20 Trending Cultural
and Historical Tours Destinasi in Toraja
- Having completed the journey from Makassar to Toraja, it is time to get out
and explore the magnificent sights and enjoy the vibrant culture of this unique
region. Both Toraja Utara and Tana Toraja have so much to offer in terms of
cultural attractions, rituals and stunning mountainous landscapes. Information
about some of the best cultural attractions in Toraja is listed below, be it
the singular burial sites or traditional Tongkonan villages. Each site is given
a little background including its history, the Torajan customs they are rooted
in, as well as some explanations regarding what to expect in each destination.
The attractions are all listed alphabetically.
20 Trending Cultural and Historical Tours Destinasi in Toraja
1.Buntu Pune (Traditional Tongkonan Complex)
Three kilometres south of Rantepao lies a complex of
magnificent traditional Tongkonan called Buntu Pune, complete with five lumbung
(granaries) and an open ceremonial ground (Rante karassik). These striking
buildings date back to the nineteenth century and are known to have been built
by Siambe’ Pong Maramba’, a nobleman who was head of the district in the 1880s,
under Dutch colonial rule. When it was discovered that Pong Maramba’ was
planning a rebellion against the Dutch, the leader was exiled to Maluku (the
Moluccas), but his descendants continued to live in the area and even became
important coffee growers in the region. When he died, his body was taken back
to Toraja and buried in a cliff not far from Buntu Pune. In the cliffs behind
the Tongkonan and lumbung, you will find the graves of Pong Maramba’s family.
This burial site also offers some of the best views of Buntu Pune. To get to
this site, turn onto Jl. Ke’te’ Kesu’ at the three-way intersection marked by
the Tedong bonga statue and follow the road until you will see a sign for Buntu
Pune on the right-hand side of the road. After exploring the Tongkonan, Patane
and view of Toraja Utara from the top of the cliff, continue on your way down Jl.
Ke’te’ Kesu’ until you reach the famed traditional Tongkonan complex of Ke’te
Kesu’. Jl. Ke’te’ Kesu’, Ba’tan Tondok Kesu’, Toraja Utara Entrance Fee Free
2.Galugu Dua (Traditional Tongkonan, Tenun)
Galugu Dua is a family settlement located in Sa’dan
Sangkombong, in the Sa’dan sub-district of Toraja Utara. This Tongkonan complex
contains what is considered to be the oldest Tongkonan in Sa’dan, originally
built around 1189 by two sons from the Galugu family. This Tongkonan was a
Tongkonan Layuk, meaning that it functioned as a centre of government, religion
and culture. The village that built up around the Tongkonan was subsequently
named Galugu Dua (meaning two Galugus), in honour of the sons. The village
consists of Tongkonan with their original bamboo roofs covered in lush green
plants. Like the village of Sa’dan To’Barana’, Galugu Dua has a group of local
tenun cloth weavers whose products are available for purchase as souvenirs.
Spend your time wandering around the Tongkonan and chatting with the local
weavers as they work. They are happy to answer your questions about the process
of weaving ikat and other types of Torajan tenun. Lembang Galugu Dua,
Sangkombong, Sa’dan Malimbong Sa’dan, Toraja Utara Entrance Fee Rp 30,000
3.Ke’te’ Kesu’ (Traditional Tongkonan Village)
Ke’te’ Kesu’ is a traditional village in the Kesu’
sub-district of Toraja Utara that preserves the ancient traditions and culture
of Toraja. The village is located to the south of Rantepao. Ke’te’ Kesu’ is one
of the region’s oldest and most-visited traditional villages. The first things
you will see are the impressive rows of rice barns (lumbung) and great
Tongkonan, proudly showing off the buffalo horns of past sacrifices. On the
path towards the cliff burial site behind the Tongkonan, residents of the
village sell handicrafts, from bags and jewellery to wooden handicrafts such. Ke’te’
Kesu as traditional knives and decorative mini Tau Tau. At the end of the path,
you will see a large cement tomb that belonged to a charismatic politician,
church behind the Tongkonan, residents of the village sell handicrafts, from
bags and jewellery to wooden handicrafts such as traditional knives and
decorative mini Tau Tau. At the end of the path, you will see a large cement
tomb that belonged to a charismatic politician, church leader and leader of the
Tongkonan who died in 1986, FK Sarungallo, as well as other mausoleums (Patane)
belonging to other family members. Beyond the Patane and their life-sized Tau
Tau, climb the stairs to where hanging graves and burial cliffs can be seen
