Nias Island

Nias Island

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.