Ilaga, Central Papua
Ilaga is a small town and farming valley in Central Papua, Indonesia. It sits high up at about 2,286 meters (7,500 feet) above sea level and serves as the capital of Ilaga District and of the Puncak Regency, created in 2008. Most people there belong to the Lani tribe. The town has a small airport and a few non-Papuan traders and government workers.
A river called Ilaga runs through the valley and flows into the Ilorong. The valley is roughly halfway between the Enarotali and Baliem valleys.
In April 2009, a small plane flying from Mulia to Ilaga (Mimika Air Flight 514) crashed, and all 10 people on board died. Recovery work and identifying remains were conducted from Ilaga.
Ilaga’s contact with the outside world began in 1950 when missionaries used planes to reach the highlands. The area was not completely isolated, as it had long been a trade route where pigs and farm produce were traded with coastal tribes for shells, salt, and other goods.
The Ilaga area has at times supported the Free Papua Movement (OPM). In October 2001, OPM fighters briefly took control of the town from Indonesian forces.
Ilaga District is divided into 9 villages.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 22:29 (CET).