Wae Rebo village is a small village in Indonesia located at an altitude of about 1,100 meters above sea level, about 3-4 hours from Denge village. Wae Rebo is surrounded entirely by the mountains and dense Todo forests.
About Wae Rebo Indonesia Village
Wae Rebo village is located in the mountains of Manggarai high mountains, on Flores Island, Indonesia. The village has a very special cultural identity. Coming here, visitors will immediately feel the blend of pristine nature and unique traditional architecture. Traditional houses are built by using branches, banana leaves and tile roofs to form a round family around a spacious area. This not only creates a beautiful beauty for the village but also has a protective effect from natural disasters such as floods and storms.
Wae Rebo Indonesia village. Photo: @Authentic- Indonesia.com
The villagers here live in the harmonious community and cohesion, preserve and circulate customs, practices and traditions from generation to generation. Their culture is reflected in festivals, dances, singing and performing unique art, creating a colorful and inspiring fairy space.
To reach Wae Rebo village, visitors must go through a journey that requires patience and hard work, because there is no convenient car path. Instead, the journey begins from the old forest and along the steep rocks and streams. However, the difficulty of the journey is also what makes the village special and attracts the curiosity of tourists.
This village has been recognized as a heritage of the world.
History of Wae Rebo village
Wae Rebo village has a rich and diverse history of centuries. Established in the previous period of Manggarai mountainous region on Flores Island, Indonesia, Wae Rebo village is said to have existed since the 19th century and maybe longer.
According to local legends, Wae Rebo appeared as a result of a group of people from a plain area, looking for a peaceful residence in the threat of conflicts and wars. They climbed to Manggarai plateau and discovered a large valley hidden in fresh water streams. It was where they decided to build their unique village.
In the process of formation and development, Wae Rebo village maintained the culture and customs of the indigenous people Manggarai. The traditional architecture of the village with houses in the shape blended with nature has been preserved and transmitted from generation to generation. This is a typical example of the smart adaptation of the local people with the harsh natural environment and difficulty in building the village on the hill top, bringing safety and stability.
Throughout history, Wae Rebo village witnessed changes in the ups and downs of time and social changes. However, thanks to the patience and pride of the origin, the community of people in Wae Rebo has maintained and preserved traditional cultural values, from festivals, art to food and traditional costumes.
How to move to Wae Rebo village
Coming to Wae Rebo village is not an easy journey but it is part of the attractiveness and originality of this location. Here's how to move to Wae Rebo from some main points:
From Labuan Bajo:
- Move to Denge Village by local cars or cars. This is a journey of about 7-8 hours from Labuan Bajo.
- From Denge Village, visitors need to start the journey to climb up to Wae Rebo village. This may take 2-4 hours, depending on the condition and weather conditions.
From Ruteng:
- Move to Denge Village by local car or bus. From Ruteng, the journey to Denge Village takes about 4-5 hours.
- Continue from Denge Village as described above with the journey to the village.
From Bajawa:
- Go by car or local bus to Dintor Village. From Bajawa to Dintor Village takes about 3-4 hours.
- From Dintor Village, visitors need to start the journey to the Wae Rebo village. This may take 3-5 hours, depending on topography and weather conditions.
Note that the roads to Wae Rebo village are often quite difficult with steep rocky and jungle roads. It is necessary to prepare good physical strength and guidance from locals if visitors want to make this journey. In addition, going to the village should also be arranged first and find out information about topography and weather conditions to ensure safety and avoid unwanted risks.
The journey to climbing Wae Rebo is not easy. Photo: @Beberkelana
The best time to visit Wae Rebo village
The best time for traveling to Wae Rebo village is from April to September. This time is the dry season in the highland hilly area on Manggarai on Flores Island so the weather is often quite stable and comfortable to perform. trip.
During the period from April to September, you can avoid heavy thunderstorms and landslides often occur during the rainy season (from October to March). This will help visitors make the journey to Wae Rebo village in a safer and more convenient way.
In addition, traveling in the dry season also helps you enjoy the beautiful and green landscape of the high mountains Mangarai as well as participate in the activities of exploring and visiting the village comfortably and not interrupted by the weather. bad.
However, note that even in the dry season, the weather in the hilly area can change quickly. Therefore, it is advisable to prepare reserve such as raincoats and warm clothes to deal with the surprise of the weather. In addition, it is necessary to prepare well for the climbing journey and walk in the difficult terrain of this area.
Restrict here in the rainy season. Photo: @almeriaputri
Special houses in Wae Rebo village
The main feature of Wae Rebo is unique houses, often called Mbaru Niang. These are high houses, conical and covered with leaves from the roof to the ground. It seems that there are times when such houses are quite popular in the region but today, only this village is to continue maintaining the typical traditional house, if not, these unique houses will be complete. Toan was one.
The houses are the highlight in the village of Wae Rebo. Photo: @almeriaputri
This is a round ancient house with red tile roofs and is built entirely of natural materials such as branches, banana leaves, bamboo, ... The special thing is not to use any nails, snails screws or adhesive substances during construction.
The houses are made from natural ingredients. Photo: @_febrian
Each Mbaru Niang house has a large diameter and about 8-10 meters high, divided into 5 floors, representing 5 social classes of the community. These floors are built from cross -cut walls and vertical columns, creating stability and stability for the house. The height of the house also helps protect people from natural disasters such as floods and storms.
The house has a height of 8 - 10m. Photo: @diffdin
The first floor is called Lutur or a tent, which is home to the family. The second floor is called Lobo or attic, reserved for food and goods storage. The third floor is called Lentar to store seeds for the next harvest. The fourth floor is called Lempa Rae for food reserves in the case of drought. The fifth floor and the highest floor, called Hekang Kode, is considered the most sacred, where the ancestors are placed.
The entrance of the Mbaru Niang house is placed at the lowest floor and is covered with a large piece of wood. This not only protects from the wind and rain but also creates a cozy space inside. A special bamboo walking system is used to move between the floors of the house. The unique and sustainable architecture of Wae Rebo village has helped this place recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage in 2012.
If you want to enjoy peaceful moments, live slowly and understand the unique traditional culture of indigenous people Flores, go to Wae Rebo village. This is an ideal destination for souls who like to explore and experience what the old rural life still preserves and respects in Indonesia.
