Torajaland (South Sulawesi)

Torajaland stands out as a fascinating place for overseas adventure enthusiasts, for many reasons. There’s the unique Torajan architecture, the fact that inhabitants are former headhunters, and the tumultuous history and conflict with the  Dutch, who attempted to conquer the area, and were only able to do so by spreading Christianity. Torajaland is also famous for being a region where outstanding coffee is produced.  And finally, there is the aspect for which the Torajans are the most famous, the elaborate rituals associated with death.
Coffins and bones can be found all over Torajaland.

Torajaland is a place unlike any other, both for its unique culture and its stunning landscapes. Getting there can be a major challenge, with only two choices: flying into Sulawesi’s largest city, Makassar, and driving six hours, or chartering a private turbo prop. There was once a commercial flight between Makassar and Rantepao, but that route was canceled and hasn’t operated for a few years.

The aura of mystery surrounding this area is interesting and complex,intertwining the forces of history, religion, geography and culture. The Toraja have made their homes in the highlands of Sulawesi, and number about 650,000 in total. Many of them, or even most, are Christians, having been converted by Dutch missionaries. The Dutch arrived in the 1600’s and established what would be a long history in Indonesia – mainly through the Dutch East India Company. The Dutch, concerned with the rise of Islam, saw the animist elements of the Toraja as making them “suitable for conversion to Christianity”.

This is Traditional Torajan Houses

At first only 10 percent of the Toraja converted to Christianity, but during the Great Depression in the West during the 1930’s, Islamic believers attacked the Toraja. This is not a well-known fact. By the 1950’s , due to these attacks and persecution, masses of the Toraja had converted to Christianity. By 1965, the region was in a full-scale civil war, mainly because of the chaos of the post-colonial era and aforementioned religious conflict. All citizens of Indonesia were forced to become either Hindu, Buddhist, Christian or Muslim. Fitting in the belief system of the Toraja, in the eyes of the government, became a matter of national peace, tranquility and security.

This below is a Christian church, Toraja Style