The Sensational of Bantimurung

Bantimurung

Bantimurung means a place for getting rid of sadness (mean : membanting kemurungan in Indonesia). Maybe that's not only imagination but could be a reality after visiting some place there. This place is very famous with the spectacular waterfall is located at the valley of the steep limestone hill with its fertile tropical vegetation which makes this area an ideal habitat for the types of butterflies and birds. Talking about waterfall and surrounding areas, this place is very interesting and famous as a popular picnic area and it is a pleasant area for roaming around, swimming and enjoying the attractive sceneries. Many people spend their holiday to refreshing and waste their stress. Infact, Bantimurung only small regency it’s located in Maros, South Sulawesi, this place could be gets by buss about an hour (±47 km) from Makassar (the capital town of South Sulawesi). Around the waterfall area, there are so many specimen of butterflies for souvenirs. From the waterfall one can take a ride to the National Park which is close by, through the limestone mountain chain. More than that, before arriving there you could see very beautiful karst sceneries and it’s famous as the second largest karst in the world.

In 1858-1857, a prominent English naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace spent all of his life that are enjoyed in this area to catch numerous types of rare butterflies, birds, and insects. Among the butterflies he caught, there was the Papilo Androcles type, one of the rarest and biggest type of butterfly that has a tail like a swallow. A detailed explanation concerning this area has attracted the attention of archeologists, prehistoric, and insects experts. At the time Alfred Russel Wallace called this place as the the Kingdom of Butterfly and his journal written in a book (Malay Archipelago). But unfortunately, the population of butterfly is getting down caused it’s arrested and made as souvenir. So you must visit it now!