Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Parking Lot Shoeprints
Dewey Square Pylon & Bent 38
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Athenaeus described various kinds of Greek drinking vessels, like the deep, rounded skyphos and wide, flat kylix.
The Ancient Greek Guide to Succeeding at Dinner Parties
about 9 hours ago
No thanks.
AO Mailbag: Which Places Just Aren’t Worth Visiting?
1 day ago
Benshi would introduce and provide commentary for films like A Page of Madness.
Remembering the Heyday of Japan’s Silent Film Narrators
2 days ago
The Horn & Hardart Automat was a staple of urban dining in midcentury New York City.
All Hail the Slop Bowl, Lunch of Our Ancestors
2 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Indonesia Ruteng Spider Web Rice Fields
AO Edited

Spider Web Rice Fields

The unique design was created by the traditional way communal rice paddies were divided among the indigenous people.

Ruteng, Indonesia

Added By
siewch
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  Paul Arps
  Paul Arps
  Paul Arps
  Paul Arps
  Paul Arps
  siewch / Atlas Obscura User
  siewch / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The colorful rice paddies found throughout Asia are commonly laid out in rectangular plots, or sometimes as stepped terraces, adding to their natural beauty. On the island of Flores, however, the rice fields form a delightfully unique shape, one that looks like a giant spider web.

This wonderful insect resemblance was not intentional, but rather the result of the traditional communal agriculture of the indigenous Manggarai people. Centuries ago, the cultivated land, known as lingko, was shared by the entire village. The communal fields were circular, with the lodok at the center, where ceremonial rituals were held around the harvest.

Each family was allocated a segment of the rice field, radiating from the center outward. (Each was inaugurated by the sacrifice of a water buffalo.) The more resources a family had, the larger their slice of the pie; at the time, the rice fields were shaped like pie charts. Later, the paddies were further subdivided by the decedents of the original owners, leading to the striking, web-like shape of the lingko today.

Related Tags

Design Agriculture Tradition Rituals Rice Farms History Indigenous

Know Before You Go

The best examples of spider web fields can be seen in Cancar village, just west of Ruteng. Bemos and cars can be chartered from Ruteng. The drivers will know the best viewpoints for the fields.

Community Contributors

Added By

siewch

Edited By

Meg

  • Meg

Published

April 11, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.travelfish.org/sight_profile/indonesia/east_nusa_tenggara/flores/ruteng/1725
Spider Web Rice Fields
Gg. Pongko
Ruteng
Indonesia
-8.58954, 120.392547
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Liang Bua Cave

Boawae, Indonesia

miles away

Padar Island

East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

miles away

Komodo National Park

East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Indonesia

Indonesia

Asia

Places 69
Stories 33

Nearby Places

Liang Bua Cave

Boawae, Indonesia

miles away

Padar Island

East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

miles away

Komodo National Park

East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Indonesia

Indonesia

Asia

Places 69
Stories 33

Related Stories and Lists

10 Farms That Are Works of Art

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • Between 1720 and 1737, six missions were established in the region, including Misión Santa Rosa de las Palmas in 1733.

    Todos Santos, Mexico

    Misión Santa Rosa de las Palmas

    Once a Catholic mission, this small town tucked between the ocean and the mountains is now a magical spot for art and history lovers.

  • Tucson, Arizona

    San Xavier Co-op Farm

    Run by members of the Tohono O'odham Nation, this community farm nurtures traditional desert cultivars.

  • Ruins of the Old Stone Fort walls.

    Manchester, Tennessee

    Old Stone Fort

    This limestone outcropping was once a ceremonial site for ancient Native Americans.

  • Old Town State Historic Park

    San Diego, California

    Old Town State Historic Park

    A blast from the past in central San Diego.

  •  A whale skeleton on display outside of the museum.

    Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

    Museo de Historia Natural

    Fossilized remains tell the story of the region’s past inside this small, unassuming museum.

  • Reykjavik, Iceland

    Árbær Open Air Museum

    The history of Reykjavik told through a historical village and live actors.

  • Sharpsburg, Maryland

    Kennedy Farm

    This is the cabin from which John Brown and his men launched their fateful war to end slavery on October 16, 1859.

  • Underwood, Minnesota

    Phelps Mill

    Nestled on the banks of the scenic Otter Tail River, this mill stands in memorial of Minnesota's flour-filled past.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.