Praijing Megalithic Village in West Sumba Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province

Some people are not familiar with a term like “Kampung Adat” in Indonesia, aren’t they? Well, in a nutshell, it means traditional villages. For the information, West Sumba Regency of East Nusa Tenggara Province has several of them including Praijing megalithic village! It resides in Waikabubak Sub-District, actually. Due to the unique culture and various historical objects, the site becomes a new attraction for those who spend a holiday in Sumba Island. That means tourists can learn the culture, witness various unique objects, get closer to villagers, and explore the village to their heart’s content!

The Nuance
Well, Praijing Megalithic Village has become the pride of the Indonesian locals for decades. Once arriving at the site, tourists may see 38 traditional villages directly. The fact is that there were 42 of them, but some of the houses got burnt several years ago. Here is the information. The locals call these houses either Uma Mbatangu or Uma Bokulu, which means “the big house”. These structures, indeed, become the main attraction that tourists can find in the village! Also, the site is surrounded by shady trees and lush bushes which make the location feel shady and comfortable.

Exploring Praijing Megalithic Village
The best attraction that tourists may find in Praijing Megalithic Village is definitely Uma Bokulu or traditional houses of Sumba Island. The good thing is that tourists can do many things related to these houses, including photography and exploration. It is true that tourists are allowed to take pictures of the houses and get in them as long as they get the consent of the owner. From the outside, the houses have a tall roof which is similar to a tower. However, some of them don’t even have such feature. Why is that? According to the locals, the difference lies in the status of the owner.

What about the inside? Once entering the house, tourists may find three different parts of the house having a different function as well. Each of them represents a distinct realm, actually. For better information, it is recommended to come with a tour guide though. This person even may help tourists when it comes to communication and when approaching villagers.

As for the tip, the best time to visit Praijing Megalithic Village is in the morning. At the time, the locals start their activity so tourists are able to meet and witness such traditional way of living directly. They even have the chance to wear traditional clothes of Sumba and eat delicious local foods later!

Nearby Attractions

• Tarung Village
• Bodo Village
• Lahi Kaninu Dam
• Lapopu Waterfall

How to Get There
From Kupang City, tourists can simply take an airplane from El Tari International Airport and head to Tambolaka Airport directly of Indonesia. For the information, the flight takes approximately 55 minutes. Once arriving at Tambolaka City, the next destination is definitely Waikabubak Sub-District where the village resides. The distance is 45.6 km, so this trip may take around 1 hour and 12 minutes. As for the best route, it is Raja Yohanes Ngongo Bani Street.

Where to Stay

• Ronita Inn
• Karanu Hotel
• Artha Hotel
• Manandang Hotel