NGADA REGENCY

Introduction

Flores Island which is located in the northern part of East Nusa Tenggara is one of
several big islands in this province, beside Sumba, Timor, and Alor. This island is
divided into several parts where there are
several regencies formed. One of them is
Ngada, a regency which is located in the
heart of Flores island, the owner of
several fantastic tourism object in East
Nusa Tenggara province. Ngada means
looking ahead for phosphorus and
wealthy life. In this presentation, we will
briefly describe about this regency, start
Ngada topography
from the general view, the people and
their livelihood, the tourism objects which are provided in this regency, and the
accommodation that can guarantee the visitors during their journey in Ngada.

1. GEOGRAPHY
Rows of mountains, hills, and valleys; thick forest and the deep blue sea, all
merged into a natural beautiful of Ngada regency. The wide area of mountains and
hills is the typical topography of the tropical Ngada regency.
Geographically the regency which
covers 3.300,88 Km2 of Flores
island; lies between 8 to 9º south
latitude and 120º45” to 121º50” east
longitude. Ngada regency is in
boundary of Manggarai regency, in
the east it is confined with the Ende
regency, whereas in the north lies the
Flores sea, and in the south with the
Ngada geographically position
Sawu sea. Bajawa is the capital city
of Ngada.
2. CLIMATE
Because of Ngada’s geographically position near the equator, the climate in this
regency is similar to another place in Indonesia, that is tropical climate. Ngada has
two season, the dry season is from May until September followed by the rainy
season between October until April, with the average rainfall 207,67 mm/year in
the dry season and 940,7 mm/year in the rainy season.

3. GOVERNMENT
Bajawa is the capital city of Ngada Regency. This regency supervises less than 15
sub-district and 137 villages. Ngada has three bigger sub-ethnics, they are Bajawa,
Riung, and Nagekeo. The center of Ngada regency government is in Bajawa city.
Bajawa is a small fresh city because
of its position in the highlands. The
local government in Ngada is
continually improving the beauty of
Bajawa city by improving its
facilities, including the post office,
telecommunication facilities,
banking, hotels, hospitals, and
traditional markets. Because of its
Local Representatives Office in Bajawa
beauty, Bajawa is also well-known as
the island of flowers.
4. LIVELIHOOD
The people in Ngada are mostly farmers. Plantation area, especially for food
plantation and horticulture are in abundance.
The land areas for food plantation are
overflowing. The farming areas that
are ready to be planted are more that
56.378 hectares. The farmers in
Ngada traditionally performed mixed
plantation that is the way of
plantation/farming by combining
several food-plants in one area. They
plant paddy, corn, nuts, sweet
Local Representatives Office in Bajawa
potatoes and also pumpkins.
Besides, the women in Ngada are well-known as weavers of the most beautiful
and precious cloth. In Ndora and its surrounding, there are mostly hunters who
usually hunt deer and wild pigs.
5. SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
Ngada has thre bigger sub-ethnics and they are Bajawa, Nagekeo and Riung.
According to their cultural background dealing with their livelihood, these people
can be classified into three groups: Paruwite (group of hunters), Reba (farmers)
and Ngadhupeo. The classification of these ethnic groups is as the same as the
classification of theis daily language, which are: Bahasa Ngada, Nagekeo and
Bahasa Riung. About the social stratification, there is no more clear cut of social
strata because of the changes in the local authorities structure although a vaque
social structure can still be seen except in customs or traditional ceremonies.
This social stratification can be described as follows. The upper class level in the
society is called Ata Gae. They have special right in the traditional community
and have the most important role in any adat ceremony. The middle class group is
called Gae Kisa. This people is the ‘bridge’ to connect the upper class; and the
lower class in called Ata Hoo, the small ordinary people with limited rights who
work for the Ata Gae.

6. RELIGIOUS SYSTEM
Although most Ngadanese people are
formally Catholics, the belief of ‘the
highest being’ in Ngada is still be
honored and respected. The highest
being in Ngada is called Gae Dewa
(the highest Dewa) who regns over
heaven and earth. In Ngadanese
beliefe Dewa resides above, Dewa
The Catholics in Ngada Zeta symbolizing heaven (above) and
Nitu Sale symbolizing earth (below).
The Dewa Zeta takes care of the earth by giving her fertility by watering her with
rain. Nowadays, most of Ngada population is Catholics, the rest are Moslems,
Buddhist, Hindu and Christian; and they live happily together.