with their ancient carved coffins and bones. If you walk up to the peak of the stairway,
you will end up in a cave tomb where there usually is a guide with a lamp
waiting for guests. In Toraja’s colonial past, this Tongkonan village was
located on top of a mountain in Buntu Kesu’, in the village of Tonga. The location
where the Tongkonan and lumbung were situated was called Pamulungan, as was the
cliff burial site nearby. However, an agreement was made in 1922 between the
residents of this Tongkonan complex, under the leadership of Pong Panimba, and the
Dutch colonists that to improve communication the village needed to be moved
closer to the main road. Pong Panimba was the second district head of Kesu’
(Parengnge’ Kesu’) who succeeded Pong Maramba’. After the move, the village
became the centre of the Dutch
government at the time. The area around the Tongkonan and lumbung was then
given the name “Ke’te’”, taken from the name of the rice fields directly in
front of the village. The name derives from the Torajan word “dika’ta” which
means “to cut with a sickle.” “Kesu’” refers to the district of Kesu’ where the
Tongkonan were moved to. The burial site complete with erong (coffins) at the
new site kept the name Pamulungan. The kingdom in Kesu’ ended with the death of
Puang (King) Tandi Lolo’ who died in the 1960s. However, the descendants of
kings and nobility still live in the region today. Historical objects of the Kesu’
kingdom are preserved in a Tongkonan which today is used as a museum at the far
right of the complex. The village of Ke’te’ Kesu’ became a tourist attraction
in the 1970s due to an agreement between the government and the villagers which
stipulated that the Tongkonan were to be preserved and used as tourist attractions,
meaning that the original owners would have to live elsewhere. As a result,
this region gets a lot of help from the government, either local or provincial,
or directly from the Ministry of Tourism. Jl. Ke’te’ Kesu’, Pantanakan Lolo
Kesu’, Toraja Utara Entrance Fee Rp 30,000
4.Kolam Makale (Statue and Pond)
Kolam Makale refers to the statue of a local hero named
Lakipadada situated within a pool of water located in the heart of Makale. This
pond and its resident statue were built and officially opened by Vice President
H. Muhammad Jusuf Kalla on October 28, 2006. In addition to being a monument to
the ancestral history and victories of the people of Tana Toraja, benches are
located at strategic locations around the pond in addition to a footpath that
is often used as a place for a leisurely stroll or jog. There are also spaces
nearby where fitness activities are held by schools in the morning. Between Jl.
Merdeka, Jl. Jenderal Sudirman and Jl. Veteran Makale, Tana Toraja Entrance Fee
Free
5.Papa’ Batu Tumakke (Stone Roof Tongkonan)
Papa’ Batu is the name of the Tongkonan located in Lembang
Tumakke in the Rembon sub-district of Tana Toraja. The house was founded around
seven hundred years ago by a man named Butu Batu. What differentiates it from
other Tongkonan houses is that its roof is made of andesite and padas stones,
lending it a unique and majestic appearance. Stone in Indonesian is batu.
Appropriately, this is the only known Tongkonan remaining with a roof of stone.
Due to high building costs for materials and construction, only the most
affluent people could have built this one-of-a-kind home. Papa’ Batu’s unusual
roof is made of square-shaped pieces of stone with two holes cut on top, on the
left and right, which are used for tying the tiles onto the frame of the roof
using tough rattan. The top of the roof, where the stones laid on the right and
left of the roof meet, is covered with bamboo to prevent rain falling into the
building. The people who built this roof did not have access to modern measuring
tools such as a ruler. Instead, they used an adult hand to calculate the
average width of each stone, equivalent to 40 to 50 centimetres, a length of 30
to 60 centimetres and a thickness of five to seven centimetres. Each piece of
stone allegedly weighs ten kilograms, and with the total number of stones on
the roof amounting to about 1000 pieces, the total weight of the roof is a
whopping ten tons. Like other Tongkonan houses, the body of Papa’ Batu Tumakke is
built of wood and carved with various traditional patterns in accordance to
Aluk Todolo. These patterns include motifs of the sun, buffaloes and other
geometric shapes. For further explanation of Torajan carving patterns and
motifs, see the section labelled Carving under the heading Local Products. The
Papa’ Batu Tongkonan is considered sacred by the people of the region. No one
can enter its doors without permission, other than the founder’s descendants.
