Lembaga Studi & Pelestarian Budaya Sumba

Sumba

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Just 3km west of town, this Catholic-run NGO is in a working coconut plantation and has an excellent cultural museum. It was developed by Fr Robert Ramone, who noticed how, once baptised, Sumbanese frequently break clean from their old culture and develop negative associations with the marapu and other totems. There are displays of old photographs, money, pottery, ikat, stone carvings and more.

The complex also has 10 basic rooms for rent (300,000Rp to 600,000Rp). Sit on one of the private porches and let the quiet envelop you. An ikat museum opened on-site in 2018.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Sumba is an undeveloped island in eastern Indonesia. Larger than Bali but less than a quarter of the population. It is an island rich in culture with many people living a subsistence lifestyle. Weekuri Lake is a natural formation connected to the ocean. It is popular with tourists and locals.

    Weekuri Lagoon

    17.8 MILES

    Almost as far west as you can get on Sumba is one of the island's most magical spots, Weekuri Lagoon. On one side, locals and tourists rent black rubber…

  • Gallu Bakul

    Gallu Bakul

    27.22 MILES

    At Gallu Bakul, 2.5km down the road from the modernising village of Kabonduk, is Sumba’s heaviest tomb, weighing in at 70 tonnes. At its eastern end is a…

  • Kampung Tarung

    Kampung Tarung

    19.01 MILES

    Tarung is home to five tribes, each with their own small, thatched shrine where only the local ratu (priest) is allowed to pray and commune with the…

  • Kampung Pasunga

    Kampung Pasunga

    26.77 MILES

    Right beside the main road to Waingapu, 22km east of Waikabubak, Kampung Pasunga boasts one of Sumba’s most impressive tombs. The most interesting grave…

  • Kampung Waigalli

    Kampung Waigalli

    25.55 MILES

    Downhill from the riverside settlement of Taramanu, just after the sports field, you'll meet a good road that leads to a huddle of about 30 thatched, peak…

  • Kampung Waitabar

    Kampung Waitabar

    18.93 MILES

    It’s only a short stroll from most hotels to Prai Klembung and then up the hill that juts from the centre of town to Tarung and Waitabar. Kampung Waitabar…

  • Kampung Praigoli

    Kampung Praigoli

    25.62 MILES

    Best known for its nearly 200-year-old Watu Kajiwa, the deeply traditional, sprawling village of Praigoli is notched in the dusty, leafy hills above Sumba…

  • Pantai Watubela

    Pantai Watubela

    24.12 MILES

    You'll need your own wheels or a driver to access this slice of paradise, which is part of Patiala Bawa village, but the privacy and serenity is worth it…

View more attractions

Nearby Sumba attractions

1. Weekuri Lagoon

17.8 MILES

Almost as far west as you can get on Sumba is one of the island's most magical spots, Weekuri Lagoon. On one side, locals and tourists rent black rubber…

2. Kampung Waitabar

18.93 MILES

It’s only a short stroll from most hotels to Prai Klembung and then up the hill that juts from the centre of town to Tarung and Waitabar. Kampung Waitabar…

3. Kampung Tarung

19.01 MILES

Tarung is home to five tribes, each with their own small, thatched shrine where only the local ratu (priest) is allowed to pray and commune with the…

4. Kampung Prai Klembung

19.07 MILES

It’s only a short stroll from most hotels to Prai Klembung, a nearby village with hefty concrete-slab tombs in an overgrown but atmospheric setting…

5. Kampung Tambelar

19.26 MILES

Has very impressive tombs and stone graves, with rows of houses with thatched roofs. Leave a donation of 20,000Rp or 50,000Rp if there are a few of you.

6. Pantai Watubela

24.12 MILES

You'll need your own wheels or a driver to access this slice of paradise, which is part of Patiala Bawa village, but the privacy and serenity is worth it…

7. Kampung Waigalli

25.55 MILES

Downhill from the riverside settlement of Taramanu, just after the sports field, you'll meet a good road that leads to a huddle of about 30 thatched, peak…

8. Kampung Praigoli

25.62 MILES

Best known for its nearly 200-year-old Watu Kajiwa, the deeply traditional, sprawling village of Praigoli is notched in the dusty, leafy hills above Sumba…

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  "continent": "Asia",
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