South Sulawesi Tourism Travel Guide

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South Sulawesi Tourism Travel Guide and Tourist Information.

South Sulawesi (Indonesian say Sulawesi Selatan, short form Sulsel) is a province of Indonesia, located on the western southern peninsula of Sulawesi Island. The province is bordered by Central Sulawesi province to the North, South East Sulawesi province 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 (formely know Ujung Pandang) is the main city on Sulawesi.

This Island has been inhabited by people since about 30,000 years ago, it is proven by the sign found in cave near the limestone hills not far from Maros town its about 30 km north east of Makassar the capital of South Sulawesi province. There are possibility that the oldest civilization in this island was at Walennae valley, a place between Soppeng and Sengkang where tool made of pebble and flake were found. Fossil from the extinct species of pig, deer and elephan were also found around this area. During the golden age of spice trade in the 15th till the 19th centuries, South Sulawesi played a role as the gate to Mollucas Island, the land of spices. The mighty kingdoms of Makassar and Bone as mentioned in the past history of the eastern part of Indonesia, had played an important role.

Before the Republic of Indonesia has it proclamation, South Sulawesi is inhabited by four main etnic groups namely is : Bugis, Makassar, Toraja and Mandar (now become West Sulawesi). The people of the first three etnic have been know as patriotic and brave sailor both during and after the war was over. With the traditional sailing boats, they sail across the seas of Indonesia to the Northern part of Australia, a number of island in Pacific Ocean and to the African Coast. There three big empires that have big influence, those are Luwu, Gowa, and Bone, which at XVI century and XVII century reach their glorious, and has trade relation with Europeans, India, China, Malay, and Arab.

The Toraja people is well know with their specific and strong culture, it can be seen in the death Ceremonial, Traditional house with arch shaped roog and beatiful carvings with natural color. An ethnic group who believes that their forefathers descended from heaven onto a mountain some twenty generations ago, the Torajas have a unique culture based on animistic beliefs. Known for their grand burial ceremonies on cliffs or hanging graves, they practice an ancestral cult even today where death and afterlife ceremonies are great feasts when buffaloes are sacrificed in the final death ceremony, after which the deceased's remains are placed in a coffin and interred in caves hollowed out in high cliffs. The mouth of the cave is guarded by life like statues, looking out from a "balcony". As death has such an "important meaning" when the souls are released, burials are elaborate and follow days of feasting. Rock graves are also a form of burial. A strict hierarchy is followed in the villages.They are known for their unusual customs; today most are Christians. The Toraja also resisted the Dutch until the first decade of the 20th Century.

The Bugis vessels have sailed as far as the Australian beach, leaving behind drawings of their ships on stone with words that have been integrated into the Aboriginal language of north Australia. Situated on the crossroads of well-traveled sea-lanes, its capital and chief trading port of Ujung Pandang, till today the gateway to eastern Indonesia. Spanish and Portuguese galleons, followed by British and Dutch traders sailed these seas in search of the spice trade, escorted by their men of war to protect them against the daring raids of the Bugis and Makassar who attacked the intruders. The most famous Bugis leaders were kings of Bone, which is called Arung Palakka. Bugis settlements have scattered as far as Kalimantan and Riau. The kings of Gowa and Bone did much to spread Islam through the area.

The Province of South Sulawesi has an area about 227,000 km2 with the long and narrow peninsulas and it comprised of 23 Regencies, with three main ethnic groups (Buginese, Makassar and Torajanese), having some seven million inhabitants. The region's unique culture, ancient traditions, mystical way of life, and ethnic natural beauty make it a notable addition to one's travel experiences. It is a place where travellers interact with both nature and local people, where nature and the people are one, and where both are shared with the visitor.

Geographically the prehistory and history of Sout Sulawesi creates very interesting Culture element. One can see and enjoy the uniqueness of this culture such as ceremonial, traditional dance, carving, beautiful weaving from cotton and silk, and the fascinating natural tropical scene and many more.

