Located at the most southern end of South Sulawesi, this quiet and now isolated island of Selayar, with its swathes of pristine white sand beaches and crystal clear tropical waters used to have an illustrious past.
Ancient Javanese writings in the Nagara Kertagama
mention that in the 14th century there was already a thriving kingdom
on Selayar. This pre-Islamic kingdom seemed to have been a hub of trade,
visited by merchants from China, the Philippines and Thailand, having
left evidence of its existence in the many precious artifacts excavated
here. Most notable is the beautiful Dongson Kettledrum, the largest in the world,
that is said to be 2,000 years old dating back to the Bronze Age. Other
artifacts include delicate Chinese and Sawankholok (Thai) porcelain,
which were found in abundance on the island. Islam seems to have entered
Selayar in the 16th century spread by followers of the Sultan of Ternate, in Maluku.
In the 16th century Salayar was fought
over for its blue-white cotton products, a favorite in the archipelago.
And when the Dutch won hegemony over Selayar, they monopolized the
cotton trade, forcing Selayar to send the cotton only to Fort Rotterdam in Makassar.
However today, with modern fabrics the popularity of cotton waned and
the people of Salayar were forced to return to living from coconut
produce, relegating the island to its present isolation. ...more info
The stunning Taka Bonerate National Park
Stretching south of the main island of Sulawesi in the Flores Sea, the Taka Bonerate National Park
in the Selayar Regency is predominantly a rich marine park , but it is
also habitat to a number of bird species from land birds, to coastal and
sea birds that frolic on the many sand dunes.
The Island of Selayar
is the gateway to this extensive 530,765 hectares national park, of
which 220,000 hectares form an expanse of atolls and lagoons. Taka
Bonerate is the third largest atoll region in the world after Kwajalein
in the Marshall Islands and Suvadiva in the Maldives... more info
Fronting
the city of Makassar are a cluster of islands basking in the sun,
numbering 55 in all, some large, while others are merely sand bars that
disappear at high tide. This cluster of islands is known as the
Spermonde Archipelago, but locals know them only by their individual
names.
The islands nearest to Makassar, such as Lae-lae and Kayangan, can be reached within 15 minutes by speedboat and are popular weekend getaway resorts, others have fishing villages, while the furthest away such as Kapuposang island, immediately face the deep sea and are therefore ideal for diving and snorkeling. ... more info
The islands nearest to Makassar, such as Lae-lae and Kayangan, can be reached within 15 minutes by speedboat and are popular weekend getaway resorts, others have fishing villages, while the furthest away such as Kapuposang island, immediately face the deep sea and are therefore ideal for diving and snorkeling. ... more info
Please Click "Email" For Making Reservation !
IQRA' Tour Organizer
Makassar - South Sulawesi
Indonesia
Indonesia
E~mail: Adventure.Sulawesi@yahoo.co.uk
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