Bena Village, East Nusa Tenggara

East Nusa Tenggara is located in the eastern part of Lesser Sunda Islands and includes West Timor. There are 566 islands in this archipelago; the largest islands are Flores, Sumba and the western half of Timor. East Nusa Tenggara has many eco tourism destinations. The diversity of the landscape, the people and exotic traditional ceremonies all you can find it here.

The time is stopped in Bena Village, East Nusa Tenggara. Nestled 18km from the city Bejawa,Kampung Bena is one of Megalithic village in Indonesia. The village is settled in uphill with the view of Mount Inerie. The location at below of the mountains is the hallmark of the old cult of mountain as the place of the gods. The local people believe in existence of Zeta, the god who settled in the mountain who protects them and their villages.

There are nine tribes lives in 45 traditional houses in Bena Village, they are suku Dizi, suku Dizi Azi, suku Wahto, suku Deru Lalulewa, suku Deru Solamae, suku Ngada, suku Khopa, suku Ago and suku Bena itself. Each tribe lives in 9 different high level, with suku Bena house in the center as they are the oldest as well as the founder of the village. Generally, Bena people are live as farmers, for women they also do weaving and it’s a must. 

The majority of Bena are adherents of the Catholic religion and animist in the same time. They might pray to the Virgin Mary, but will sacrifice an animal before an important event.  Currently, there are 326 people inhabited in 120 families in Bena. However the traditional ties could be more broadly since thousands of them choose to live outside the village. 

Hiking is good in dry season, usually between June and August. The view is breathtaking from the top of Inerie Mountain. You could see the whole village including the city Bejawa, on the south your eyes will trapped in the blue color of Sawu Sea who lies just under the mountain. The road getting to and from this village are narrow and very winding, but the bamboo forests, green hills and volcano views more than compensated.

Photo courtesy of Panoramio