The Sekaa Subak Organization was established in Indonesia to help collect, manage and dispense the resource of water with more efficiency and effectiveness. In a country where agriculture was thriving, the resource of water was of utmost importance. To ensure there was a steady supply of water to irrigate the farms and households of an area, certain man made constructions had to be put in place to exist harmoniously with nature.
‘Subaks’ began their course of existence in this light; a spring was located, dams and tunnels were built and a subak or lake or reservoir was completed to irrigate the locality. The strategies and techniques that were deployed when making a subak seem ingenious even from a modern day perspective. The skilful engineers of Indonesia of yesteryear have outdone themselves in the sphere. The Subak Museum is a tribute to their mastery and a depiction of yesterday’s reality to the young generation.
The Subak Museum not only replicates the subak building process in miniature form, but it also has old agricultural equipment that were used by the farmers and movie reels to elucidate the styles and manners of farming that were prevalent hundreds of years ago. The outhouses and the main building effectively portray how closely knitted the Balinese culture and its economic activity of agriculture are. The steps of growing, conserving the crop and harvesting are taught through illustrations and narrations. How the farmers and their families were concerned about conserving water and appreciating its value are driven into the hearts of the modern day man who seem to care less for Mother Nature.
The site of the museum is most apt as Taban used to be known as the Rice Barn of Bali due to the extensive fields and because of the subaks that have brought about national fame for both Taban and Sanggulan countryside.
Located to the west of Bali’s main city, the Subak Museum is within easy access from all the Bali resorts. It is the usual practice of tour guides to include a quick sightseeing stint of the museum when commencing their day excursions from Uluwatu hotels, which includes even the most elite of properties such as Anantara Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa.
