Rantepao



Rantepao is a town and the capital of North Toraja Regency, which is known for being the cultural center of the Toraja ethnic group. National and regional tourism offices have developed the city as the starting point for visiting Tana Toraja, since the area was opened for tourism in the 1970s.

In Rantepao, there is also a significant Torajan Muslims population.

History
In 1961, the government administration in the Tana Toraja underwent a change. This change occurred due to the issuance of the Letter of the Governor of the Level I Region of South Sulawesi No. 2067 A. In this letter, Tana Toraja Regency which originally consisted of 15 districts with a total of 410 villages changed to consist of 9 sub-districts with 135 villages. One of the districts formed was Rantepao District. Then the formation of a new style village was held through the Governor's Decree of the Head of the Level I Region of South Sulawesi No. 450/XII/1965. This decree was issued on December 20, 1965.

Based on the decree, the Decree of the Head of the Second Level Region of Tana Toraja was stipulated again No. 152/SP/1967. Issuance of this letter on September 7, 1967 and its contents regarding the formation of the new style village. A total of 65 new style villages were designated in the Tana Toraja Regency Level II Region. These villages are then divided into 186 villages. In this decree, Rantepao District is divided into 4 sub-district and 18 villages.

Rantepao District has been part of North Toraja Regency since the formation of this district in 2008. Its formation was stipulated by Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 28 of 2008. Rantepao District before becoming part of North Toraja Regency, including the Tana Toraja Regency. This is because part of the Tana Toraja Regency area was divided into North Toraja Regency. Rantepao District is one of the districts in North Toraja Regency which is located in the central part to the south. The dominant altitude in Rantepao District is between 500–1000 meters above sea level.

Geography
Rantepao has 43,123 inhabitants (census 2010). The town is on river Sadang, about 300 km north-east from Makassar.

Climate
Rantepao has an elevation moderated tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy to very heavy rainfall year-round.

Traffic connections
Pongtiku Airfield is about 30 km from Rantepao to the south-west. Three times a week it is served by planes to and from Makassar. At present (2015) it is being enlarged to improve traffic connections and to promote tourism in Tana Toraja. Direct flights to Singapore are planned for the near future.

Sights and culture
Rantepao is the cultural centre of the Toraja who are mainly Christians. Several administration buildings in town were built in the typical style of the Toraja. A sightworthy monument dedicated to the introduction of the Bible in Tana Toraja in 1913 was erected in front of the largest Protestant church. The interior of Santa Theresia Catholic Church, another noteworthy building in town, was designed using traditional elements of the Toraja culture. The Cultural Centre and various administration buildings in the town centre were built in the traditional Toraja style of a tongkonan (a traditional house) with a typical roof.

A monument with a height of 10 metres dedicated to Pong Tiku was erected close to the market in the centre of Rantepao. Pong Tiku was a rebel fighting against the Dutch at the beginning of the 20th century. He was condemned to death in Rantepao in 1907.

Mount Gunung Singki is a mountain in the west of the town centre with a height of 930 metres offering a panoramic view of Rantepao and its surroundings. A tall Christian cross was erected on the top of the mountain.

Surroundings
Rantepao is surrounded by many traditional villages where the Toraja culture is well-preserved.

Ke'te Kesu is a famous village in the south of Rantepoao where a cave with several graves, five large tongkonans and a dozen of store houses (alang) can be seen.

The village Kambira is known for an old tree in which small children were buried about 100 years ago.

Notable people

 * Eva Stevany Rataba (born 1982), activist and politician