Guests or visitors must first knock on the door of the Tongkonan three times
before entering. However, another interesting aspect to this process is that
you must knock three times on the doorframe with your head, inBelow: One of a
kind Tongkonan with a stone roof, Papa’ Batu stead of with your hands. Local
legend claims that if you do not knock thrice with your head, you will
experience an accident or fall sick on their way home. Recently, however, this
Tongkonan has been closed to visitors wanting to enter the house. Papa’ Batu
Tumakke has undergone a few renovations over the years to keep it safe and
standing. The house is no longer a home, but it is a historical object for the
descendants of the original owner to maintain and a marvel of human ingenuity
to guests. In addition to the Tongkonan, there are craftsmen located nearby who
carve traditional Torajan motifs and patterns onto buffalo bones available to
bring home as souvenirs. Lembang Banga’
Rembon, Tana Toraja Entrance Fee Rp 20,000.
6.Pasar Bolu (Livestock Market)
Just north of the town of Rantepao in Toraja Utara, a
traditional livestock market called Bolu draws crowds from all over Toraja every
Tuesday and Saturday. The regular market, or pasar, located a five-minute walk
away sells daily supplies such as fruit, vegetables and fish in addition to
Torajan coffee, regional spices, local chillies (katokkon and lada barra’) and
snacks. Meanwhile, Pasar Bolu is dominated by hundreds of buffaloes and large
pigs up for sale. People from all over Toraja come to bring their livestock to sell
or purchase some for a ceremony. Buffaloes (tedong in Basa Toraja) are the main
attraction due to their significance in many Torajan customs. The prices for
these buffaloes range from the lowest prices, meaning several hundred-thousand
rupiah, to upwards of Rp 10,000,000. Sometimes the price may be even more for
the prized Tedong saleko and Tedong bonga (types of albino buffaloes). Tedong
saleko are the most expensive albino buffaloes and are signified by their
colouring. They have a base of white (or light pink) colour with black spots, ivory-coloured
horns and white or light blue eyes. Tedong bonga, on the other hand, have a
base of black with white or light pink A man and his beloved water buffalo Torajan
man sells his albino buffalo at Pasar. Jl. Poros Rantepao – Palopo, Tallunglipu
Matalo Tallunglipu, Toraja Utara Entrance Fee Rp 30,000.
7.Patung Yesus Buntu Burake
The villages of Lea and Limbong as well as the hamlet Buntu Burake
surround the karst hill also named Buntu Burake. The word “burake” means
“fallen fruit seeds” while “buntu” means “hill.” Located on top of Buntu Burake
is a large statue of Jesus overlooking the city of Makale, Tana Toraja. After a
short four-kilometre drive from Makale along winding mountain roads, park your
vehicle and walk up the cement steps past souvenir kiosks to get a beautiful
view of Makale and its surrounding landscapes. This statue is 40 metres high
(131 feet) and at its base, offers a rest area and walkway where visitors can
enjoy the breeze and sweeping views of Toraja. This statue strives to rival the
Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Jainero, Brazil. However, instead of being
the tallest statue of Christ in the world, it is, in fact, a statue of Jesus
located at the highest elevation. Bukit Buntu Burake, Buntu Burake Makale, Tana
Toraja Entrance Fee Small Donation
8.Sa’dan To’barana’ (Tongkonan and Ikat Weaving)
Located 16 kilometres north of Rantepao, Sa’dan To’barana’
is a village in the Sa’dan sub-district of Malimbong. On the way to this
village, you will encounter enchanting scenery surrounding the winding Sa’dan
River. This region boasts Tongkonan and lumbung originally owned by the
nobleman Langi’ Para’pak. Sa’dan To’Barana’ today is a weaving village well
known for its weaving handicrafts or tenun. The craftswomen and men still use traditional
tools made from wood and bamboo to weave and tie these colourful cloths. In
this village, weaving and tying traditional textiles is an activity passed down
for generations. string or thread used in the fabric is created from natural
materials such as bark or cotton and is hand-spun into yarn. The yarn is dyed
with natural ingredients, including a mixture of betel nuts and ginger roots to
produce a red colour, bilante leaves or mud to produce a black colour, and
