crowded view to look around where the terraces stretch out beneath you like a green amphitheater.
- Central pathway vantages: By taking the walk down into the terraces themselves, there are intimate compositions to be found in which you can put the workers working the rice against the terraces as a scene.
- Northern ridge: If you walk about 15 minutes out of the main area, you can go to higher ground and photograph the whole valley system with mountains in the background.
- Across-valley perspective: Across-Valley viewpoint: On the other hillside, available through a little trail in the northern parking lot, one can see the perspectives that make the terraces of the enormous scale perceptible in opposition to the valley wall.
Photography Techniques
To present the spirit of Ceking, we remark:
- Accessories: The wide-angle lens (16-35 mm) will create drama in the landscape and will show the bending in the terrace lines.
- Some 70-200 medium telephoto will work as well to bring the terraces into abstract forms of linear patterns.
- Reduce the glare of wet rice plants with a polarizing filter and saturate the blue of the sky.
- A graduated neutral density filter would serve in balancing out the sky tones and the foreground terraces, which are darker.
- Golden hour and blue hour are good times to take a tripod since we have less light, and yet the colors are bright.
- As there was water in the terraces, we used a slow shutter speed (1/15 sec and slower).
- Support the scene and the story with the people element, since the farmers wearing the traditional conical hats provide this scene with a pure cultural sense.
The impacts of Ceking Rice Terraces
The greenest terraced rice paddies of Ceking Rice Terrace are not merely a scenic stage where tourists can take their picture during a heavenly vacation; they are a whole technique of farming that has been preserved since medieval times, and they are the lifestyle of the people in the area (Balinese people), the farmers. With the immense increase in the number of visitors in the last 20 years, the connection between tourism and traditional farming has become even more complicated.
Local farmers are sort of treading a double path of continuing with their ancestral mode of farming, and, on the other hand, they have become unofficial ambassadors to their cultural heritage. Most farmers indicate their feelings to be ambivalent insofar as the existence of tourism is concerned. On the one hand, tourism provides additional revenues in the form of entrance fees, guided tours, and sales of produce and handicrafts. A farmer can have the potential to make more money when showing tourists in a few hours than when he cultivates rice for several days.
But this economic opportunity has a lot of challenges as well. The degradation of the fragile irrigation systems (subak) that have, over the centuries, made terraces viable can be caused by the ever-increasing number of visitors. The footpaths get broader due to the tourists getting off the established walkways, and some visitors stand between the planting or harvesting process when they are trying to capture the perfect photo.
The younger generation of Balinese finds farming to be hard labor with no guarantee of profits; hence, their liking or choice of jobs associated with the tourism industry is due to better wages and the associated social status. Such a change of demographics jeopardizes the intergenerational transfer of knowledge in the field of agriculture.
The Best of Ceking Rice Terrace and Beyond: Itineraries & Practical Information
Another interesting thing about the Ceking Rice Terrace in Tegallalang is that it is a main attraction but not the sole one of the region, as it is quite rich in cultural and natural attractions. Good knowledge of the area, distances, and transport to choose what to do and when will allow you to devise your ideal Bali experience, whether it is a quick stop-by or a full-day excursion.
Other Attractions That are So Close and Very Much Worth Seeing
Near Ceking Rice Terrace are a couple of supplementary attractions that are a short distance away:
- Tegalladang Handicraft Villages: This type of village is positioned only 5-10 minutes from the rice terraces, and it is referred to as Tegalladang Handicraft Villages. The villagers have centuries-old craft skills and are very talented at painting and carving wood.
- Petulu Heron Colony: This village is about 15 minutes to the south, and in the evenings, thousands of herons and egrets flood the village, and this is a fantabulous natural phenomenon.
- Gunung Kawi Temple: A 25-minute eastward drive brings one to this 11th-century complex of temples (carved in the sides of the cliffs).
