LONDA CAVE CEMETERY

Londa is a fascinating site with its suspended coffins and impressive ancestral burial caves, still in use today. From the top of the stairs, the cliffs appear dense and covered with vegetation. A closer look reveals colorful coffins nestled in crevices at different levels of the rock. At the foot of the cliffs are two caves with a mystical atmosphere. At their entrances, you'll find rows of wooden coffins suspended from the wall, a balcony where the Tau-Tau, effigies carved from jackfruit wood representing the deceased, are placed, and new-age modern rectangular coffins. Jackfruit wood is traditionally used because it turns yellow with age, reminiscent of human skin.

Hanging graves indicate the social status of the deceased: The higher the coffin, the higher the status of the deceased. Around the cave, bones can be seen falling from coffins damaged over time. The caves can be up to 1000 m deep, and exploring them, between stalagmites and stalactites, requires caution and agility, as some parts are only one metre high. Diving into these dark caves is a unique experience, imbued with a mystical aura, offering an unparalleled insight into Toraja burial traditions.

The traditional funeral ceremony, Rambu Solo, requires the sacrifice of 24 to 100 buffalo for the nobility, or 8 buffalo and 50 pigs for the middle class.