Nias island still
remains it’s megalithic culture at Bawomataluo, the oldest village which
situated 400 meters above sea level. The other tourist site is Hilisamatano
where war dances are performed as well as the traditional stone jumping ritual.Although
not much is known for certain about the origins of the people of the island in
the Indian Ocean, anthropologists believe them to be the descendants of some of
the first migrants to reach the Indonesia’s archipelago more than 2,000 years ago
from the ancient homeland on the Southeast Asian mainland.
Impressive remnants
of the ancient megalithic civilization of the Nias people still exist in
several places, despite conversion to Christianity and Moslem. The oldest
village on the island still inhabited is Bawomataluo, which means “Sun Hill”,
build on a hilltop in the southern part of the island. The village is reached
by climbing 480 meters stone step. The houses, built on massive woodier pillars
and most artistically built. Stand in a row facing a square where war dances
are often performed for visitors. The chiefs house, in the center of the row,
is 20 meters high.
The other ancient
village is Hili Simaetamo, where visitors could see a part from traditional
houses and war dances, the stone jumping ritual performed for them in the
village square. This was originally a coming-of-age ritual in which young men
were required to jump over a two meters high stone structure.Nias has in the
past years become popular with surfers. The best beaches for surfing are found
around. Lagu Indri, 13 kilometers from the southern port of Teluk Dalam. Nias
could be reached by boat from Sibolga, or by air from Medan. The island’s
capital and gateway is Mount Sitoli.
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