7. CULTURE AND LANGUAGE

The language spoken in Ngada is generally classified into two dialects. Nagekeo
dialect and Bajawa dialect. Nagekeo dialect covers the area of Nangaroro and
Mauponggo up to Boawae, while Bajawa dialect is spoken by people living in
Bajawa and Aimere. In Riung, people speak a dialect which is a mixture of
Bahasa Riung and East Manggarai.
8. ART ACTIVITIES
The women in Ngada are well known as weavers of the most beautiful and
precious cloth. The wellknown ikat
weaving in Boawae generally has a
base color of dark brown, and the
motifs of the horse, elephant and the
cock. There is a kind of weaving in
Mbai which is famous, named Luka
Mbai, it has black base color,
embrioed geometrically in yellow
Weaving, Ngada’s art form and red. In addition to weaving cloth
another kind of handicraft, here is
pandan weaving for making bags and small baskets to put money, letters or
another articles in. Besides, Ngada has also a folk game that is known as Etu. This
is a kind of traditional boxing. The boxer wears clothes made from a thread span
from bark painted red with the blood of an animal. Musics and songs in Ngada are
the same as in Lio (Ende). They have a traditional music instrument, a bamboo
guitar called Sowito.

9. SPECIAL EVENTS
a. The Building of Ngadhu and Bhaga
Ngadhu can be considered as a totem for the Ngada community because it
symbolizes the life of the ancestors (man); and there must also be a partner
that is called Bhaga (woman).
b. The process of Building
There are two stages in building these two things. Firstly, there are inspirations
and secondly the process of building itself. The inspiration may come from a
person or some person of Padjadjawa family. The process of building Ngadhu
and Bhaga can be divided into Pogo Ngadhu, Bei Ngadhu, and Mui Ngadhu.
The last two stages are called Moni Ngadhu.

10. TOURISM OBJECT

Ngada has so many tourism object, that is classified into maritim and land. The
further can be formulated as follows:
a. Landscape
There are several places that are usually crowded with tourist, in Ngada
regency. One of land tourism object in Ngada is Traditional village and there
are at least five (5) traditional village:
1. Bena
Bena is located in the foot of Inerie mountain. This traditional village lies
in the Tiwo Riwu village, the subdistric of Jerebu which is about 18 km to
the south of Bajawa city. The traditional houses in this village lie on a foot
of small hill in a form of
circle. Ngadhu and Bhaga can
be found in the front yard of
this traditional village. As is
described before, these
Ngadhu and Bhaga is
constructed to symbolizes
male and female ancestors.
Bena Traditional Village The number of ethnic group
can be considered by
counting the Ngadhu and Bhaga in this village. Beside that that there are
also some megalitics stone that symbolize the ancestors.

2. Wogo
Beside Bena, there is also a well-known traditional village, called Wogo. It
is about 17 km to the east of Bajawa city. People call it new Wogo,
because it has been moved from the old Wogo.
The rest of old Wogo village
is megalit compounds. The
height stone can reach up to
12 meters. The people of
Wogo call these stone as
Watu Tuke Luzu. The
traditional ceremony still can
be found in this traditional
Wogo Traditional Village village.

3. Bolozi
Bolozi traditional village is about 30 up to 45 minutes from Bajawa city.
Quite similar to the first two traditional village, the Ngadhu and Bhega can
be found here.

4. Nage
Nage is located about 7 km from Bena. We can have a great views of
Mount Inerie from this village. This traditional village present a well
 maintained Ngadhu and Bhega which are lie between two rows of high-
roofed houses appearance.

5. Langa and Bela

Langa is quite modern village, which is located about 7 km from Bajawa.
We can go there by Bemo (some kinds of minibus), while Bela is only 1
km away from Bajawa.

6. Mangeruda Hot Water Spring in So’a

Mangeruda hot water spring
is located about 120 km to the
north of Bajawa city, in the
Piga village, So’a sub-district.
The hot water spring that
contains sulfur is now
ecquiped with swimming
pool, restourant, ang
Mangeruda hot water spring bungalous.

Touring around Bajawa is full

of adventures, we can visit
Jerebu hot water spring and
waterfall, Wae Tua Maum
Bawa waterfall, Ngawatata
an 80 meters waterfall in the
beginning of Aesesa river,
this untouchable waterfall is
Ngawatata Waterfal quite challanging to be

