Mandar Museum in Majene Regency, West Sulawesi Province

It can be said Majene Regency is known for its exotic beaches and other interesting natural attractions. The good thing is that tourists can find other nice places to spend their vacation, including Mandar Museum. This one resides in Pangali – Ali Village and belongs to Banggae Sub-District. The location is near to the famous city park and Perahu Sandeq Monument, as well. Thus, all tourists won’t have problems to find the location. As for tourist activities, visitors can watch historical and cultural collections there. The museum is definitely suitable for those who love culture and historical knowledge!

The Nuance
Unlike modern museums, Mandar Museum looks modest and it appears similar to a local house instead of a modern building. Despite the simplicity, the museum applies a stunning European architecture. According to the locals, the building was once a Dutch’s hospital, which was built in 1908. Due to a new policy, the local government turned it into a museum instead. The dominant colors are yellow and red. Not to mention the building has some features like a name sign, fences, plants, and small garden.

Exploring Mandar Museum
Before entering the museum, it is recommended to explore the exterior of the building first. Somehow, taking photos or conducting photography is a good idea. Thus, don’t forget to carry a camera when visiting the museum later. After exploring all exterior areas, tourists can start entering the building. The size is not quite big, but the museum comes with tons of valuable items. It is said everyone is allowed to take photos inside the building. However, they are not allowed to touch those items or litter when exploring the museum.

As mentioned before, Mandar Museum was once used as a hospital. This explains why visitors would find a room where lots of old medical items are stored. The next recommended room to explore is the one that stores a local preserved python. It is said the snake was captured in 2010 and preserved soon after it died. Due to the uniqueness, tourists usually take photos in front of this object.

When it comes to history, Mandar Museum was built in 1984 and the purpose is to preserve local heritage. Not to mention it has become another interesting vacation spot in Majene Regency. For the information, the museum stores at least 1304 items! These consist of historical objects that relate to biology, ethnography, technology, arts, history, and many more! Thus, visitors won’t get bored when exploring the building later.

Nearby Attractions

• Tugu Perahu Sandeq
• Taman Kota Majene
• Sumur Tua
• Majene Pier

How to Get There
It takes some checkpoints in order to reach the Mandar Museum. First, tourists must get to the capital of West Sulawesi Province (Mamuju Regency). Also, the best way to get there is by airplane, especially for those who live outside the island. For example, a flight from Soekarno – Hatta International Airport to Tampa Padang Airport would take around 4 hours and 45 minutes during good weather.

Once arriving at Mamuju Regency, tourists should take Poros Majene – Mamuju Street and head to Majene Regency directly. The distance is 85.1 km, so this trip would take around 2 hours and 18 minutes. After arriving at Majene, they can use the same route and head to the museum right away. This time, the trip may take about 2 hours and 15 minutes, as the distance is 96.7 km.

Where to Stay

• Abrar Hotel
• Villa Bogor Leppe Hotel