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Tana Toraja
20 March 2009
It is out of the question that Tana Toraja is one of the beautiful areas in Indonesia. From afar, the serrated ridges of the hills laying parallel in the north till the far away clear valley. Penetrating the gaps of Bamboo and the thin palm trees on a small hill in the middle of rice fields, Toraja houses with arch-shaped roofs stood sweetly demonstrating the amazing skills of the Toraja people in their mastery of carving and with natural painting colours.
Prior to the dutch taking over these highs plains in the early 20th century not one word was given to given a name to their religion except the word 'aluk' which refers to a ritual habit and daily life problems that have to be controlled; how a house has to built, rice to be cooked, children and head of the village to be addressed, regulation and total amount of buffaloes that have to be sacrificed in the ceremony, thus also the position of the stars when the ploughing is to be started. One of the basic teachings there are always exchanging and giving and receiving among them, grace and curses always happened between the living and the spirit of their ancestors. The death ceremony is the most prestigious ceremony in the Toraja tradition.
Toraja has many attractions for the tourist. In the cool mountainous area, particular sceneries, the craftsmen are in harmony with the silence of the natural beauty. Eventhough more than half of the inhabitants have become Christians, they are still pround with their cultural legacy and welcomes the tourists with their ritual ceremony
Interesting Places In Toraja
Makale
Makale is the capital city of the Tana Toraja goverment. The steep hills of the city are crowned with the tops of the churches towers, while the feet of the valleys are dominated by the government buildings. Many among them take building type architecture of the Toraja traditional houses which are full of carvings and an arch-shaped roof. The city is the right area for connecting west Toraja areas such as Tondon, Suaya and Sangalla. On market days is this city the center of the activities because the people from afar came with their products such as cattle, woven mat handicraft, baskets and local made handicraft.
Rantepao
Rantepao is the second city after Makale in Toraja the advantage of Rantepao is that most of the interesting places are in radius of about 15 kilometers from the city.
Batu Lemo Cemetary
At the Leo cemetery we can see the 'tau-tau' verenda one with the steep limestone museum in the open nature, a combination of death, art and ritual. 'tau-tau' or wood sattue which means small people or man-like statue that is considered containing the spirit of the deceased person made out of wood or bamboo. Periodically can their dresses be changed through a ceremony called 'Ma'nene' (to honour the parent)
Steep Limestone Side Cemetary of Londa
Londa cemetary of steep limestone side is one of the many old cemetaries in Toraja. One of the sides of cemetary is in the height of the hill having a deep cave where the coffins are arranged and grouped according to the line of the family. One the other side of the hill, dozens of 'tau-tau' are standing respectdully at the balcony. Their faces are as though they are alive, their eyes are open and looking with full authority to the direction of a fertile land.
Suaya the Cemetary of Sangalla Kings
The graveyard lies on one of the hills sides. It is carved as the resting place of the king and kings family, in conform with the Toraja king dresses, placed in front of stone grave. There are some stone steps to reach the hill, where the kings had their contemplation during their live. A museum will be built in this place to keep the property of kings of Sangalla.
Kete Kesu
[The well-known tourist village] Ke' te Kesu is a village which is still characterized by the traditional live in Toraja people. If we take a look from the front side, we will find it lies over in the middle of the wide paddy fields with a beautiful sequence of curved roofs and carved walls barns. The village consist of four traditional tongkonan houses of Toraja. Inside one of the tongkonans, there something like a small museum which is located in the middle of the ground floor. Most of the people of this village have a good mastery in carving and painting. This can be seen among them who are doing carves and paints. The carved bamboos and woods are marketed in various village around this village.
To'Barana Sa'dang
There are people having the opinion that To'Barana Sa'dang is the center of the Toraja area. At certain parts of these villages there are four rice-barns that are very well kept with a neat grass yard. Very interesting Toraja weavings are displayed and sold in this village. Around the village, terraces of rice fields are also beautiful to look at.
Palawa
Walking along the river Sa'dang towards the north will take us to Palawa is one of the tongkonans that is interesting with traditional houses. It lies on top of a hill in the middle of a shady bamboo trees. The pictures of this 'tongkonan' are placed in tourism magazines abroad.
Nanggala
[14 rice barns and one tongkonan house] In the traditional kampong of Nanggala, we can see 14 big rice barns in a row with a curvy roof and curved walls those rice barn face with the two traditional ex houses king of Nanggala. Some of the carving show a combination of modern and traditional themes.