tarun leaves or indigo to produce a blue colour. White is one of the
fundamental colours used in tenun and is generated from cotton flowers. When
walking through Sa’dan, you will find shops at the back of the Tongkonan that
sell various tenun, but only some are handmade. You may also see women tying an
ikat cloth with a variety of motifs in front of the Tongkonan who are happy to
tell you about the different cloths and patterns as well as what occasions the
cloths are worn. They may even let you sit at their looms to take a picture to
bring home! For more information about specific patterns used in these textiles
as well as the differences in the types of cloth created in Toraja, see Tenun
under the heading Local Products. Even the Sa’dan To’barana’ Sa’dan To’barana’,
Sa’dan Malimbong Sa’dan, Toraja Utara Entrance Fee Rp 30,000
9.Salib Bukit Singki’
Built and completed in time for the 2016 iteration of Lovely
December in Toraja (an event that occurs annually), the large cross facing the
city of Rantepao proclaims the name “Toraja Utara” underneath it. To get up to
the cross with its panoramic views of Rantepao, climb the cement stairs leading
all the way up. Once atop the hill, there is a building from where you can
shade yourself from the Torajan sun while still enjoying beautiful views of the
surrounding region out of the glass windows. Bukit Singki’, Mentirotiku
Rantepao, Toraja Utara Entrance Fee Small Donation
10.Tongkonan Karuaya
The Tongkonan Karuaya lower complex is located in the
village of Tumbang Datu and is made up of three Tongkonan and nine lumbung
(rice granaries). Historically, this Tongkonan complex was considered part of
the cultural village of Tumbang Datu Bebo’ and Karuaya was part of the southern
complex. Today, the main Tongkonan is named Tongkonan Sura’ and a plaque with a
list of the names of family members belonging to this Tongkonan is hung outside
for visitors to read. In addition to the Tongkonan and lumbung, there is also a
wide grassy field (rante) used during a Rambu Solo’. Legend has it that during
the time before the arrival of the Dutch, the village of Rangngi was under
attack from a rival village. However, the people of Rangngi were victorious due
to their magical abilities and eight prisoners were selected, executed and
their bodies buried by the Tongkonan. The skeletons and skulls of these eight
people also have myths surrounding them that are still told in the village
today. Tongkonan Karuaya Tumbang Datu, Bebo’ Sangalla’ Utara, Tana Toraja Entrance
Fee Free.
11. Ne’Gandeng (Tongkonan Museum)
This museum is made up of a vast complex of Tongkonan,
Tongkonan-style buildings and lumbung that all surround a rante (wide grassy
field) and several simbuang stones. In addition to housing several traditional
instruments and items that are integral to Torajan culture, visitors are able
to stay over in one of the Tongkonan. Large rice fields surround the museum,
making the drive towards the complex as enjoyable as touring the museum itself.
Yayasan Ne’Gandeng Jl. Museum Ne’Gandeng No 1, Lembang Malakiri Balusu, Toraja
Utara Entrance Fee Rp 30,000
12.Bori’ Kalimbuang
(Burial Site, Megalithic Stone Complex) Bori’ Kalimbuang,
also known as Kompleks Megalit Kalimbuang Bori’, is a traditional burial site
located in the village of Bori’ in the Sesean sub-district of Toraja Utara. The
descendants of a nobleman named Ne’Ramba’ first established this burial site in
1718. The central area of this cemetery is called rante, a vast field that also
serves as a venue for funerals. The Tongkonan surround Batu Simbuang
(megalithic stones) the monolithic stones, boulder tombs, and baby graves in
Bori’ Kalimbuang Graves in Caves, Cliffs and Trees Unlike in other regions of
Indonesia, Torajans have unique burial customs that include the interment of
family and friends in cliffs, caves and trees. See below for further
explanations of burial sites around Toraja open to visitors. Since the 1980s,
many tourists have visited this area. Most tourists are attracted by the
numerous large menhirs (monolithic standing stones, called simbuang by Torajan
people) that stand around the rante. Simbuang stones are not used by just
anyone in Torajan society, only those of the royal line and those who can
afford to sacrifice twenty-four buffaloes to celebrate a family member’s death.