South Sulawesi tourism travel guide and tourist information popular destination :

Fort Rotterdam.
Fort Rotterdam also know Benteng Makassar is a historical artifact of the greatness of the past kingdom of South Sulawesi. Gowa Kingdom was the strongest and the most glarious kingdom during the 17th century. During the time Makassar was know a trading city. Viewed from the sea the kingdom of Makassar during that period was an area that was completely fortified. In year of 1967 when Gowa was under the power of Dutch, all forts was destroyed except Fort Rotterdam and two years later Fort of Somba Opu was totally destroyed by The Dutch government.
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The Old Grave of King Tallo.
These old tombs are regarded as a complex, due to the size in wich 778 grave in different forms and of various material are laid. Its located in the northern part on Makassar City, exactly on the former Tallo fort. Formelly, Tallo Kingdom was an area ruled by Gowa Kingdom. That kingdom was later devided into two major divisions since the king had two Princes, both were ambitious men to be the next king. The two kingdom are : Tallo and Gowa.
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Paotere Harbor.
Paotere is the place to anchor the sailing boat og the people of Sulawesi coming from all part of Indonesia. The sailing boat anchored there varied in style ans shape, such us Phinisi Boat, Lambo and some others. It is a fascinating and amazing scenery of the masts standing side by the side. It is event more beautiful and fascinating during the sunset with its colorful rays.
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Kodingareng Island.
Kodingareng Island was elected preservation centre because the island has the widest coral reefs in South Sulawesi which are still in a good condition. Kodingareng Keke Island located in Sub-District of Ujungtanah, Makassar. The distance is about 8.37 miles or 13.48 kilometers from the coastal city of Makassar.
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Trans Studio Word Indoor Theme Park.
Trans World Studio located in the Regions and the Global Tourism Business Tanjung Bunga, Makassar, the area of integrated tourism object in Makassar. Trans Studio was built of 12,7 hectares with investment of IDR 1 trillion more. Facilities built in the shopping center which includes the Trans Walk and Rodeo Drive, and Studio Trans, Trans Hotel, office of Bank Mega. Trans Studio building was built around 22,000 m² with 20 meters high which is the largest indoor amusement park in and the biggest indoor theme park in Asia at this time.
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Chinese Temples.
In Makassar, temple usually call it with "Klenteng" or "Wihara". There are four old temples that located in down town of Makassar. The most important is Tian Hou Gong or Temple of the Heavenly Queen, on the corner of Jl. Serui and Jl. Sulawesi. This was probably built in the early 18th century and restaurated in 1738, 1803 qnd 1867. The statue of the 'heavenly queen', Tian Hou is on the back side of the main althar behind a wooden wall. She is the protector of the sailors and is often related with fertility. From the side-althars, the first on the left is dedicated to the 'Golden Mothers of the Golden Immortals', the second to Xuan Tian Shang Di, which is honoured in Indonesia for it's medical powers; the third to the protectionate of Fertility.
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Bantimurung Waterfall.
Bantimurung waterfall is located at the valley of the step limestone hill with its fertile tropical vegetation. Bantimurung waterfall is a government protected natural reserve and there a cool waterfall and surrounding forests and covers 1000 ha. There are many other caves in these cliffs but apart from the scenery which makes this area an ideal habitat for the type of butterflies and bird infamous for their rarity. The naturalist Alfred Wallace collected specimens here in the mid 1800's. Among the butterflies that he caught was the Papilo Androcles, one of the rarest and biggest, with a tail like a swallow.
Read More Maros Tourism Travel Guide >>

Leang-leang.
Through careful care and accurate management, this historical center has several caves where historical paintings of 5000 years ago can be enjoyed. The archeologists consider that some ot the caves have been accupied from as early as 800 B.C to 3000 B.C. These caves have become the source of information, particularly about pre-hostory, not only of South Sulawesi but also of Southeast Asia.
Read More Maros Tourism Travel Guide >>

Fort Somba Opu (Benteng Somba Opu).
Fort of Somba Opu hold the same position as the Fort Rotterdam. Both of them are the inheritance of the strong and heroic kingdoms in South Sulawesi. In 1525, The Sultan of Gowa IX named Daeng Matanre Karaeng Tumapa‘ risi‘ kallonna built a castle that was called Somba Opu. In the middle of the 16th century, the castle became a very busy spices port and a commercial center where many merchants from Asia and Europe anchored there. On June 24th, 1669, it was conquered to Dutch colonial.
Read More Gowa/Sunggiminasa Tourism Travel Guide >>