Sangalla
Sangalla is a village whitch is located on a hilly valley. It lies among the leafy bamboo trees. Here you can find an interesting object of tourism, that is a special cemetery for young babies. More than that, the cemetery of king Sangalla can be found at one of the slopes of the hills in this village which is name Suaya. These graves are carved on the hills sides. They are the resting places of the seven kings and their families of Sangalla kingdoms. Tau-tau of the kings and their families are placed in front of the stone graves. They are dressed traditionally in accordance with the dress of the king of Toraja. Not far away from this places, you can find the tongkonan house that was built by the king of Sangalla which now days is known as Museum of Buntu Kalando. Even though, the model of this museum is quite new, in it you can find several pats kingdoms properties and some house equipments which formerly were belongings of King of Sangalla (Puang Sangalla).
Buntao
Buntao is a very interesting place to visit, especially in Market day. There is a pantane, a grave in the form of Toraja house in this area, beside many other old graveyard on top of the hill.
Marante
Marante is a village that has many 'tongkonan' and rice-barns that are big, and coral-reef hills that are big which contain stone graves that are hanging and is called 'Erong' by the local inhabitants.
Tondon
It is located on the side of the pathway near Makale market. In the side of the hill there is a row of Tau Tau in front of cave grave, which is of the aristocratic family.
Batutumonga
Perched high up on the side of Mountain Sesean. It's located in the Sesean area, which has a cool climate, around 1300m above the sea level. There's 56 menhirs stones in a circle with five bamboo trees in the middle. Most of the menhirs are of two up to three meters height. A very beautiful scenery above Rantepao and the surrounding valleys can be seen from this place that make it very interesting place to visit.
Lokomata
[tombs chiseled out of the rock] Lokomata is about 35 km from Rantepao, and has a very beautiful scenery of four levels of big stones on the side of the road having 60 stone mountain side graves with beautiful terraced nice field, mountains and valley underneath.
Makula
Hotel, restaurant, and two hot springs swimming pool] There is a source of warm water in this place, beside a resting house with natural warm water in the bath room. In front of the house there is a small concrete pond filled with water which flows from the back of the house. It's nice to have a bath in this warm water after a long journey.
Bori
102 Megalith, Baby graves in tree] It's 6 kilometers from Rantepao a road to Sa'dan and Pallawa. The most interesting object in Bori are a tall rante, menhirs stones, soared up several meters above the land.
Buntu Kalando
In this region there is a 'tongkonan' house that was built by the king Sangalla. There is a museum in it, eventhough the model is rather new, this museum in a form of a house having a number of household articles that belonged to the'puang' of Sangalla.
Penanian
Traditional 'tongkonan' houses that have carved walls and columns can be seen in this place. The rice-barns in this village are new and depicts new designs in its carvings.
Karassik
Karassik consists of bamboo houses that are painted in many colours in a row at the ritual ceremony area, 'rante' and a number of 'menhir' stones.
Prior to the dutch taking over these highs plains in the early 20th century not one word was given to given a name to their religion except the word 'aluk' which refers to a ritual habit and daily life problems that have to be controlled; how a house has to built, rice to be cooked, children and head of the village to be addressed, regulation and total amount of buffaloes that have to be sacrificed in the ceremony, thus also the position of the stars when the ploughing is to be started. One of the basic teachings there are always exchanging and giving and receiving among them, grace and curses always happened between the living and the spirit of their ancestors. The death ceremony is the most prestigious ceremony in the Toraja tradition.
Toraja has many attractions for the tourist. In the cool mountainous area, particular sceneries, the craftsmen are in harmony with the silence of the natural beauty. Eventhough more than half of the inhabitants have become Christians, they are still pround with their cultural legacy and welcomes the tourists with their ritual ceremony
Interesting Places In Toraja
Makale
Makale is the capital city of the Tana Toraja goverment. The steep hills of the city are crowned with the tops of the churches towers, while the feet of the valleys are dominated by the government buildings. Many among them take building type architecture of the Toraja traditional houses which are full of carvings and an arch-shaped roof. The city is the right area for connecting west Toraja areas such as Tondon, Suaya and Sangalla. On market days is this city the center of the activities because the people from afar came with their products such as cattle, woven mat handicraft, baskets and local made handicraft.
Rantepao
Rantepao is the second city after Makale in Toraja the advantage of Rantepao is that most of the interesting places are in radius of about 15 kilometers from the city.
Batu Lemo Cemetary
At the Leo cemetery we can see the 'tau-tau' verenda one with the steep limestone museum in the open nature, a combination of death, art and ritual. 'tau-tau' or wood sattue which means small people or man-like statue that is considered containing the spirit of the deceased person made out of wood or bamboo. Periodically can their dresses be changed through a ceremony called 'Ma'nene' (to honour the parent)
Steep Limestone Side Cemetary of Londa
Londa cemetary of steep limestone side is one of the many old cemetaries in Toraja. One of the sides of cemetary is in the height of the hill having a deep cave where the coffins are arranged and grouped according to the line of the family. One the other side of the hill, dozens of 'tau-tau' are standing respectdully at the balcony. Their faces are as though they are alive, their eyes are open and looking with full authority to the direction of a fertile land.
