Desa Budaya Kertalangu — Kertalangu Cultural Village — lies in Kesiman, on the eastern edge of Denpasar beside the Ngurah Rai bypass road. It was set up to protect a large block of working rice fields from development and to give the city an open-air space for walking, jogging and learning about farming.
A paved track loops through the paddies for a few kilometres, past irrigation channels, scarecrows and small shrines. At the entrance is the World Peace Gong (Gong Perdamaian Dunia), a large bronze gong decorated with the flags of the world’s nations and the symbols of its religions.
Top things to do at Kertalangu Cultural Village
Walk or jog the rice-field track
Early morning and late afternoon are the times to come, when locals walk laps and farmers are at work. Depending on the season you will see ploughing, planting, bright green growth or the gold of harvest.
See the World Peace Gong
The gong is one of a series installed in cities around the world by an Indonesian peace foundation. It stands in a small pavilion near the car park.
Learn how subak works
The channels and small temples among the fields belong to the subak, Bali’s centuries-old cooperative irrigation system, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage cultural landscape. Kertalangu is an easy place to see one in operation without leaving the city.
How to get to Kertalangu Cultural Village
- Location: Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai, Kesiman Kertalangu, East Denpasar.
- From Sanur: about 10–15 minutes by car heading north on the bypass.
- From the old town: 15–20 minutes by taxi or ride-hailing.
Insider tips
- This is a local recreation area, not a polished attraction. Some facilities have opened, closed or aged over the years; come for the fields and the walk and you will not be disappointed.
- There is very little shade on the track. Avoid the middle of the day and bring water.
- For the big, dramatic rice terraces, take a day trip to Jatiluwih or the Ubud area; Kertalangu’s fields are flat.
Best tours & tickets for Kertalangu Cultural Village
These well-reviewed experiences are the easiest way to see Kertalangu Cultural Village:
E-bike tour from €43 Sanur Village E-bike Tour
A gentle, family-friendly ride that shows the Sanur behind the beach hotels: village lanes, a neighbourhood market, a temple and the remaining rice fields. Flat terrain and electric assistance make it suitable for almost anyone.
- Easy electric-assist ride through Sanur’s back lanes
- Local market, a temple and rice fields
- Reviewers mention a turtle sanctuary stop by the beach
Cooking class from €33 Sanur: Balinese Cooking Class with Optional Market Tour
Learn the spice pastes behind Balinese cooking and make a handful of classic dishes, then sit down to eat them. The optional market visit is worth adding: it explains the ingredients you will see all over Denpasar’s markets.
- Hands-on class with a local chef
- Optional visit to a local market first
- Eat what you cook; pickup within the Sanur area
Private day trip from €20 Bali: Private Ubud Highlights Tour with Customized Itinerary
Ubud is about an hour north of Denpasar, and this very highly rated private tour is the easiest way to do it as a day trip: you pick the stops, the driver handles the roads and the parking.
- Private car and driver for the day
- Build the day around Ubud’s rice terraces, temples and waterfalls
- Itinerary adapted to your interests
