Tana Toraja, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Tongkonan, the origin houses of Tana Toraja


Tana Toraja is one of the two regencies of the Toraja people in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Its capital is Makale, while the other regency is Toraja Utara, with its capital Rantepao. The name Tana Toraja means "land of heavenly kings", a description which the Toraja people gave themselves in centuries past. The regency is aboiut 330 km from Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi.

Tana Toraja is today developing into a tourist destination in Indonesia. It attracts cultural tourist interested in the Toraja people's way of life, particularly its funerary rites and burials.

Toraja funerals are elaborate ceremonies staged at great expense. Called tomate, it can even be described as a festival, complete with buffalo fights and feasts. The funeral ceremony usually includes the slaughter of animals that may include any number of buffaloes and pigs, according to the capability of the family.

Toraja funeral procession


The funeral cultinates in the burial of the deceased high up on cliffs. An effigy of the deceased is placed in front of the coffin. Due to the great expense involved in staging Toraja funerals, the deceased may be kept at home for years before it is given the proper send-off. Funerals are usually held after the harvest season, between July and October.

In addition to Toraja funerals, tourist also come to Tana Toraja to admire its traditional architecture, particularly the Tongkonan (origin houses) and Alang (barn or granary). The houses have upward-sloping roofst that bear similarities to houses found in other parts of Indonesia, such as those in Lake Toba, Nias and Flores, but they are all different and once familiar, one can easily tell them apart.

Visiting Tana Toraja

There are flights from Makassar to Tana Toraja on SMAC (Sabang Merauke Air Charter). Flight takes about 55 minutes. You can also board a bus to Tana Toraja from Makassar. The journey takes about 8-10 hours.

Places to Visit in Tana Toraja

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