Takpala Village in Alor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province

Being called a hidden paradise of eastern Indonesia, East Nusa Tenggara Province never fails to amuse tourists. It is because visitors have lots of vacation spots for them to visit later, especially related to nature tourism. Is that all? Well, it consists of several interesting regions with unique culture too. Alor Regency is one of them. It is the home of Takpala Village and it has become the best vacation destination to learn the culture and local history. The location is in North Central Alor Sub-District and it resides in a plateau.

The Nuance
In terms of nuance, Takpala Village offers a soothing atmosphere and fresh air. It is because the location is a highland. Not to mention the village is surrounded by shady big trees and various types of plants. As for the villagers, they retain their tradition well and are not likely to adapt to modernization. For the information, these people belong to Abui Tribe. In terms of name, it means the people of mountains. Once arriving at the village, tourists may see many traditional houses as well including Gudang and Simbol houses.

Exploring Takpala Village
The first thing that tourists can enjoy while visiting Takpala Village is the trip itself. It takes about half of hour to get to the site from Kalabahi City, after all. Once arriving at the location, they can start walking to reach the local settlement right away. A group of traditional houses called Gudang may welcome them too. The appearance of these structures is quite unique, featuring traditional materials and an uncommon shape. The locals use these for storing foods and a place to stay, actually.

Here is the tip. Tourists should consider carrying some traditional herbs when heading to Takpala Village. These are a perfect gift for the villagers, so tourists are able to get close to them easier later. This way, they can obtain information and useful helps from these people easily. The only problem is, perhaps, the communication. For foreigners, it is recommended to hire a local guide as he is able to help them to talk to the Indonesian locals without hassles.

During the exploration, tourists should not forget to take some pictures using their camera. Aside from the traditional houses, more unique objects reside at the village after all. For instance, there is “Mesbah” located in the midst of the settlement. Near to it, there is also a small field used by the locals to perform a traditional dance called Lego-Lego. Don’t forget to watch the dance, especially between June and July.

Nearby Attractions

• Maimol Beach
• Mali Beach

How to Get There
From Kupang City, tourists should get to Alor Island right away by airplane. The flight may take around 40 minutes from El Tari International Airport to Alor Island Airport, actually. Once arriving at Alor Regency, they can directly get to Takpala Village. Have no worries. The distance is only 14.6 km, so the trip may take approximately 23 minutes.

Where to Stay

• Moimol Resort
• Pulo Alor Hotel