Walking through the Biboki Kingdom Trail in Tamkesi Village

Oasis of life in the middle of the dry

savanna - Kristina Ismulyani - https://www. shutterstock.com/g/ Kristina+Ismulyani

Tracing the Footprints of the

Biboki Kingdom inTamkesi Village

Tamkesi Traditional Village is the center of the kingdom or sonaf biboki (sonaf in the regional language meaning kingdom) which is located on Timor Island, North Central Timor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province. The Biboki Kingdom was built on a rocky area between two rocky mountains that symbolize women and men. This kingdom is laid out in such a way that it resembles a natural fortress with layers that are difficult for the enemy to penetrate. The main part of the village is on a hill.

Sonaf tamkesi is an oasis of life in the middle of a dry savanna because the Biboki kingdom still strictly maintains its customary system. The wealth of these customs is evidence of the progress of the Tamkesi civilization on the island of Timor. Tamkesi Traditional Village is attractive to residents and tourists because of its strong customs and traditional narratives wrapped in myths and magical stories. If you want to travel to the Tamkesi Traditional Village which is the Biboki royal complex, visitors cannot use minibuses and the like, but they are not suitable for saloon car types. It would be nice if the vehicle used to reach the area by vehicle outside the highway. The journey to the center of this kingdom is not easy. Visitors must prepare a strong heart and mentality because the terrain is quite extreme. The journey starts from a paved road, but before reaching the village there is an unpaved road. In addition, the road is winding, potholes, narrow, and prone to hills and ravines. There is no public transportation available to and from there, so it is necessary to rent a car and a local driver who understands the local terrain. Tamkesi is included in the category of ancient villages that still survive today. Local people think that Tamkesi is a former palace or center of the Biboki Kingdom in the past. Tamkesi is also called the emperor’s palace. This old village was built on a hilltop with a seven-tiered stone construction. It is said that this village was once a fortress of the kingdom’s defense.

Kingdom on the Hill

Geographically, the Biboki Kingdom is located in the traditional village of Tamkesi, Biboki District, North Central Timor Regency. If you go there, the myth is that you must have good intentions because people believe that if you go with good intentions, the journey will be smooth. During the journey we will see the gifts of nature from God. We will be spoiled with open views of nature, hills,

Oasis of life in the middle of the dry

savanna - Kristina Ismulyani - https://www. shutterstock.com/g/ Kristina+Ismulyani

Kingdom on the hill Kristina Ismulyani https://www.shutterstock.com /g/Kristina+Ismulyani

mountains, and trees. When we stop for a moment, we will be able to see flying butterflies, horses of various colors and types passing by. In the Biboki Kingdom, many horses are said to be used as a means of transportation by the king and the people of the kingdom. When we entered the Biboki kingdom area, there is not a single vehicle that can pass except for horses. Towards the Biboki royal complex, there is a road like a natural-made alley that is lined with trees on either side. When we arrived at the location of the kingdom, we saw many large stones.

The Biboki Kingdom is an emperor/king palace complex shaped like an old hut which roof is made of reeds and the walls are made of wood. The Biboki palace complex has a traditional house that serves to store royal heirlooms. These heirlooms are highly guarded because they have a high historical value and are magical. These heirlooms cannot be seen by people who have bad intentions such as intending to take or steal from the place. For example, the royal house cannot be seen by anyone other than the emperor. So, when visiting, we can only see all parts of the Biboki royal complex except the traditional house. In the Biboki traditional house complex, there are two high hills that each have their own functions. The first hill serves

Biboki is guarded by the descendants

of Usboko - Kristina Ismulyani - https://www. shutterstock.com/g/ Kristina+Ismulyani

as a place for offerings and only the meo (traditional elders) and the royal family can climb the mountain during traditional ceremonies. While the second hill is used as a place of offerings, but everyone can climb the hill, as long as of course with good intentions. The community believes that the place will remain sustainable because of the traditional shape of the house. Buildings such as huts are local wisdom that is continuously preserved and the shape of the buildings in the palace complex should not be replaced with other, more modern buildings. The Biboki Kingdom has its own rules. The king had his own way of coming and leaving the palace and no one could see him. The king’s eating or bathing activities were carried out in secret so as not to be seen by people.

Each palace or kingdom has its own rules and must be obeyed and it is sacred. In the Biboki kingdom, there are some rules that must and must be obeyed by all. The

Led by a king called Atupas Neno - Kristina Ismulyani - https://www. shutterstock.com/g/ Kristina+Ismulyani

rules are, First, when visiting the Biboki Kingdom, there must be no purpose with malicious intent. Second, visitors must act and behave politely, for example they are not allowed to say dirty words or commit immoral acts. Third, items that have fallen or were left behind when visiting the Biboki Kingdom complex cannot be taken back. Therefore, if there are visitors who want to take back their belongings, there must be a traditional ceremony by slaughtering free-range chickens and inviting some traditional elders. Fourth, it is forbidden to take sacred items belonging to the Biboki kingdom.

The Biboki Kingdom has a special offering place that can only be visited by the King and his advisors (traditional elders) which is located on one of the hills in the royal area. Local myth explains that if anyone dares to climb the hill, he/she will disappear. The royal guards of Biboki are not royal soldiers but the family of the king (female), namely the descendants of Usboko.

The Biboki kingdom is a traditional kingdom ruled by an emperor or commonly called king Atupas Neno.

According to information, King Biboki last left the palace complex during the 1998 economic crisis to seek a better life in an area called Kaubele. However, when the king died, the king was returned and buried in the kingdom.

In the midst of rapidly changing times, the Biboki kingdom has shown that the authenticity of a culture needs to be maintained and preserved and this is what the people in the area do. People still believe that Tamkesi culture brings blessings to them. This is one proof that local culture should be maintained and preserved. (Sipin Putra and Martenshy

Pitrodelsia Isu, Universitas Kristen Indonesia).