Syech Yusuf Graveyard.
Syech Yusuf is one the famous Moslem heroes. He was widely known by the people of South Sulawesi as "Tuanta Salamaka". He was a knowledgeable man who actively introduced and spreaded the teaching of Islam in several country. Suprisingly his grave are found in South Africa, Ceylon (Srilanka), Banten (Java, Indonesia), and in Gowa (South Sulawesi, Indonesia).
Read More Gowa/Sunggiminasa Tourism Travel Guide >>

Gowa King Palace (Museum Ballalompoa).
This is the Royal Palace of Gowa Kingdom and now it has functioned as a museum. Built in 1939 and has been restored in the years 1978 - 1980, located at Jl. Sultan Hasanuddin 48, Sungguminasa. This museum you can find historical object, musical indtrument, traditional clothes, weapon and various collections of the kingdom ceremonial equipment.
Read More Gowa/Sunggiminasa Tourism Travel Guide >>

Sultan Hasanuddin Graveyard Complex and Gowa King.
Sultan Hasanuddin (1629 - 1670) he was a king of Gowa who devoted all of his life to fight againts the Dutch. His Grave as among the graves of the Kings of Gowa. The grave of the namely king is made of huge stone.
Read More Gowa/Sunggiminasa Tourism Travel Guide >>

Malino.
This fresh and fertile town is located at an altitude of around 850 meters on the slopes of the Bawakaraeng & Lompobatang mountains. Malino is beautiful located, surrounded by pine trees, green rice teraces and waterfalls. Historical viewed Malino was well known as a retreat for colonial Dutch, as the meeting place of East-Indonesian leaders who endorsed the Netherlands’ ill-fated plans for a federation and more recently, peace agreements have been struck for Maluku and Poso.
Read More Gowa/Sunggiminasa Tourism Travel Guide >>

Gowa Traditional Ceremony.
Accera Kalompoang/Allangiri Kalompoang is a traditional ceremony to purify the heirlooms of Gowa Kingdom that are kept in the Balla Lompoa Museum. The core of the ceremony, in Makassar language name it Accera Kalompoang/Allangiri Kalompoang, purifying and weight measuring of salokoa (pure golden crown the kingdom of Gowa) which was made in the 14th century. This crown was worn for the first time by the King of Gowa name it Tumanurunga (The first king of Gowa) that was later symbolized in the inauguration of the next Kings of Gowa, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Read More Gowa/Sunggiminasa Tradtidional Ceremony >>

Tana Beru (The phinisi boat makers).
Tana Beru is located 176 kilometres from Makassar City or 23 kilometres from Bulukumba District. Tana Beru is widely known as a place for making traditional Phini boat. In the dry dock we can see a great amount of sailing boat are being made in various size. Phinisi boat (Perahu Phinisi) is well-known as a means of traditional sea transportation amongst the Bugis people since many centuries ago. According to the manuscript of Lontara I Babad La Lagaligo, the phinisis boat has already existed since around the 14th century. Phinisi Nusantara, one of the greatest sailing boats that have sailed to Pacific Ocean, the phinisi nusantara was also made in there and the other great famous sailing boat is "Ammana Gappa" which has sailed to Madagaskar.
Read More Bulukumba Tourism Travel Guide >>

Tanjung Bira (Bira Cape).
Tanjung Bira is famous with beatiful and pleasant white sand beach. It is clean and neatly organized and its beauty and pleasantness are well known even by foreign countries. Foreign tourists from other countries visit the beach for enjoying their holidays. In the background soar up the "Puang Janggo" mountain with the more than 400 m of height and it can be reach around 40 minute by hiking.
Read More Bulukumba Tourism Travel Guide >>

Kajang Tribe.
The Kajang people is sub-ethnic to Makassar ethnic groups, who inhabited a perticular area. The area and the people are quite asolated from other people of Bulukumba. The Head of this group who is ruled by a tribal and religious is called "Ammatoa". For those who are eager to see him are obliged to wear a black shirt and black "Sarong" barefooted is much better.
Read More Bulukumba Tourism Travel Guide >>

