Uniqueness lures tourists to Toraja<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Makale, South Sulawesi<\/p>\n
Despite its distance from any airport, Tana Toraja (Toraja land),
\nremains the favorite tourist destination in South Sulawesi, and
\none of the most visited sites in the country.<\/p>\n
Toraja is best known for its traditional Torajan houses,
\nlocally called tongkonan.<\/p>\n
The houses are decorated with carvings of geometric designs
\nwith buffalo horns that indicate the status and wealth of the
\nfamily.<\/p>\n
The roofs of the houses rise at both ends like the bow and
\nstern of a ship, and legend has it that this was the shape of the
\nvessels that carried their ancestors here.<\/p>\n
The most popular tongkonan houses are found in the traditional
\nvillage of Sillanan, about 15 kilometers south of the Toraja
\nregency capital of Makale. These houses belong to the
\naristocratic Ke'te Kesu family.<\/p>\n
Another attraction in Tana Toraja is the animal market in
\nRantepao, where hundreds of animals, such as buffaloes and pigs,
\nare traded. Rantepao is 20 kilometers north of Makale.<\/p>\n
Buffaloes and pigs are important to Torajans, especially
\ntraditional Torajans who cling to the tradition of Aluk Todolo,
\nfor various traditional rituals.<\/p>\n
The number of Torajans adhering to the Aluk Todolo tradition,
\nhowever, keep decreasing and are estimated at around 5 percent of
\nToraja's 400,000 people.<\/p>\n
The majority of Torajans have converted to Christianity.
\nNevertheless, many Torajan Christians still perform traditional
\nrituals, especially in welcoming guests.<\/p>\n
Aluk Todolo regulates Torajans' daily activities of how to
\nbuild houses, cook meals, greet people of different ages and
\nstatus and conduct rituals.<\/p>\n
Among the many traditional ceremonies, the most prestigious is
\nthe funeral ceremony.<\/p>\n
A funeral ceremony usually lasts about one week, with
\nfeasting, chanting and dancing continuing through the nights.<\/p>\n
Traditional Torajans lay their dead to rest in tombs chiseled
\nand carved in steep cliffs.<\/p>\n
People access these tombs by climbing up bamboo ladders.<\/p>\n
One of the most popular traditional graves is located in Lemo.
\nHere, visitors see a balcony full of local wooden or bamboo
\nstatues called tau-tau, mixed up together in the steep coral
\nstone museum in the open air.<\/p>\n
Another famous grave is in Londa, where the grave is located
\ninside a cave. Here visitors are greeted by a wide balcony filled
\nwith tau-tau at the entrance of the cave.<\/p>\n
However, visitors need to rent a strong flashlight or kerosene
\nlamp to go inside the cave. They are in abundance at the entrance
\nof the cave, for Rp 10,000 (US1.10) each.<\/p>\n
Coffins and bones are found scattered around the cave.<\/p>\n
There are many more places of interest in Toraja. They include
\nthe baby cemetery in Sangalla, more Tongkonan houses in Marante
\nand Palawa, the King of Suaya graveyard in Suaya, traditional
\nrice barns in To'Barana S'dang and Nanggala, more tau-tau in
\nTondong, menhir stones in Batutumonga and Bori.<\/p>\n
Most of these places are operated by private entities. The
\nlocal administration has awarded 77 licenses to private and
\nlocally owned institutions to operate tourist attractions in Tana
\nToraja. However, 57 of the license holders have not yet started
\ntheir operations.<\/p>\n
To get around Toraja is not difficult as there are plenty of
\ntour operators. To get to Toraja, however, visitors need overland
\ntransportation. The easiest route is through Makassar, the
\nprovincial capital of South Sulawesi, where the nearest airport
\nfrom Toraja is located.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the long trip from Makassar, usually taking
\nabout seven to eight hours overland from Makassar, offers a
\nunique experience to holidaymakers, with spectacular views of the
\nmountains, steep terraced slopes and tall bamboo forests.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/uniqueness-lures-tourists-to-toraja-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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