During a funeral ceremony (Rambu Solo’), a simbuang serves as a place to tie
buffaloes to before they are sacrificed and is another signifier of a family’s
wealth and social status. In addition to a megalithic stone complex, this
location also holds several types of graves such as stone tombs (liang batu),
mausoleums (Patane) and baby graves (Passilliran). In addition to the cultural
remnants of ancient Torajan traditions found at this site, Bori’ is also
surrounded by abundant rice fields and verdant vegetation. Bori’ Kalimbuang
Desa Bori’ Sesean, Toraja Utara Entrance Fee Rp 30,000
13.Kambira (Baby Graves)
Kambira is located in the Sangalla’ region of Tana Toraja
and is around nine kilometres to the east of Makale. In the past, trees in Kambira
were used as living graves for babies who died, named Passilliran. According to
the ancestral Torajan belief system of Aluk Todolo, if a baby who has not gotten
its first teeth has died, it is considered to still be pure and therefore
cannot be buried in the ground or interred in a cliff. Instead, these babies
must be placed in trees. During the ritual of entombing a baby in a tree
(Massilli’), a pig owned by the baby’s parents is sacrificed and then the meat
is cooked inside bamboo (dipiong). The meat cannot be seasoned with salt, it
cannot be brought to the parents’ house and the baby’s entire family must eat
the meat. The trees used for this type of burial included tarra’, sipate and lamba’
trees chosen due to the white sap they emit. According to Torajan ancestors who
practised this type of burial, the white sap represented a mother’s milk. The
babies were placed upright within the tree and then closed in with natural
products such as bark and betel nut. Ancient Torajans also believed that the
baby’s soul could reach heaven quicker, only if the steps listed above were
followed. Today, babies are no longer buried within living trees in Toraja,
except in a few specific villages whose villagers still follow Alukta. Baby
graves like Kambira have become cultural sites for visitors to see the remnants
of ancient Aluk Todolo customs in person. Kambira Tongko Sarapung Sangalla’,
Tana Toraja Entrance Fee Rp 20,000
14.Landan Kote, Lion
Tondok Iring
(Baby Graves) Lion Tondok Iring is another burial site in Sangalla’
where babies used to be interred in trees after their death. The story of this site
is very similar to Kambira. The same types of trees (tarra’ and sipate) were
chosen as a final resting place for babies who had not yet gotten their first
teeth, due to the great amount of white sap in the trees, which symbolised
breast milk. Compared to Kambira, there were only ten babies buried in the
trees in Lion Tondok Iring. Landan Kote, Lion Tondok Iring Lion Tondok Iring
Makale Utara, Tana Toraja Entrance Fee Small Donation.
15.Lemo (Cliff Burial
Site)
Located about seven kilometres from both Makale and
Rantepao, one of the main attractions in Toraja are the burial chambers of Lemo,
in the area of Lembang Buntang. Lemo opened to tourists interested in Torajan
culture in the 1980s. It is a burial site comprised of a commanding karst cliff
that blends beautifully with the surrounding vegetation and rice fields. The
name “Lemo” is derived from the fruit limo or limau, found in this area. It is
said that the name, which means a type of orange, refers to the resemblance of
the large, circular cliff to an orange, with the burial chambers resembling the
seeds hidden within the fruit. Tau Tau in Lemo are as striking as the burial
chambers they protect The burial site is estimated to date back to the sixteenth
century, specially made for the families of past leaders and noblemen living in
the surrounding Torajan communities. The Tau Tau in Lemo are different from the
life-like statues you will see in places like Londa. These Tau Tau are less realistic,
but no less striking, wrapped in bright orange or yellow cloths and are believed
to be guarding the people interred in the cliff behind them. Each square carved
out of the cliff and closed with a carved wooden door is the entrance of a tomb,
each belonging to one family. Each chamber takes months to carve out, therefore
making this process very expensive. This fact denotes the wealth of the family that
was and is able to afford to place their deceased family member in this grave. Arriving
at the site, you will see a large parking space and a row of souvenir shops selling
local merchandise such as necklaces, T-shirts and local tenun. There are also several
Tau Tau craftsmen who have sold these figurines at this site for generations.
