Manggarai

Manggarai refers to an ethnolinguistic group as well as the geographic region on the western part of Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. The Manggarai traditionally inhabit areas now organized as four regencies commonly associated with the Manggarai name: Manggarai Regency, Central Manggarai Regency, East Manggarai Regency, and West Manggarai Regency. The landscape includes coastal zones along the Flores Sea and interior highlands, with towns such as Ruteng and Labuan Bajo playing important regional roles.

The Manggarai language is an Austronesian language spoken by Manggarai communities. It has multiple dialects that roughly correspond to the regional groups, including Central Manggarai, East Manggarai, and West Manggarai varieties, and is one of several Flores languages within the larger Austronesian family.

Culturally, Manggarai communities are organized around adat (customary law) and kinship networks. The region is noted for its lingko, circular rice-field arrangements that symbolize shared land tenure, as well as distinctive traditional houses and textile arts such as ikat weaving. The religious landscape includes indigenous beliefs alongside prominent Christian and Muslim communities.

Economically, agriculture remains a core activity, with crops such as corn, cassava, coffee, and cacao. In recent decades, tourism has grown, particularly around Labuan Bajo, the gateway to Komodo National Park, which lies off the western tip of Flores and extends into Manggarai Barat. The Manggarai region is also recognized for its biodiversity and cultural heritage, contributing to Indonesia’s regional diversity.