beaten; or we can climb the mountain of Wawo muda, where there is a red-
colored lake.
b. Maritim
1. Riung
Riung is a small Moslem/Christian fishing village with white sandy
beaches and excelent snorkeling over intact reefs. In riung we can see the
17 islands by using
motorboat, which takes us not
more that 2,5 hours if the sea
is calm. The beauty of the sea
surrounding the 17 islands
and it looks like heaven,
where we can see them with
bared eyes, from above the
Riung Underwater boat, the exotic sea sight
complete with peacefull
colors of reefs, colorfull fishes and many others, can be seen from the
surface, because most of location are just three meters of depth. It is
suitable for snorkeling.
For birds and wild animals
lovers, this place is also
provide a wild animal sight-
seeing, this is the only one in
Ngada. We can see so many
animals, millions of bats,
hanging on to the manggo
tree, and sometimes flying
Riung, wild animal sight-seeing away in their group, while we
making sounds.
A couple of the 17 island in Riung has white sandy beaches, such as
Lutong island. We can have a shower in a fresh sea water. We can also
find komodo in this island, which Riung people called Umbo. Compare to
the komodo in Komodo island, Umbo has a slimer body, and its moving is
more attractive.
2. Enagera Maokeo Beach
Apart from Riung bay, Ngada regency also has a beautiful beach in the
south of shores edge. Soft sand with pictures of cave and bay fulfilling the
Enagera Maokeo beach.
c. Others Place
1. Olabula Pre-Historic Sites
For antropologist lovers, there is an Olabula Pre-Historic sites, Stragedon
fossils once found here, in the shape of elephant bones and tusks.
Includiing the remainder of
an old village and old olabula
ford. It is located about 45 km
to the east of Bajawa city and
about 5 km from the city of
Boawae. In this village, there
is a house of Nagekeo’s king,
which is given by Queen
Nagekeo King’s house Wilhelmina from Netherland.
In this old village, the farmer
of Nagekeo kingdom, build
cultural houses and in the
center of the village, there is a
concrete construction called
Peo. Peo symbolizes unity
and integrity. The special
characteristic of Nagekeo
architecture is full of carving
Peo, the symbol of Nagekeo unity and symbolism.

d. Culture Tourism
1. Reba Celebration
Reba is the opening ceremony for the costom new year opening that is
usually celebrated from the people of Bajawa ethnic for live in Bajawa,
Golewa, Aimere, and Jerebu.
In the Reba ceremony, whole
family gather together to
evaluate their lives along the
year, solve the all kinds of
problems, knowing their
positions and duties or
obligation, etc.
Reba, Costom New Year Opening
 2. Caci Dance
The people of Bajawa
generally are proud of war
dance, called Caci. It is a war
dance that develops skills.
Two dancers fight fairy and
briefly. In this dance the,
dancer use a long whip and
armor to defend and to attact
Caci, War Dance of Ngada the other dancer. This
celebration is usually done in
August until November, to give their thanks for the food.

3. Etu Ceremony
While the people of Nagekeo who live around Lobo mountain especially
Boawae and its surrounding, set up a traditional boxing to celebrate the
harvest thing. The people of Boawae called the traditional boxing as Etu
while the people of So’a sub-district call it as Sagi.

11. ACCOMODATION
1. How to get there
a. Air Line
To get to Ngada is not difficult, because the services cover air, sea and
land way that can easily found. From the western part of Indonesia, the
trip starts from Denpasar,
Bali; heading to Komodo
airport in Labuan Bajo, or
heading to Maumere or Ende.
Ther trip then continued by
land passing beautiful
landscape and wonderful
adventures. From the east of
GIA, air transportation support
Indonesia, the trip starts from
Makasar, heading to
Maumere; or from Kupang, the capital city of East Nusa Tenggara; with
the direct flight to Turelelo So’a Airport in Bajawa.
 b. Sea Line
There are five sea ports, such
as Aimere, Maumere, Ende,
Waropokot, and Labuan Bajo.
These are the gate of Ngada
from sea line. This trip line is
served by several passanger
ship such as Awu, etc.

KM Awu, sea transportation support

2. Supporting Facilities
a. Hotels
Bajawa has a surprising number of Hotels for its size and new place are
opening all the time. Some of them are:
• Anggrek Hotel
Jln. M.T.Haryono Bajawa, Telp. (0384)21172
• Edelweys Hotel
Jln. Ahmad Yani, Telp. (0385)21345
• Florida Hotel
Jln. Golokutu
• Mandiri Hotel
Jln. Danga Marapokot
• Madono Hotel
Jln. Manurung Dusun
b. Restaurant
• Camalia Restaurant
Jln. Ahmad Yani Bajawa, Telp. (0384)21458
c. Art Shops
• Bintang Art Shop
Kompleks Pasar Inpres. Telp. (0384)21650
d. Important Addresses
• Ngada Regency Culture and Tourism Office
Jln. Soekarno-Hatta Bajawa, Telp. (0384)22546
 e. Banks
• Bank Rakyat Indonesia
Jln. Soekarno-Hatta Bajawa, Telp. (0384)21024
• Bank Nusa Tenggara Timur

Jln. Basuki Rahmat Bajawa, Telp. (0384)21121

Reference:
Akomodasi Hotel non Bintang - Kementrian Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata_Deputi Bidang
Pengembangan Produk dan Usaha Pariwisata. Compact Disc (CD)
Nusa Tenggara Timur Gerbang Selatan Asia Pasifik - Dinas Pariwisata Nusa Tenggara
Timur. Compact Disc (CD)
Welcome to Ngada. Compact Disc (CD)
Mosaik Pariwisata Nusa Tenggara Timur