These shops sell vibrantly clothed Tau Tau in myriad sizes with some stores
even offering special-order Tau Tau in any shape or size. The prices for a Tau
Tau starts from around Rp 30,000 for smaller sizes to about Rp 3,000,000 for
the life-sized figures. Jl. Poros Makale–Rantepao Makale Utara, Tana Toraja Entrance
Fee Rp 20,000
16.Lo’ko’ Mata
(Boulder Burial Site)
Lo’ko’ Mata is a cliff tomb located in the village of
Pangden, in the sub-district of Sesean, about 30 minutes up the hills of
Batutumonga. This burial site is a natural phenomenon: an enormous and ancient boulder
with several burial chamber openings carved into its face. There are more than
twenty burial chambers carved out of the rock, with one tomb used to hold the
bodies of several generations of one family. Simple bamboo ladders are used to
place the coffins and bodies within these chambers and the higher the burial
chamber, the higher the status of the family that owns it. There are a few
stories behind the name Lo’ko’ Mata, with some saying it has the meaning of
“human head” or “eye holes.” For the locals in the area, the appearance of the
massive rock with chambers dotted across it closely resembles a human head with
dozens of eyes. The sheer size of the mass burial site itself, its location among
terraced rice paddies and Tongkonan complexes, as well as the cool, windy
weather of this area of Sesean makes this a frequently visited site by
tourists. Visitors are allowed as go as close as they like to the tombs,
although picking up or moving any objects you see on the ground or around the
chamber is considered disrespectful. It is also important to note that items
that may look like trash, such as cigarette packs, food and old flowers, are in
fact offerings to the dead. Once you have had your fill of marvelling at the
base of this imposing boulder, walk along the river away from the road and take
the stairs leading up to an open area. From this vantage point, you can get a
closer look at the tombs at the top of the boulder as well as the nearby rice
fields and Patane (mausoleums). If you happen to visit Lo’ko’ Mata in the
morning, the giant rock may be wrapped in fog, lending an even more serene and
enchanting atmosphere to this burial site. A visit closer to mid-day or in the late
afternoon allows visitors an unmarred view of the surrounding locale with its
terraced rice fields dotted with boulders of various shapes and sizes. The
burial chambers in Lo’ko’ Mata are still used by families today One of the
first sights you see in Londa are the suspended coffins and Tau Tau on the
cliff face On the drive down from Lo’ko’ Mata, keep an eye out for other,
albeit smaller, boulders on the left- and right-hand sides of the road that may
also serve as tombs for generations of local families. Lo’ko’ Mata Jl. Poros,
To’Nangka Sesean, Toraja Utara Entrance Fee Rp 30,000.
17.Londa (Cave and
Cliff Burial Site)
Londa, the name of the cave tombs located in Lembang Tadongkon,
Kesu’ sub-district, also encompasses an area of vast rice fields, caves and
majestic cliffs in the Toraja Utara Regency. Historically, the caves were used
as a residential area while the karst cliffs were used as a burial site (liang)
by Torajans with the surname Tolengke’. Over time, the cave was also used as a
graveyard, by putting bodies in a wooden coffin named erong, which were then suspended
on wooden posts in front of the caves in order not to be eaten by wild animals.
This area was opened as a tourist attraction in 1972, with the caves as the
main attraction, which contain numerous skulls, bones and coffins. Once at the
entrance of the site, local guides carrying gaslights will take you down to the
caves and elucidate the history of the location. The price for a gaslight is Rp
50,000, and the fee for a guide is negotiable. From the entrance of the site,
you will get a panorama of a rice field at the foot of a large cliff face dotted
with graves, coffins and massive hanging vines. Approaching the cliff by
walking down the stone steps, you will begin to see skulls, bones, hanging
coffins and large Tau Tau with more detail. In front of the cave, the large and
life-like Tau Tau greet you as they guard the caves, dressed in fine clothing
and some even wearing glasses. Continue following the path leading into the
cave down to the right. Within the cave, the eerie sight of skulls and bones
placed in various nooks and crannies is balanced with the beauty of the natural
cave walls. As you continue into the cave, you will not only see bones, but
also coffins in varying stages of disintegration and towards the back of this
cave, your guide will lead you to two skulls placed side by side on the ground.
