The Hanging Coffins of Sagada
My previous posts on Sagada were focused on activities and places outside the town proper. However, Day 1 in this town always starts at the poblacion or the town’s center. Of course, the bus terminal and the tourism office are located here! However, within the urban core it lies some of Sagada’s cultural and historical treasures—and yes that includes the famed Hanging Coffins!
Hanging Coffins of Sagada
The Hanging Coffins is the first destination to go whenever someone goes to Sagada. It’s in every guide book, magazine article, and blog posts! It may be a bit creepy (or as some say, Goth) as it may sound, but this cultural site has important significance to the Sagada Kankana-ey Igorots.
Hanging Coffins in close detail
Located only more or less a kilometre away from the Municipal Hall and the bus terminal, the Hanging Coffins are literally hanging at the cliffs of Echo Valley, and only a few meters from the current public cemetery of the town.
Hanging on the limestone cliffs of Echo Valley
Some of the Igorots we’ve asked told us that the reason they hang their dead over the cliffs is to have a nearer access to the heavens, and the spirit would not have any difficulty in getting out of it.
Sagada’s Public Cemetery near Echo Valley and the Hanging Coffins. Before you even get to the hanging coffins, you have to pass by here.
While rumour has it that the practice of hanging the dead is no longer done, the most recent dead was sometime between 2007 and 2010. It still depends on the family or the decision of those who will die whether they wanted to be “buried 6 feet under,” or “hanged high up above the cliffs.”
Echo Valley trail
The Hanging Coffins can be seen from the Echo Valley cemetery, if you have an eagle eye. You can also go down (at your own risk if you don’t have a guide) and be near the coffins.
Some of the coffins at cave openings of Echo Valley
In fact, in Echo Valley, burial sites are not just only at the cliffs, but also inside the caves or openings. A lot of them still exist all to this very day.
What’s a seat doing at the hanging coffins?
Getting to the Hanging Coffins is a bit easy if you like to view it from afar.
- From the Municipal Hall, go towards the Anglican Church and into the Public Cemetery.
- After the Public Cemetery, follow the trail towards the Echo Valley “observation area.”
- There are trails from the “observation area” going down to the Hanging Coffins if you like to see it closer. However, the trail is slippery when wet and a bit steep. Be careful when doing this.
- If you don’t have a guide, going here is a just a walk—and free of charge!
As much as anyone is encouraged to scream so that people can hear their echoes on the valley (in Echo Valley), it is still best to remain quiet if nearing the coffins, as a respect for the culture of the Sagada Igorots.
