About Toraja

Religion

Before the Dutch come to power in this high land in the 17th Century, there was no even a single
word given for the name of their religion instead of the word " aluk " which refers that ritual
ways and daily live activities that are to be controlled, without special instruction of how build a
house, to plant rice, to greet boys and the head of the village, and the numbers of the buffaloes
and pigs that must be slaughtered in every ritual ceremony.

One of the principal of this teaching is to apply ' give and take' tradition among. Blesses and
curse used to come between the one who still a life and the spirits of Our ancestry. The most
prestigious ceremony in Tana Toraja is the death ceremonial. More than half the people of Tana
Toraja are Christian. we still up hold and proud of Our culture heritage and welcoming the guest
ritually.

Architecture

One of the most noticeable aspect about Tana Toraja is the size and the grandeur of Tonkonan
( The Traditional Houses of Tana Toraja ), raised on piles and topped with massive roof. The
house are closely bound up with Torajan Traditional, one of their function is as a constant
reminder of the authority of original noble families whose descendents alone have a right to
build such house. The state of the Tongkonan also symbolizes the unity of the clan. It is the
meeting place for family gatherings, and may not be bought or sold. Tana Toraja is one of the
few places in Indonesia where traditional houses are still being built. and the skill to make them
survive. The owners often live in the modern houses, keeping Tongkonan for ceremony and as
symbol of the family status.

After Bali and Java, the third most popular destination in Indonesia is Sulawesi. Sulawesi island
contains a great variety of exotic people, culture and natural wonders. It is another unspoilt
paradise. A journey into the strange world of mysterious Toraja People is truly a rare adventure,
made especially eerie by their hauting tombs - holes carved out of sheer rock faces guarded by
wooden effigies that stare out across the jungle.

Toraja Land, is known for its unique culture and ancient traditions. The center of tourism is
Rantepao, 328 km from Makassar by road (about 8 hours).