The road from
Makassar or Ujung Pandang 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 life size
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
Highland are surrounded by
astonishing volcanic rocky
cliffs. Do not miss it , just
stop and take picture for awhile
and you will not regret.
