Visiting Sirope in Makale District, South Sulawesi

South Sulawesi Province has attracted many foreigners recently. Thanks to the locals’ unique traditions. The best part is Tana Toraja Regency as it is the home of sacred and creepy culture. For example, there is Sirope. It is a site to witness a traditional burial area. The location is in Makale District. It is about 1 km from Poros Street, so tourists can easily reach the location. Even though it is not a popular tourist spot, more people come to this area over time. They want to explore and witness such unique burial site directly.

The Nuance
Most of the part of Sirope is the wall of limestone. It also becomes the place of Erong (a wooden ancient coffin with statues). Only the nobles are buried in this area. Most of them were the people of Todong Iring and Lion. The wall is surrounded by simple fences. There is even a wooden sign there. The next feature is the nature. It offers a shady atmosphere. It is because the location is surrounded by plants and trees. There is even a path for walking, so you can explore the area wholeheartedly.

Exploring Sirope
Tourists have a distinct reason for visiting Sirope. For instance, they come for an adventure. Sirope has a challenging route somehow. In a particular spot of this location, you can find a hill. Thus, you are allowed to explore it. The thing is you need to have recognized the route. As an alternative, you should come with the local. He may help you to get around and reach some good spots efficiently. One thing, you must have prepared some money. You are going to pay him, after all.

For those who ride a private car, there is no official parking lot near to Sirope. You can park your car on the roadside. Later, you need to walk to reach the location. Despite the tiring trip, you won’t regret it. Sirope offers both good scenery and interesting feature. The best one is the old and unique burial site. The dead bodies are buried in the limestone wall! According to the locals, Sirope has become a special location for a cemetery. Apart from that, it becomes an interesting tourist lure of Makale District.

Another thing to do is to visit a nearby settlement. The name is Lion Village. The villagers are approachable. Some of them even may tell you about the history of this area. This includes how the riches are able to afford an “erong”. That means the corpses buried in such wall came from a noble family.

Nearby Attractions

• Kate Kesu
• Sarambu Waterfall

How to Get There
For those who come from Jakarta, you need to reach South Sulawesi first. The best transportation is an airplane and your destination is Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar City. From there, take a taxi or bus to Tana Toraja Regency. In this time, your destination is Makale District. The trip takes 8 hours and 30 minutes from Makassar City. Despite the long trip, it is a worthy vacation.

Where to Stay

• Indra Toraja Hotel
• Pison Hotel
• Luta Resort
• Torsina Hotel