The 12 sacred hills of Imerina
THE 12 sacread hills of imerina
Attracting today the curious of history, Madagascar gives you a multitude of choices to see. Among them, the twelve sacred hills of the Imerina, is the object of many quests. They are linked to the history of its country.
“According to popular legend, the king “Andrianjaka” declared that the twelve hills of Imerina were sacred because of their historical, political or spiritual importance for the Merina people.”
According to other accounts, King “Andrianampoinimerina” dedicated these twelve hills to his twelve wives from rival villages. These women were placed on the twelve hills namely: Alasora, Ambohimanga Analamanga, Antsahadinta, Ambohitranga, Ambohidratrimo, Ampandrana, Ambohimalaza, Ambohimanambola, Antongona, Imerimandroso and Kaloy.
The twelve sacred hills located in Antananarivo, capital of the island, are the natural heritage of the Merina people. Bordering the Highlands, the central zone of the plateaus of Madagascar is a unique place in its kind.
We are going to illustrate little by little these twelve sacred hills.
The sacred hill of Analamanga
,Is the highest summit of the city of Antananarivo. On this hill we find the most attractive monument of the capital which is the “Rovan’i Manjakamiadana”. It contains the legendary history of the kings and queens of ancient times. Today a sacred place, it closes the tombs of the former sovereigns. It makes the work of cultural and archaeological heritage in Ambohimanga.
The hill sacred of Ambohimanga
welcomes the “Rova of Ambohimanga” of an originality. In the center of the fault, it is seen as being the point of unification of the Merina kingdom by King Andrianampoinimerina.
The sacred hill of Alasora
located in the southwest of Antananarivo was developed at the time of Andriamangaritra in the 18th century. One can see there royal huts made of planks as well as several royal tombs surmounted by a tranomafana. Its model of city was then adopted in the whole of Imerina. The capital of the region is Imerinmanjaka. It abounds in some monumental sites.
The sacred hill of Antsahadita
The hill of Antsahadita is located in the southwest of the island. One sees there a royal hut of planks, several royal tombs with “tranomafana” to visit.
The sacred hill of Ambohitranga
The hill of Ambohitranga or Ilafy: located in Ambohitrakanja, this hill has according to the legends kept the tomb of Radama II. It shows hospitality to the visitors; it is also recognized to have been a point of manufacture of weapon.
The sacred hill of Ambohidratrimo
The hill of Ambohidratrimo was named in honor of King Ratrimo. It is only after his marriage with a girl of this region that Andrianampoinimerina managed to get his hands on it.
The sacred hill of Ampandrana
The hill of Ampandrana receives a little more merit compared to the other hills, it was the dwelling of noble family in the old times or place where were buried the merina sovereigns, Ampandrana is the tomb of the first Hova king.
The sacred hill of Ambohimalaza
The hill of Ambohimalaza is sacred because in the past, Ralambo established every year this hill: it is the “fandroana or royal bath”. Moreover, this place was used as the first site of bovine sacrifice.
The sacred hill of Ambohimanambola
The hill of Ambohimanambola is a treasure hill. It is where Andrianampoinimerina buried his fetish “Kelimalaza”.
The sacred hill of Antongona
The hill of Antongona is in the road of Tsiroanomandidy. It resides of a rocky or fortified Rova. It was formerly the site of alarm at the time of the invasions on the Imerina
The sacred hill of Ambohitrabiby
It was the territory of the monarch Ralambo from 1600. It was this sovereign who authorized the consumption of zebu meat. Located 20 km north of the capital, the site houses his royal tomb as well as that of Rabiby (a famous astrologer).
The sacred hill of Ikaloy
The hill of Ikaloy welcomed two great Malagasy kings. It is the birthplace of King Andrianampoinimerina and preserves vestiges of the historical city.
Apart from these hills, there are still varieties of hill not popular with the public but remain sites of good explorations.
These hills commonly possess exceptional natural properties and secrets to discover during your hikes.
Lys Carène ANDRIAMANANTSOA
