Location
Desa Jatiluwih is located at the administrative area of Kecamatan Penebel, Kabupaten
Tabanan, very closed to national park border of Mount Batukaru around 65
km from Denpasar. One can reach the village via the road leading from Denpasar
to Bedugul, and in Pacung village, take the road to the left before the
restaurant, or from the town of Baturiti take the road to the left downward.
The location of this village is a little bit lower then the altitude of
Bedugul which is around 800 meters above sea level. One can also take the
road from Tabanan city to the north, the only one biggest road leading to
the village of Wangaya or Batukaru temple, and take strait direction at
the small town called Tuak Ilang to head to the town of Penebel. From the
town continue to the road heading to the north which is slightly ascending
to the slope of the mountain. For a sightseeing drive the best route is
approaching the place from Tabanan city, visiting hot spring at Penatahan
village, Batukaru Temple, then continue to Jatiluwih. From Jatiluwih continue
to Bedugul via Pacung village or Baturiti town. So one can reach Bedugul
around 14.00 still at lunch time, if departure from Kuta, Nusa Dua or Sanur
a bit early or latest by 08.00 am.
Interest of Jatiluwih
The name of Jatiuwih comes from 2 Balinese words jati + luwih. Jati means
real, and luwih means beautiful or excellent. This name is given to the
vast stretch of rice field dug in terraces on the slope of mount Batukaru.
The rice terrace forms beautiful sight at all seasons, during the watering,
or before planting the rice looks like a tremendous construction big glass
with irregular size of frames. When the rice almost reaches harvest time,
often the color varied between green, and dark yellow. This mixture of color
forms a breathtaking views on such as wide view over the terraces which
border is very far away down there. Road that cut the rice terrace near
the top border is a good place to enjoy this man made natural scenery, and
at one of the high place has been built a hall by the villagers where local
people can open small restaurant or selling snacks to the visitors. From
here is the best point to enjoy the view which location is almost in the
middle of the road from the west border and east border of the rice field.
At the west border is the original village of Jatiluwih with some still
traditional houses made of red clay, and some stall selling rice. In the
east border there are a restaurant and stable where one can hire a horse
to explore the area or arrange a trekking to mount Batukaru higher slope
of even to the peak. Further up from the rice terrace near the border to
the forest there is a waterfall around 25 meters with natural clean water
arising a strong wind up to 10 meters from the fall. This water source is
still further up the slope around 300 meters which is not too steep. At
the back ground of Jatiluwih rice terrace is Mount Batukaru, the second
highest peak in Bali after Mount Agung or 2671 meters above sea level. The
same as Gunung Agung Gunung Batukaru also has big temple on its southern
slope, but Gunung Agung does not have a temple on the top of the mountain
like Batukaru. During the ceremony at the temple on the slope of the mountain
people also hike up to the top to perform the ceremony at the top of the
mountain. It takes around 5 hours to trek from temple below to the temple
at the top of the mountain. Jatiluwih rice terrace has been the most popular
visit for a tour itinerary combining a sightseeing to the center and west
of Bali. A popular trip visiting Jatiluwih is called Bedugul Jatiluwith
tour which is started to stop at Taman Ayun Temple, then continue to Bedugul
mountain resort with it's interesting places such as Ulun Danu temple, Botanical
garden, and fruit market, then continue the trip to Jatiluwith through the
beautiful country sides via Baturiti town. After Jatiluwih rice terrace
one can continue or not to the Temple of Batukaru. If it is continued then
a combination to visit Tanah Lot will give good time, since Tanah Lot temple
is beautiful during the sunset.
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