- Tirta Empul Temple: The famous temple and its clear water and purification procedure; this one lies 30 minutes east of the temple.
Public Transportation:
A great deal of this can scarcely be done. The wide roadway that connects Ubud with Tegallalang is also reached through bemos (small vans), which are not regular, and a change is required. As compared to the other two, it is cheaper, and its time value is nearly 20,000-30,000 IDR (which is only 1.50-2 USD).
Cycling Tours:
Companies that provide downhill cycling tours from Kintamani to Ubud are increasing in number, and through this downhill process, a person gets to ride between the rice fields. The rate for such a full day is charged at an average of 500,000-700,000 IDR ($35-50 USD).
To receive the most authentic experience in Ubud, the ideal locality to stay is best suggested as the place of residence, and when on tour of the cultural heartland within the center of Bali, it is advisable to stop over at Ceking Rice Terrace. The attraction sites are not very far apart in this region, and thus you get to visit a number of attractions within the same day without the feeling that there is much that has to be done and that it all must be done within a given time.
Conservation Challenges of Ceking: A Case of Conservation of an Iconic Rice Terrace of Bali
The spectacular Ceking Rice Terraces are facing great threats to the point where they are losing their ecology and culture. They are also subjected to the dynamic tourism development that has brought about the conversion of land into other forms of productivity; in other words, some of the terraces are being converted into restaurants, shops, and accommodations to generate revenue out of the tourist expenditure. This commercialization displaces the age-old Subak irrigation system, which has made these terraces viable up to now.
Water shortage is yet another big problem here, where the water resources of Bali have been given away to new tourism infrastructure networks, causing a shortage in its agricultural sector.
The regular rain rhythm has been broken, and the extreme weather has been making havoc with the delicate terraces. Increased global warming temperatures have also brought about some species of pests that alter the yields, and farmers have to resort to non-conventional ways of managing the pests.
This is not in vain because there are a few conservation initiatives that have some hope. The Balinese government has also put up some protective zoning regulations that impose restrictions on the commercial activities conducted in places declared heritages. The mere intent of the regulations is to preserve the agriculturalness of the terraces without contributing to the activities of sustainable tourism.
Caring Visitor Guideline: The Ceking Cultural Heritage
Paramount to this is the fact that a good visitor must also be a good visitor and, yes, does not disturb the physical topography of the place but, most importantly, the active cultural heritage that this gem of Bali has in its hands. It is not only tourist destinations, but the terraces are working agricultural systems that have been there and have fed populations of the land over centuries.
Cultural Considerations
The Bali rice fields use a terrace irrigation system, which holds huge spiritual significance to the Balinese Hindus. The presence and the religions are manifested in temples of water (subak), which litter a landscape and where the religious activity is carried out, related to the water system and the cropping schedule. You are likely to spot little shrines and offerings (canang sari), gorgeous palm basket decorations of flowers, rice, and incense, found on your tour. A person should never touch these sacrifice offerings or move at all because they are active prayers and blessings.
Korean Rice Terrace: A Feast on the Eyes Four Seasons
It is a pleasing panorama and not a frozen scene at all, but a very vibrant one that shifts with the time of year. Every season, the terraces undergo changes that make the experience of the terraces completely different.
The rhythm of rice plantation
The rice fields will be used in the traditional form of Balinese-controlled type of farming that will have a rotating method with an average period of three to four months, and it can be in a position to make several harvests throughout the period of a year. There are 5 phases of the image cycle:
- New Plantings (Planting Stage)—New fields are presented in the form of a geometrical ideal of deep fields of shallow water mirrors that reflect the sky. This presents an effect that is referred to as the so-called mirror effect that photographers are after.
- Young Green Rice (Vegetative Stage)—Spirited little shoots of daring verdant green come up and then ramify to the most audacious green imaginable. The layers of terraces could be compared to the layers of velvet.
