The road
from Makassar or Ujung Pandand to Toraja runs along the coast
for about 130 km's and then hits the mountains. After the
entrance to Tana Toraja you enter a majestic landscape with
giant gray, granites and stones and blue mountains at a distance
after passing the market village of Mebali. They form a sharp
contrast with the lively green of the fertile, rain-fed terraces
and the rusty read of the tropical laterite soil. This is Tana
Toraja, one of the most splendid areas in Indonesia.
Tana
Toraja has a specific and unique funeral ceremony which is
called Rambu Solo. In Tana Toraja, dead body is not
buried, but it is put in Tongkonan for several times, even can
be more than ten years until the family have enough money to
held the ceremony. After ceremony, the dead body is brought to
the cave or to the wall of the mountain. The skulls show us that
the dead body is not buried but just put on stone or ground, or
put in the hole.The funeral festival season begins when the last
rice has been harvested, usually in late June or July, and lasts
through to September.
-
By Air
Directly from Hasanuddin airport, Makassar or Ujung
Pandang, proceed to TANA TORAJA through the airport of
Rantetayo, near Makle, 24 km south of Rantepao and there
is a bus service to town.
-
By Land
Buses to Rantepao from Ujung Pandang leave daily from
Ujung Pandang. The journey takes 8 hours and includes a
meal stop. Tickets should be bought in town but coaches
actually leave from Panaikan bus terminal, 20 minutes
out of town by bemo. Coaches typically leave in the
morning ( 7 am ), noon ( 1 pm ) and at night ( 7 pm).
Several companies in Rantepao run buses back to Ujung
Pandang with the departure time and prices. The number
of buses each day depends on the number of passengers.
Tourist
who wants to stay in the heart of the city has many choices
since there is lot of hotels available. Or if you had an
adventurous soul, you can sleep in villages on the way.
Bemo is the best way to get to know the locals, besides
chartered vehicles (minibuses and Jeeps) with or without driver.
While you are in the village you can take a walk to move around.
-
Exploring the
market; You should not to be missed going to the
traditional market. Here you can get the top end of
Toraja coffee beans [like Robusta and Arabica]. And
several local veggies, fruits Tamarella or Terong
Belanda and gold fish [ikan mas].
-
Visit Batu Tumonga
Plateu; It means stone that facing to the sky. From here
can be seen many volcanic stones comes up in between
padi fields. And, several giant stones became cave
graveyard. The views is pretty awesome. The huge of Tana
Toraja [Toraja land] looks so lush and greenery. Like a
patchwork in gradation hue of green color
-
Palawa is an
excellent village to visit a Tongkonan, or a burial
place still swarming with celebrations and festivals.
-
Take a side trip
from Rantepao to Kete, a traditional village with
excellent handicraft shops. Behind the village on a
hillside is a grave site with lifesize statues guarding
over old coffins
Most of
the times, you can't eat at these locations; however more warung
and restaurants appear along the road. You can also bring your
own foods and drinks.
There is
a souvenirs shop where you can buy everything specific from Tana
Toraja. There are clothes, bags, wallets and other handicrafts.
-
Visitor are expected
to adhere to local dress customs and to bring a token
present, such as cigarettes or coffee whenever entered
Tongkonan.
-
As roads are not
always paved, it is necessary to use a jeep or walk,
even when the weather is good (between May and October).
-
Beware with your
head whenever going inside to Tongkonan, The Torajan
traditional house.
-
Enrekang, Makale and
Toraja Higland are surrounded by astonishing volcanic
rocky cliffs. Do not miss it , just stop and take
picture for awhile and you will not regret.
Travel TipsSouvenir
TipsDining GuideOther
Things to See or DoMoving AroundWhere
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