17/01/2021
Here we are...the last episode of Flores trip (3/3)
We are now at Bena Village. Bena Village is a megalithic village located in Aimere District, Ngada Regency, Flores NTT. Bena can be reached by using a rental vehicle from Bajawa about 19 km to the south of Bajawa.
Its existence at the bottom of the mountain is a characteristic of the old people who believed and worshiped the mountain as the place of the Gods. The people of Bena believed that the existence of the Yeta God who had a throne on Mount Inerie would protect their village.
At present Bena Village consists of approximately 45 houses surrounding each other with 9 tribes inhabiting these houses, namely the Dizi tribe, the Dizi Azi tribe, the Wahto tribe, the Deru Lalulewa tribe, the Deru Solamae tribe, the Ngada tribe, the Khopa tribe and the Ago tribe.
The arrangement of houses in Bena looks very unique because its circular shape forms the letter U and each house also has a roof decoration that is different from each other based on the lineage that in power and lives in the house.
Visitors can buy locally crafted ikat, or tie-dyed woven cloth, in Bena. The sarong, which is a large tube of woven cloth, is often worn wrapped around the waist, both by men and women. The ikat weaving motifs range from animal patterns like horses, chickens, elephants, and the sacred ngadhu and bagha symbols.
At the end of the village, elevated on a small hill, a viewpoint with a Virgin Mary shrine gives you the opportunity to have a bird eye’s view over Bena and a wider view of the beautiful surrounding landscape, including Mount Inerie and the Savu Sea. The visit to Bena can also be combined with a hike that passes the villages of Tololela and Gurusina before ending at the Malanage Hot Springs.
Watch our video to look closer to one of Indonesian traditional village that still exist until now!
Contact us for booking your future Flores trip.
Love,
Nicktours
