Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the <em>Subak</em> System as a Manifestation of the <em>Tri Hita Karana</em> Philosophy Historical Site

Address: Bali Province, Indonesia - multiple subak sites across central Bali including Tegalalang and Bedugul areas

Website: https://whc.unesco.org

Hours: Open access (landscape and temple schedules vary)

Admission: Free to access (subak sites); some temples charge small donations

The Cultural Landscape of Bali Province - the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy is a multi-site cultural landscape in Bali that illustrates the traditional cooperative irrigation system known as the subak and the island’s social and spiritual relationship with water and agriculture. The property was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012.

The inscribed areas include rice terraces, irrigation networks, canals and associated water temples where ritual and community decision-making coordinate water distribution. The landscape demonstrates how religious practice, community cooperation and agricultural technology combine to manage water across varied terrain.

Subak institutions organize planting and irrigation schedules and maintain temple-canal complexes; the cultural system supports intensive wet-rice cultivation in terraced and lowland fields. The property covers multiple zones across Bali Province that together illustrate the subak system and its association with the Tri Hita Karana philosophy linking human, natural and spiritual wellbeing.

Geographically the sites are distributed across central and parts of southern Bali, on volcanic slopes and lowland plains, where terraced rice cultivation and temple networks exploit natural water sources and gravity-fed irrigation.

• Subak irrigation system: The subak is an irrigation cooperative that links terraced rice fields with water temples; the system integrates practical water management with religious and social organization.

The subak areas are centrally located on Bali. From Denpasar or Kuta, travel to Ubud (about 1-1.5 hours by car) to reach many central subak terraces; Tegalalang and Tegallalang are a short drive north of Ubud. Bedugul is accessible via the central mountain roads from Denpasar (~1.5-2 hours). Local taxis or hired drivers are usual transport.

• Visit rice terraces early morning to observe the cooperative irrigation rituals and to hear the water channels murmur.
• Hire a local guide in any subak community to learn about the water temple ceremonies and the role of the pekaseh (water managers).
• Combine visits with cultural stops in Ubud or Tampaksiring to see temple ceremonies linked to the subak system.