Hilltop with a giant Jesus statue above Makale and a wide view over the highland town.
Buntu Burake is a hilltop above Makale, around 1,700 metres up, with an enormous statue of Christ standing on the summit with arms outstretched. The figure is usually given as about 45 metres tall including its base, which puts it among the largest statues of Christ anywhere. Toraja is overwhelmingly Christian, and the site works simultaneously as a place of pilgrimage, a civic monument and a viewpoint. From the platform at the foot of the statue you look out over Makale, its lake and the ridges running away in every direction.
Getting to the top involves either driving the steep switchback road to the summit car park or, for those who want it, climbing several hundred steps from lower down. There is no version of this that is not a climb of some kind.
One thing to know before you make the trip: the glass-floored walkway that features in most photographs of this place should not be counted on. It cracked in 2018 before it had even been opened to the public, prompting a local dispute about the specification of the glass, and by January 2023 Toraja news outlets were reporting visitor complaints that it was no longer in service. No clear public statement about a repair has followed. Treat it as closed, check locally if it matters to you, and be pleased if you are wrong.
Set against the burial sites, Buntu Burake is a completely different proposition. It is modern, built for visitors, and has none of the weight that Lemo or Londa carry. As an hour spent on a panorama at the end of a day around Makale, though, it earns its place.
Cara ke sana
The hill rises directly above Makale, which is itself around 40 minutes south of Rantepao on the main road. From central Makale a steep and tightly wound road climbs to the summit car park, straightforward in a car and manageable on a scooter for a confident rider, though not a road to learn on. Many visitors fold it into a southern day trip out of Rantepao alongside Lemo and Londa. If you prefer to walk, a long flight of steps, reported at several hundred, climbs from lower down to the statue.
Masa terbaik
Late afternoon into sunset gives the best light across Makale and the coolest air for the climb, and it is the time locals themselves come up. Clear days in the drier months, roughly May to September, offer the widest views; in the wet season the summit is often in cloud and there is nothing to see. Mornings are quiet and clear but the sun is behind the statue for photographs. Note that reported opening hours differ between sources, so if you are planning an evening visit it is worth confirming locally first.
Baik untuk diketahui
This is an active religious site as well as a viewpoint, so dress modestly and keep your behaviour in mind around people who are there to pray rather than photograph. The summit is exposed with very little shade, so bring water and sun cover, and a light layer if you are staying for sunset, as the air cools quickly at this altitude. The entrance fee is low and paid in cash, though published amounts vary and some sources are several years old, so go by the posted rate. Take the road up slowly on a scooter, particularly on the way down, where the gradient and the tight bends catch people out.
It is commonly given as around 45 metres including its base, which makes it one of the tallest statues of Christ in the world. It stands on a hill roughly 1,700 metres above sea level overlooking Makale.
Probably not, and you should not plan around it. The glass walkway cracked in 2018 before it entered service, and by January 2023 local media were reporting that it was no longer in use. No clear public statement about a repair has followed, so treat it as closed and check locally if it matters to you.
No. A steep switchback road runs all the way to a car park near the summit, so you can drive most of the way. A long flight of steps, reported at several hundred, climbs from lower down for anyone who wants to walk it.
It is a modern religious monument and viewpoint rather than a traditional Torajan site, so the experience is entirely different. Treat it as a scenic add-on, not a cultural highlight in the way that Lemo or Kete Kesu are.
Late afternoon into sunset for the best light over Makale and cooler air. Reported opening hours differ between sources, so confirm locally before committing to an evening visit.
Only if the sky is clear. The summit sits high enough that it is frequently in cloud during the wet months, and with cloud there is no view at all, which removes most of the reason to make the climb.
Tambahkannya ke dalam laluan merentasi Indonesia dan kami akan kira masa perjalanan dan kos antara setiap hentian.
Bina perjalanan anda
