Tana Toraja is located 310 km from Ujung Pandang (Makassar ). To reach Tana Toraja, visitors can use a mini-bus or a public bus. The road to Tana Toraja is narrow, curving, with ups and downs.
Tana Toraja, or Toraja Highland, is unquestionably one of the most beatiful ridge or mountains stretches north to distant, isolated valleys. Percing the thickets of bamboo and coconuts palm, on hillocks in the middle of rice paddies, the curved roof of the Torajan finely carved houses stand demonstrating the admirable skills of the Torajans in carving and natural color painting. The Torajan houses are made high in order to protect the people from wild and dangerous animals, such as snakes. Before the Dutch conquest of the highland in the early 20th century, there was no word in the Toraja language for religion, instead, there was a term which refers to the ways in both rituals and daily life ought to be conducted, how houses are to be built, rice cooked, children and village head addressed, rules for the number of buffalo to be sacrified at funerals, as well as the position of the stars when planting is to begin. One of the basic tenets is that the constant exchange of gifts, blessings and even curses must occur between the living and the spirits of their ancestors. The funeral ceremony is the most honored ceremony in Torajan traditional.
Toraja has many attractions for the tourist. In this cool montain air, particular landscape, craftmanship harmonizes with tranquil natural beauty. Although over half the area is now Christian, the people are proud of their heritage and welcome visitors to witness their rituals.
The traditional food of theToraja are:
Kue Tori (made from glutinous rice and coconut sugar) and Bapiong (pork cooked with traditional vegetables called bului nangko, inside bamboo)
