South Sulawesi (Sulawesi Selatan) is a province of Indonesia, located on the westernsouthern peninsula ofSulawesi island. The province is bordered by Central Sulawesi province to the north,South East Sulawesiprovince to the east and West Sulawesi province to the west (West Sulawesi province was split from South Sulawesi in 2004). The capital of South Sulawesi is Makassar.
The scenic seacoasts, rugged mountains and verdant rice-growing plains of South Sulawesi have their own unique fascination. With few sites of historical or artistic importance, the charm of the region lies in well-kepttown, and the extensive seacoasts where master shipbuilders construct massive wooden schooners, essentially Portuguese galleons, using only simple hand-tools and designs passed down by rote through the centuries.
The area around, holds several sites of interest, from a spectacular coral reef and blinding white beaches offshore, to colorful highland market towns and the evocative ruins of vanished kingdoms.
TORAJA (South Sulawesi)
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). The entry to Tana Toraja is marked by a gate built in traditional boat-shaped architecture. The road passes through the mountains of Kandora and Gandang on which, according to Toraja mythology, the first ancestors of celestial beings descended from heaven. The majority of the people still follows an ancestral cult called "Aluk Todolo" which governs all traditional ceremonies. Torajan culture is a complex blend of ancestor worship and animistic beliefs where rituals for the dead are colorful festivals to pave the way for the soul's entry into the here after. This unique culture, the scenic beauty, cool climate and gentle people are the main reason that Toraja is gaining p
opularity as a tourist destination. The most spectacular of Torajan rituals are the funerals. For Torajan, a funeral is the single most important ceremony in the life cycle. It is based on a strong belief that the soul of the deceased travels to the land of the south and in this land of eternity, he will need all the requisites of everyday life in the hereafter just like when he was alive in this world. Various types of graves are located in Cliffside caves, mountain ledges or in special houses reserved for the dead. The graves in Tana Toraja are made in huge rocks because of their strength and relative safety from animals and thieves.