Bola Soba.
Bola soba is the house of war commander called "Petta Punggawa" who lived a long time ago. The house is still preserved under serious care and control.
Surrounding the house, we are able to see some of the old traditions that are still strongly practiced, such as "Pencak Massampe, Ma'pere, Serewa Sirau Sulo" and other traditional dances.
Read More Bone Tourism Travel Guide >>

Museum of Saoraja Lapawawoi.
In this museum, a great amount of kingdom remnants are cerefully preserved, structured, and strongly controlled; including the war weapon that were used by Arung Palakka. Some activities are frequently held in this museum like "Mattompang Arajang" (the purify of the kingdom remnants ceremony), followed by the activity called "Mattoana Arajang" which is usually marked by Bissu Dance and such ritual in which the poeple "present dishes to the holy spirits".
Read More Bone Tourism Travel Guide >>

Bone Traditional Ceremony.
One of the famous ceremonial events in Bone is a traditional ceremony to purify/clean up objects royal heritage of Bone Kingdom called "Mappepaccing Arajang" or "Mattompang Arajang", Arajang could be means an object or a collection of sacred objects, has a magical and once used by king or the royal princes in a long ago.
Read More Bone Traditional Ceremony >>

Lake Tempe.
Lake Tempe is a tourism destination in South Sulawesi province that are frequently visited by tourists either domestic or foreign. The lake, which is 13.000 hectare in width, seems like a giant washbasin when it is viewed from above. Subsistence for people living around, it is not only used by the inhabitants of Wajo Regency, but also other people in the other regency of Soppeng and Sidrap. Along the lakeside, you can observe the fishermen`s floating houses which were built in Bugis nuance, standing in a row directly face to the lake.
Read More Sengkang Traditional Ceremony >>

Suaya (King Suaya Graveyard).
The graveyard lies on one of the hillsides. It is carved as the resting place of the kings and king's family; in conform to the Toraja King dresses, placed in front of stone grave. There are some stone steps to reach the hill, where the kings had their contemplation during their life. A museum will be built in this place to keep the property of King Sangalla.
Read More Tana Toraja Tourism Travel Guide >>

Lemo.
In Lemo graveyard you can see the several "Tau-tau" together adjoining the steep rocky museum on the open air, a combinations between death, arts and ritual. "Tau-tau" is a small wooden statue which sometimes is made of bamboo tree. The clothings are altered periodically in a ceremony called Manene. This statue is considered as a home of the spirit of the death person.
Read More Tana Toraja Tourism Travel Guide >>

Londa.
Londa is teep rocky side grave. One of its side is located on a higher place from the hill with deep caves where coffins are arranged and grouped based on the family lines. On the other side of the hill, on the balcony, dozens of "Tau-tau" stand up high, as if they were alive, eyes open, looking over the green landscape.
Read More Tana Toraja Tourism Travel Guide >>

Kete'kesu.
Kete'kesu is a village which is still traditional in character. If you take a look from the front side, you will find it lying in the middle of the wide paddy fields, it beautiful sequences of curved roofs and carved barn walls. This village consists of four traditional Tongkonan House of Toraja, rice barns, and megalith stones set among the rice fields. Inside one of the Tongkonans, some kind of a small museum is located in the middle of the ground floor. Most of the people of this village have a good mastery in carving and painting. This can be seen among them who are doing carving and painting.
Read More Tana Toraja Tourism Travel Guide >>

Batutumonga.
The cold Batutumonga is located in Sesean area. It has an altitude of about 1300 m. In this area you can find about 56 Menhir stones in one circle with five trees in the middle. Most of the Menhir stones are of 2 - 3 m high. The most beautiful view of Rantepao and its surrounding valley can be seen from this spot. The beauty of the landscape make this area very interesting to visit.
Read More Tana Toraja Tourism Travel Guide >>

Selayar Island.
Takabonerate Marine Park.

Mamasa (now become of West Sulawesi).
Tedong Minanga, Rambu Saratu, Rante Buda, Tawalian Village, Buntu Kasisi, Osanga Village, Rantesapu Bala.