- Mature Rice (Reproductive Stage)—The dark green becomes a tad darker, and the stalks are taller to give the scene a very lush or poofy appearance, and some of the wind passes through it.
Restaurant/Cafe in Ceking Rice Terrace
The Ceking Rice Terrace landscape is more than just a little bit of visual candy; it also offers a location for culinary adventures and good resting places. Visitors will be able to have the full Balinese experience when staying near these famous terraces and having a taste of the local flavors representing this area of Ubud.
Where to Stay Near the Rice Terraces
Ceking Rice Terrace has a lot of accommodation options around it that satisfy any visitor:
Luxury Villas:
As you come up to it, several exclusive villas are placed directly along the rice paddies and have their infinity pool directly into the striped scenery. The accommodations usually have an open-air design so as to ensure that the panoramas of the views are maximized without compromising on five-star amenities and personal service.
Homestays:
To get a true feel of the place, travelers can stay at family-owned homestays in the surrounding villages, which have comfortable but very basic rooms. They offer unique experiences of local life, and many of them have homemade breakfasts using the local farms’ produce.
Terraced Restaurants
One of the greatest things when visiting Ceking is dining to look at:
Café Pomegranate:
Sitting on a ridge above with a panoramic view of the terraces, this cafe environment is relaxed, making one want to stay in the cafe and enjoy the view and food.
Karsa Café:
Set at the end of the famous Campuhan Ridge, it is a lovely place with an amazing terrace outlook and a perfect place of peace without soaking in the touristy areas.
Indus Restaurant:
This restaurant has a wide deck that has stunning views of rice fields and the valley, as well as the estuary.
Sari Organik:
One can only get to this restaurant by walking through the rice fields, so it is possible to be immersed in the environment more than in any other place.
Conservation of Ceking Rice Terrace: The contradiction of incorporating Tradition and Tourism
The incredible scenery of Ceking Rice Terrace is now under a big threat from modernity. Now that these individuals are receiving more visitors and younger generations are exploring alternative opportunities outside of traditional farming, this cultural landscape must be viewed in different ways that will still promote future development, as well as keep the heritage intact.
Long- to Medium-Term Long-Term Sustainability Issues
There are a number of threats to the existence of the Ceking Rice Terrace system. The changing climate has interfered with the long-used planting calendar, and due to unpredictable rainfalls, the terrace water management is being negatively influenced. Also, shortage of labor is becoming common since youths within the Balinese are being seen to pursue their education and careers beyond agriculture, thus leaving their terraces abandoned in some regions.
Contemporary vs Ancient Battle
The fast growth of tourism in Bali offers threats and opportunities to Ceking. Although tourism will bring much-needed funds, there are new influences associated with modernity that will undermine the traditional lifestyle. The key to achieving a balance lies in the development of new methods that would reflect positive elements of modernization without compromising cultural awareness.
The Way the Visitor Can Assist with the Preservation Job
Responsible tourism is the tourism form that will allow travelers to the Ceking Rice Terrace to take an active part in protection efforts. Walking on the designated paths helps in avoiding the destruction of the terraces and irrigation trenches. When hiring local guides, they will be supporting the community with the tourists who visit, getting the right cultural information.
There are a number of community-based tourism projects where one can spend a day working on the farms. These programs can directly financially benefit farming families and, at the same time, lead to very valuable cultural exchanges. By buying the village-generated rice and rice-based products at village cooperatives, the profits are brought back to the community.
Visitors are also allowed to give towards preservation funds that are in place to maintain the terrace infrastructure. Local accommodations in the area can have voluntary donation schemes; their guests can develop projects for restoring certain items. Therefore, by being aware of how their presence affects this living cultural landscape, the tourists can transform into preservation partners as opposed to mere spectators.
Life in the Ceking Rice Terrace will be assailed with this dichotomy; it will have to embrace change where it will be necessary and preserve the traditions that built this wonderful landscape over a thousand years of thoughtful cultivation.