When talking about tourist destinations in the archipelago, it seems like there is no end. Not only Java, but other islands such as West Sulawesi are also blessed with a lot of natural beauty. Let’s call Tondok Bakaru one of them, which is a tourist village with super charming natural views.
The beauty of Tondok Village once made it ranked in the top 50 in the Best Tourism Village category in Indonesia at the Indonesian Tourism Village Award (ADWI) event. This event was held by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) in 2022. In a different category, Tondok Village even managed to become the 2nd runner-up.
Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno was even stunned by the beauty of Tondok Village while on a visit. In an interview session uploaded to an online news site, he said that Tondok Village has extraordinary natural beauty and should be preserved. He also hopes that Tondok Village can become a job opportunity.
The Attraction of Tondok Bakaru
Coming all the way to Tondok Village is guaranteed not to disappoint because there are many attractions that spoil the eye, such as:
✦ Stunning Natural Views
There are around 6 hamlets in Tondok Village with a total population of 2386 people. Most of the village residents earn a living by farming. This is why the lush green rice fields are one of the main views in this village. The view is even more stunning because the vast expanse of rice fields has a backdrop of majestic mountains.
Tondok Village itself has an area of around 3,660 hectares, with rice fields reaching 114.4 hectares. There is also a plantation area with an area of approximately 312 hectares, and a forest area with an area of 2,833.6 hectares. Meanwhile, the residential area is approximately 400 hectares.
✦ Cool and Fresh nuance
Tondok Village is suitable as a healing destination or a moment to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Because here, the atmosphere is so peaceful and the air is still fresh. Because it is located on a hillside, the air is also cold and piercing to the skin, especially in the morning and evening.
✦ Orchid Plant Tour
Apart from the expanse of rice fields and mountains, tourists can also take a walk in 10 orchid gardens. Endemic orchid cultivation in Tondok Village has been carried out since 2017 by village youth.
Initially, this cultivation was aimed at boosting the economy of village communities, but over time it has become an attraction that has increased the number of tourists. Currently, there are around 15 young people who are members of the Tondok Bakaru Orchid (KTO) Community.
Apart from the orchid garden, Tondok Village also has a green house, tissue culture and laboratory building which are used to develop orchid cultivation. All three were completed in 2020 and received assistance from Village-Owned Enterprises (BumDes) and Bank Indonesia (BI).
✦ Mamasa Traditional House
Another attraction offered by Tondok Bakaru Mamasa is the traditional village which contains a row of Mamasa traditional houses, such as the Banua Sura traditional house (Carved House) and Banua Bolong (Black House). More precisely, these traditional houses are in Tusan Hamlet and Tondok Hamlet. The shape is still very original, complete with reeds and barns.
✦ Local Mina Rice
Tondok Village residents, the majority of whom are farmers, still use traditional planting and harvesting processes and use local rice seeds. This cultivation technique is one of the attractions for tourists.
✦ Fish Pond
There are around 6 Tilapia and Mas fish ponds which are cultivated independently by Tondok Village residents. Tourists can fill their free time by watching the cultivation process, and can also buy fish.
Address, Location Route and Entrance Ticket
Tondok Bakaru Tourism Village is located in a unique area, namely at the foot of Mount Mambulilling, which is the highest mountain in the West Sulawesi region with a height of around 2,741 meters above sea level.
The exact address is in Mamasa District, Mamasa Regency. If you come from the city center in Mamasa Regency, this beautiful village is around 11.8 km and requires a travel time of around 42 minutes.
Access to the road is easy, because it can be used by various types of vehicles, from motorbikes, cars, to tourist buses. There are road signs too, so it’s not difficult to find it. Tondok Village is located at the very end of the line of other villages because it is the last village before entering the Gandang Dewata National Park area.
Traveling to Tondok Village doesn’t require digging too deep into your pockets because the entrance ticket price is very budget-friendly, namely IDR 5,000/person. However, this price does not include parking tickets and rides within the village area.
Interesting Activities to Do
Apart from enjoying mountain views, rice fields and walking around the orchid gardens, here are several other interesting activities you can do in Tondok Bakaru:
1. Enjoy the sunset
The beautiful twilight moment in Tondok Village can be seen more clearly from Citol Hill. This spot also offers a warm panoramic view of the sunrise with a mountainous background.
Being at the top of Citol Hill will also allow tourists to see a view of the village that is still natural and traditional. If you climb to the top area when the weather is friendly, you will see the beauty of Mamasa City from a height.
2. Exploring the Forest in Tondok Bakaru
If you want a more stunning view, you can enter the pine forest area behind Lenong Hill. This 2 hectare forest is managed independently by local residents as an outdoor tourist area in Tondok Bakaru.
Uniquely, this forest area offers 3 levels of rows of pine trees that appear neatly lined up. Tourists can take a walk under the shade of towering pine trees which provide a fresh feel.
3. Photo hunting
There are so many instagrammable views in Tondok Bakaru, it would be a shame if they weren’t captured on camera. So, photo hunting seems to be one of the mandatory activities if you come to Tondok Village.
4. Culinary
After getting tired of walking around, tourists can stop by the food stalls in Tondok Village for lunch or evening. There are various menus on offer, and don’t miss Mamasa’s signature coffee with a special taste. The name is Adelways coffee. There are also unique snacks in the form of vegetable chips and rice field snails.
5. Buy Souvenirs
Tourists can stop by the souvenir stalls to buy key chains, typical Mamasa carvings, miniature traditional houses, photo frames and carved wooden ashtrays. There are also traditional Mamasa weaving, ukulele crafts, and processed used cooking oil.
6. Overnight
If walking all day is not enough, tourists can spend the night in Tondok Bakaru by setting up a tent in the camping area in the pine forest area. However, if you want to be more practical and comfortable, you can choose to stay overnight at a homestay in the Citol Hill area.
Available Tourist Facilities
When coming to a tourist spot, facilities are usually one of the important points that tourists pay attention to. Tondok Village management continues to make improvements and updates regarding facilities so that tourists feel comfortable. Some of these facilities are:
- Spacious parking area
- Meeting hall
- Souvenir stall
- Jungle tracking
- Selfie area
- Outbound
- Food stalls
- WiFi area
- Prayer room
- Toilet
- Camping area
- Accommodation (homestay)
Tondok Bakaru is suitable as a natural tourist destination if you want to escape for a moment from dense urban areas. There are many natural views with a variety of interesting activities that can be done.
