Banaue Rice Terraces

Banaue Rice Terraces has been described as the eight wonder of the world. Carved out of hillside by Ifugao tribes people 2000 to 3000 years ago without the aid of machinery to provide level steps where the natives plant rice, and they are still in use today. It stretch like stepping stones to the sky-some reaching an altitude of 1500m (4920ft).

It is considered as one of mankind's greatest engineering feat. This terraces are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforest's above the terraces. If the terraces were laid end to end, they would stretch half way around the world.

The Banaue Rice Terraces are part of the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, ancient sprawling man-made structures from 2,000 to 6,000 years old. They are found in the provinces of Kalinga, Apayao, Benguet, Mountain Province and Ifugao. Banaue rice terraces are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

photo credit: Google

        

The terraces are vastly found in the province of Ifugao and the Ifugao's have been its caretakers. Ifugao culture revolve around rice and the culture displays an elaborate array of rice culture feasts linked with agricultural rites from rice cultivation to rice consumption. Harvest season generally calls for thanksgiving feasts  while the concluding harvest rites tungo or tungul (the day of rest) entail a strict taboo of any agricultural work. Partaking of the bayah (rice beer), rice cakes, and betel nut  constitutes an indelible practice during the festivities and ritual activities.

The Ifugao people practice traditrional farming spending most of their labor at the terraces and forest lands while occasionally tending to root crop cultivation. The building of the terraces, work of blanketing walls with stones and earth which is designed to draw water from a main irrigation, stonework, earthwork and terrace maintenance. As their source of  life and art, the rice terraces have been sustained and shaped the lives of the community members.

This is one of the world's wonder crafted with hands. Their purpose of doing this is for their living and not knowing that someday it will be one of the world's wonder, visited upon by the tourist from different place around the world just to see its beauty.

One of the major appeal of Banaue rice terraces to the local and international tourist are the many hiking trails in the area. There are many young locals, mostly college students who serve as guides. But with or without guide, you will find the friendliness and warmth of the Ifugao people endearing.

Resources:en.wikipedia.org/wiki

                 www.philsite.net/banaue.htm