You will undoubtedly be told the story of a couple in love who wanted to get
married but didn’t receive the blessing of their families because they were
first cousins. As a result, the two lovers committed suicide, as they believed
they could at least be together in the afterlife. After their death, their
families agreed to place them side-by-side in the cave. Visitors often refer to
this story as the Torajan version of Romeo and Juliet. You are then given the
option to crawl through a tunnel to the next cave, about 25 metres away, or
walk out and around to the entrance of the second cave to the left of the cliff
face. In this smaller cave, there are more skulls and bones placed in the many crevices
of the cave. After you’ve explored both caves, there is a pathway leading you
in a circle, away from the cliff, where there is a viewpoint with an impressive
sight of the entire cliff, the ricefield and the suspended coffins at the front
of the bluff. This will also lead you past some souvenir shops, where you can
purchase miniature Tongkonan, bags, shirts and more to have as mementoes.
Londa, Desa Sendan Uai Sanggalangi’, Toraja Utara Entrance Fee Rp 30,000
18.Sirope’ (Cliff
Burial Site)
Sirope’ is located in Makale Utara (North Makale), about one
kilometre from the main road. This limestone cliff burial site houses erong
(coffins) and some Tau Tau statues. This grave belongs to a high-class family
in the region of Lion and Tondok Iring. There is a trail up to the top of the
grave that offers a beautiful view of the surrounding landscape. The history of
this site goes back to the creation of the village Lion Tondok Iring. As the
legend goes, this area was first visited by Puang Batan di Lomben, followed by
the arrival of Puang Tarangenge who built a Tongkonan at the top of the
mountain Kambio Langi’. The people in this region used to bury deceased family
members in the ground until realising that this affected plants and animals in
the surrounding vicinity. When searching for a reason for why the land was negatively
affecting plants and animals around these cemeteries were dying, people came to
the conclusion that the earth was angry and therefore the deceased could no
longer be buried in the ground. As a result, these villagers spread out in
search of caves and cliffs to inter the deceased. They met again in Sirope’,
which got its name from this meeting which in Basa Toraja is “sirompa’” or the
meeting of several villages. From this point forward, these villagers began to
place family members in cave and cliff graves such as Sirope’.Sirope’ Lion
Tondok Iring Makale Utara, Tana Toraja Entrance Fee Rp 20,000.
19.Suaya (Cliff
Burial Site)
The cliff cemetery of Suaya is located around nine
kilometres to the east of Makale in the sub-district of Sangalla’, boasting
several burial chambers and Tau Tau. In addition to the burial chambers, visitors
will also find several Patane, each brick mausoleum housing several generations
of a local family. This cliff burial site was built for Puang Tamboro Langi’
and his descendants and therefore only descendants of Sangalla’ royal bloodline
are allowed to be interred here. Situated near the stairs at Suaya is a stone
that, according to local lore, cannot be moved or touched. If a person were to
touch the stone, it is claimed that the person will suddenly faint (known as
kasalla). Suaya Lembang Bulian Massabu Sangalla’, Tana Toraja Entrance Fee Rp 20,000
20.Tampang Allo (Cave
Burial Site)
Tampang Allo is a burial site with suspended coffins and
graves carved into a cliff face as well as a natural cave that houses further
coffins in Sangalla’, Tana Toraja, about 30 minutes east of Makale. Once inside
the cave, a cool and otherworldly atmosphere will leave you curious to go
deeper into the cave. The cave consists of erong (coffins), several Tau Tau and
numerous skulls and skeletons scattered and piled around the area. The opening of
the cave is rather hidden, but signposts have been put up to make it easier for
visitors to navigate. You will be directed down a road past rice fields until
you reach a sign for the cave on the right-hand side of the road. Then cross a
narrow river on a small bamboo bridge to reach the entrance to this cave burial
site. A well-known story recounted by locals in the area is that one of the
kings of Sangalla’ named Puang Manturino and his family are buried in Tampang
Allo. As the legend goes, Puang Manturino himself and his wife, Puang Rangga
Bulaan, chose Tampang Allo as the place where they wanted to be interred after
death. When Puang Rangga Bulaan died, her body was placed in the cave in Tampang
Allo. However, when Puang Manturino died, his body was buried in a different
area called Losso’. One day, the body of Puang Manturino disappeared and was
later allegedly found within the cave of Tampang Allo. This story, as well as
the natural beauty of the area and the cave itself, is sure to excite the
interest of many cultural travellers from around Indonesia and the world.
Tampang Allo, Kaero Sangalla’, Tana Toraja Entrance Fee Rp 20,000.[bt]
