Baliem Valley, Highland valley at Central Highlands, Indonesia
Baliem Valley is a highland valley in central Indonesia surrounded by mountain ranges. The valley floor is relatively flat and green, with rivers running through it that connect the scattered communities and farmland.
The valley was discovered by a Western expedition in 1938 that made first outside contact with local populations. Before that, the people here lived completely isolated from the outside world.
The Dani people here live in traditional round huts with thatched roofs and farm their own plots of land. Walking through villages, you see the wooden fences and the way communities are organized around shared spaces.
Visitors need to obtain a government permit to enter the valley, which can be arranged at Wamena. The best way to arrive is by airplane from a major city.
A few villages preserve mummies of ancient tribal leaders that have been kept intact for hundreds of years using traditional methods. These remain a direct link to the distant past.
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