Bayan Rice Fields

With the rainy season in full flow, Lombok looks as lush, green and verdant as ever. It’s a transformation that is best seen in all its glory when escaping the beaches and heading inland to the rolling rice fields of the north. There is nowhere better to witness this than the Bangket Bayan rice terrace. This is one of the several eye-catching attractions of Bayan, which is also one of the most historic and culturally rich rural towns in Lombok.

This is one of the greenest parts and serves as the best example of emerald coloured cascading rice terraces in Lombok, often blanketed in atmospheric mountain mist. Plus, it’s not just for show and Instagram selfies either. It’s very much a community-led working environment with a vast majority of local villagers working in these fields.

Still, these villagers planting, cultivating and harvesting are very approachable with visitors, and are always eager to share what they do and show how important their traditional way of life still is.

These rice terraces also have the magical backdrop of Mount Rinjani and are especially photogenic on a clear day as the sun sets. There are organised rice field panorama walks which can be combined with overnight camping. Located just north of the more popular mountain town of Senaru, Bayan offers a more traditional immersion into this rural lifestyle unlike anywhere else in Lombok. There are organic farms to visit, forest walks and hikes to hidden waterfalls all within easy reach.

However, the Bayan sub-district is more multi-faceted than just its scenery and agriculture heritage. This is the cradle of Lombok’s documented history, home to the oldest surviving mosque – the Bayan Beleq. This dates back more than 300 years. It is a Wetu Telu mosque, following a unique form of Islam, unique only to this and a few other areas.

Along with the traditional Bayan village, this is arguably the best example of preserved indigenous Sasak traditions in Lombok. Featuring traditional bamboo houses with thatched roofs, it’s a living Sasak heritage site that still follows ancestral ways of life.

Bayan is also known for its traditional weaving using natural dyes and hand looms to create intricately designed textiles and the Bayan Maulid Adat traditions – an annual celebration featuring ancient rituals and activities like traditional stick fighting.