Banaue Rice Terraces – the only man made wonder carved in the mountains of Ifugao Philippines
The 2000 years old Banaue Rice Terraces have been recognized as one of the wonders of the world. The fact that people still plant vegetables and rice on the terraces is extremely fascinating. The Rice Terraces are the only man made wonder carved in the mountains of Ifugao Philippines. They have been built mostly by hand with minimal usage of equipment, which goes on to show the great craftsmanship and creativity of our ancestors.
The rice fields cover 10,360 square kilometers and the people in Ifugao used a unique irrigation system to bring water from the rain forests in order to feed the lands.
One of the major highlights of the region is the presence of hiking trails, which attract many tourists from all over the world.
Apart from the Banaue Rice Terraces, there are other similar ones in the region such as Batad, Mayoyao, Hapao and Kiangan.
Accommodation in the area is not an issue since there are many local inns and hotels available at reasonable rates. Some private homes accept tourists for lesser charges as well.
UNESCO declared the clusters of terraces in Igugao as World Heritage Sites in 1995.
Facts about Banaue Rice Terraces
- The length of the Banaue Rice Terraces would be ten times the size of the Great Wall of China if connected end to end.
- There have been signs of erosion in some areas that require maintenance. Many locals are now moving to the cities in order to look for better opportunities. That said the region still doesn’t fail to fascinate tourists.
- Some of the Rice Terraces reach about 5,000 feet in the sky and cover 4,000 square miles of land.
- The site has received an “International Historic Engineering Landmark Award” from the Society of Civil Engineers in America.
- The World Travel and Tour Council chose the region as the one of the two green globe destinations of the Philippines.
Where is Banaue Rice Terraces ?
Banaue Rice Terraces are located at a distance from Manila but the region is one of the most popular attractions in the Philippines. The trip to Banaue from Manila takes about 9 hours in air-conditioned buses.
Best time to visit Banaue Rice Terraces
Weather in the Philippines has become unpredictable in recent years but still anytime is a good time to visit the region. Holy Week should be avoided since hotels get booked way in advance and prices increase substantially. Months between January and May are usually good in terms of weather to enjoy this destination. Time period between the months of June and September sees the least number of tourists.
More on Banaue Rice Terraces
Nearby Attractions : Manila, Taual, Halong
