Honai Traditional House of Wamena City in Jajawijaya Regency, Papua Province


It is true people have a different reason to visit Wamena City in Jayawijaya Regency. Most of them want to explore the nature while others want to learn about local culture directly. In this case, the Honai Traditional House would be an interesting object to see during the visit. It belongs to the Dani Tribe who lives in Baliem Valley. In order to meet these people, therefore, tourists need to conduct trekking to the highland first. Not only the house looks unique, but it also has a special meaning for tourists to learn later.

The Appearance
Honai Traditional House is popular due to the uniqueness, without a doubt. The structure is small and it is made of woods as well as straws. It doesn’t feature windows in order to prevent the cold temperature of the mountain. The height is approximately 2.5 meters, actually. If tourists come inside, they may find a spot to make a bonfire in the midst of the room. For the information, Honai is the name for males’ house. As for the women’s, it is called Ebei. There are even buildings for pigs which are called Wamai.

Exploring Honai Traditional House
The first thing that tourists can do is none other than photography. They can simply take photos of the houses or take selfies in front of them. Have no worries. The locals are friendly. The thing is some villagers often charge money for those who want to take photos of them. No wonder, Dani Tribe is known for their materialistic behavior these days. Despite the fact, these people are welcoming and often provide foods to tourists.

The next recommended thing to do is to explore the houses. After getting permission from the locals, tourists can even enter Honai! The structure is unique and it consists of two floors, connected by bamboo stairs. The men sleep on the base floor while the women sleep on the second floor, actually. In the midst of the house, tourists may find a fireplace as well. It is because the houses were built on a highland, so the weather can be too cold up there. Thus, the fireplace helps them to keep warm.

Aside from being a place to sleep and rest, Honai Traditional House has other functions. Villagers often use their house to store crops during the harvesting season. Not to mention the house also becomes a place to store a mummy! This tradition can be found in Aikima and Kerulu Village, actually.

Nearby Attractions

  • Wamena Botanical Garden
  • Mumi Jiwika
  • Patung Salib Wamena
  • Tirta Wijaya Temple

How to Get There
Tourists’ prime destination is Wamena City and the best way to get there is by airplane. From Sentani Airport at Jayapura City, for example, the flight may take around 30 minutes only. If tourists come from Jakarta City, though, they may spend about 10 hours and 15 minutes. After they arrive at Wamena, their next destination is Baliem Valley where Dani Tribe lives. It is recommended to hire a local guide first for an efficient trip.

Where to Stay

  • Cartenz Hotel
  • Rainbow Hotel
  • Baliem Pilamo Hotel


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