Suaya the Cemetary of Sangalla Kings
The graveyard lies on one of the hills sides. It is carved as the resting place of the king and kings family, in conform with the Toraja king dresses, placed in front of stone grave. There are some stone steps to reach the hill, where the kings had their contemplation during their live. A museum will be built in this place to keep the property of kings of Sangalla.
Kete Kesu
[The well-known tourist village] Ke' te Kesu is a village which is still characterized by the traditional live in Toraja people. If we take a look from the front side, we will find it lies over in the middle of the wide paddy fields with a beautiful sequence of curved roofs and carved walls barns. The village consist of four traditional tongkonan houses of Toraja. Inside one of the tongkonans, there something like a small museum which is located in the middle of the ground floor. Most of the people of this village have a good mastery in carving and painting. This can be seen among them who are doing carves and paints. The carved bamboos and woods are marketed in various village around this village.
To'Barana Sa'dang
There are people having the opinion that To'Barana Sa'dang is the center of the Toraja area. At certain parts of these villages there are four rice-barns that are very well kept with a neat grass yard. Very interesting Toraja weavings are displayed and sold in this village. Around the village, terraces of rice fields are also beautiful to look at.
Palawa
Walking along the river Sa'dang towards the north will take us to Palawa is one of the tongkonans that is interesting with traditional houses. It lies on top of a hill in the middle of a shady bamboo trees. The pictures of this 'tongkonan' are placed in tourism magazines abroad.
Nanggala
[14 rice barns and one tongkonan house] In the traditional kampong of Nanggala, we can see 14 big rice barns in a row with a curvy roof and curved walls those rice barn face with the two traditional ex houses king of Nanggala. Some of the carving show a combination of modern and traditional themes.
Sangalla
Sangalla is a village whitch is located on a hilly valley. It lies among the leafy bamboo trees. Here you can find an interesting object of tourism, that is a special cemetery for young babies. More than that, the cemetery of king Sangalla can be found at one of the slopes of the hills in this village which is name Suaya. These graves are carved on the hills sides. They are the resting places of the seven kings and their families of Sangalla kingdoms. Tau-tau of the kings and their families are placed in front of the stone graves. They are dressed traditionally in accordance with the dress of the king of Toraja. Not far away from this places, you can find the tongkonan house that was built by the king of Sangalla which now days is known as Museum of Buntu Kalando. Even though, the model of this museum is quite new, in it you can find several pats kingdoms properties and some house equipments which formerly were belongings of King of Sangalla (Puang Sangalla).
Buntao
Buntao is a very interesting place to visit, especially in Market day. There is a pantane, a grave in the form of Toraja house in this area, beside many other old graveyard on top of the hill.
Marante
Marante is a village that has many 'tongkonan' and rice-barns that are big, and coral-reef hills that are big which contain stone graves that are hanging and is called 'Erong' by the local inhabitants.
Tondon
It is located on the side of the pathway near Makale market. In the side of the hill there is a row of Tau Tau in front of cave grave, which is of the aristocratic family.
Batutumonga
Perched high up on the side of Mountain Sesean. It's located in the Sesean area, which has a cool climate, around 1300m above the sea level. There's 56 menhirs stones in a circle with five bamboo trees in the middle. Most of the menhirs are of two up to three meters height. A very beautiful scenery above Rantepao and the surrounding valleys can be seen from this place that make it very interesting place to visit.
Lokomata
[tombs chiseled out of the rock] Lokomata is about 35 km from Rantepao, and has a very beautiful scenery of four levels of big stones on the side of the road having 60 stone mountain side graves with beautiful terraced nice field, mountains and valley underneath.
Makula
Hotel, restaurant, and two hot springs swimming pool] There is a source of warm water in this place, beside a resting house with natural warm water in the bath room. In front of the house there is a small concrete pond filled with water which flows from the back of the house. It's nice to have a bath in this warm water after a long journey.
Bori
102 Megalith, Baby graves in tree] It's 6 kilometers from Rantepao a road to Sa'dan and Pallawa. The most interesting object in Bori are a tall rante, menhirs stones, soared up several meters above the land.
Buntu Kalando
In this region there is a 'tongkonan' house that was built by the king Sangalla. There is a museum in it, eventhough the model is rather new, this museum in a form of a house having a number of household articles that belonged to the'puang' of Sangalla.
Penanian
Traditional 'tongkonan' houses that have carved walls and columns can be seen in this place. The rice-barns in this village are new and depicts new designs in its carvings.
Karassik
Karassik consists of bamboo houses that are painted in many colours in a row at the ritual ceremony area, 'rante' and a number of 'menhir' stones.
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