Five Villages in Indonesia Living Preserved Ancient Tradition

TheIndonesia.id - As an archipelago country with more than 17 thousand islands, Indonesia has many different cultural practices. From one place to the other, each region possesses its unique tradition. However, many of them started to fade away along with modernization.

In the midst of scarcity, some places in Indonesia have keenly preserved their cultural tradition. Below is the list of villages around the country that hold their traditional values.

1. Baduy

The Baduy Tribes live in Mount Kendeng, at Kanekes Village, Leuwidamar District, Banten. The tribe community is known for maintaining tradition and refusing external influence.

They live in natural surroundings without modern culture and technology. The community is classified into Baduy Dalam (Inner Baduy) and Baduy Luar (Outer Baduy). About 400 people of Baduy Dalam live in the three villages, which are completely surrounded by a protective zone of Baduy Luar.

Tourists can enjoy beautiful nature and local traditions in the village. However, there are several strict regulations in Inner Baduy, such as the banning of taking photos and videos, and during the month of Kawalu, the village is closed for three months (February-April).

2. Trunyan

Trunyan Village is a traditional village that still heavily preserves its traditions and cultural customs. It is located near lake Batur of Kintamani District in Bali.

The main attraction is the unusual funeral procedures. They don't bury the body but place it under a Teru Menyan tree until it decomposes.

3. Wae Rebo

The most captivating view in the villages is seven very well-known houses in the shape of a cone. This traditional house is called Mbaru Niang. The village located in the East Nusa Tenggara has been listed as one of UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage. Not only the houses, but the surrounding natural wonders are also another reason why many people are interested in exploring this village.

4. Sade Lombok

Located in the southern part of Lombok Island, the village is the home of the Lombok natives of the Sasak tribe. This village has been standing strong and gracefully against the force of modernization for 15 generations.

A unique cultural tradition that is still preserved is eloping (Kawin Lari). If a man wants to propose to a woman to be his wife, he must kidnap the girl and hide her from their family. The duration of the kidnapping and hiding could not be determined. Aside Kawin Lari, there is another unique tradition. They clean their house's floor using buffalo dung once in a while.

5. Kampung Pitu

The village is located in Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta. Pitu is a number in the Javanese language that means seven. Just like the name, the village is home to seven families. The legend says that there would be only seven families living there. Any additional family would prompt a disaster or other occurrence that would bring back the number of households to seven.