THE INLAND TRIBES OF KALTENG - GENERICALLY CALLED DAYAKS - FASCINATED THE ISLAND'S EARLY EXPLORERS, AND CONTINUE TO INTEREST TODAY'S TRAVELLERS AND TOURISTS. THEIR HUGE STILTED LONGHOUSES, STRIKING AND BEAURIFUL ART, AND THEIR HEADHUNTING CAPTIVATED EUROPEAN ADVENTURERS AND EARLY ETHNOGRAPHERS.
The majority of the dayak tribes in Kalteng are the Ngaju, the Lawangan, the Ma' anyan and the Ot Danum who share common linguistic and cultural bases. The largest group, located in south and Central Kalimantan is called barito, after the largest river. All the barito dayak speak related languages and practice elaborate burial rituals.
The Ngaju are the best known of the Barito Dayaks. Their funerary artwork, including wooden coffins, raised tombs (Sandung), ships of the dead and tall memorial statues (patung), place the Ngaju among the islands best artists.
The Ngaju were largely responsible for the creation of the province of Kalteng by influencing the Indonesian central government. They speak several dialects of which one, Kahayan, has become the region's lingua franca. Most Ngaju adhere either to their original animistic beliefs known as the Kaharingan or to the Protestant faith. Many have also converted to Islam some over a century ago.
The Ot Danum
The Ot Danum, whose name means "upriver region" live north of the Ngaju, along the rivers to the Schwaner and Muller mountains. The Ngaju consider the Ot Danum their cultural ancestors, and there are striking differences between the two groups. The Ot Danum live in long houses raised 2 – 5 meters on iron wood posts.
The Ma'anyan
The Ma'anyan Dayaks speak a language similar to that spoken in Madagascar, establishing a cross –Indian ocean link between the two islands. Living along the Barito river, many Ma'anyan adhere to the Kaharingan faith. They practice spirit propitiation, agricultural rites, elaborate death ceremonies and call shamans to cure their sick.
Tumbang Manggu Long House was built in the traditional style by Bapak Syaer Sua a traditional elder whose vision is to create a cultural centre. A recent member of a family group of tourists commented - "I have travelled widely, each year planning an adventure, last year I visited the hill tribes of Thailand and yet although what Bpk Syaer Sua and his family offer is a similar experience, it felt so different. Here, I did not feel as if a thousand others had been before me. The family seemed to enjoy our company as much as we enjoyed theirs. We felt like a part of their family as we joined in with their daily activities, lbu preparing our meals, the men carving intricate artwork for their new longhouse. Nights were filled with music and dancing, by day we explored the village and jungle, just brilliant really!" Eliot Harding-Cox
Tumbang Manggu longhouse; 3 days This 3 day trip takes you to a longhouse 3 hours by speedboat north along the Katingan River
Activities there include jungle trekking, bird watching, canoeing, camping in the jungle, traditional Dayak dance, exploring the upper reaches of the Samba River. Longer range trips to the ancient Gagu longhouse and northern mountains can be made by prior arrangement and negotiation but you will need to extend your trip to 5-7 days!
Additional Tours to the following Ancient Longhouses by special arrangement! (see brochure insert for contact details to arrange tailor made tours)
Tours are available with knowledgeable guides toGagu Longhouse is on the Katingan River and accessible from the Manggu longhouse. Situated 3 hours walk away from the river, Gagu is still inhabited by up to 20 families living and working in the traditional way. Here you can spend the night and experience the traditional Dayak way of life. Tumbang Anoi Longhouse reconstructed from the original ruins is famous as the site of the great 1894 peace conference organised by the Dutch. Here representatives from 30 Dayak Tribes from Central Kalimantan agreed to stop head-hunting. Malahoi Longhouse on the Rungan River has been lived in by 22 generations and still houses their descendants. Travel is by boat, and time needed is at least 1 or 2 days.
Visit and stay in longhouses where you'll experience and share in the daiy life of the dayak people. Listen to the story telling, join them on treks, learn their dances and musical instruments and admire their bush craft. Looking forward to making you welcome here!
