Preamble
I'd been restless for an adventure and as there was no interesting tourist locations in my State, I had to go somewhere else.
This was what prompted me to save and Embark on a Journey to Idanre Hills, Ondo State; The Sunshine state.
On getting to this beautiful Yoruba state, the first thing I noticed were the amount of Boli (roast plantain) and roast yam sellers on the way. Apparently, I met a Very good Nigerian at the park in Benin who goes by the name Pastor Ike. When we alighted at Akure, He introduced me to one of his Church member, Tunde who he said was an Indigene of Idanre and asked him to show me the way there. Strange, Lovely and scary right?

Sit tight with popcorn
So anyway Long story short, we get to Idanre Hills and at the entrance we are asked to Pay a fee of 1000 per person. There were some Students from College of Education, Ondo and we blended in with them.
We were told that the Idanre community is divided into the Idanre of Yesterday (Those who used to live on the hills) and the Idanre of Today (those who currently Live in the community below the hills)

First pic: Present day Idanre communities
Second pic: Idanre of Yesterday

2.

3
Need I add that the Idanre people roamed the hills and Various places over a span of 800 years after which the need for civilization spurn by the whitemen led them to begin their descent downhill. The planning for that begun in 1928 and they finally came down in 1933 after building a total of 660 steps that leads down the hill with5 rest stops in between.

The guide showed us the Igbo olore primary school built by Missionaries and the indigenes in 1896 out of Sand and clay and it still stood firm.
We were also shown the High court where cases were settled, the Arun river which was the source of water for the people then. The hill was covered with trees and overgrown bushes.
We were additionally shown a mold on which only the living king of Idanre can step on.

4

We past by a market, a stone which the men in the past had to lift to chest level to be eligible to marry a wife, some old settlements, (one belonging to a hunter who discovered the hill), the house of the chief priest (you can't wear a shirt in the house lol see the pic below)

The writings on a wall that no one can decipher and the numerous steep climbs were part of the amazing beauty we beheld.
The guide took us to the ancient Palace of the King where we saw a number of Idol pillars and 46 Cow heads. It is said that every year the Reigning King comes up there to perform a ceremony where he wears a Mysterious crown called Ade-Ide.
It is said, The Idanre people came to be when one of Oduduwa's descendants stole a crown of Inestimable value belonging to Oduduwa's son and fled Ile Ife after which they found a home for themselves on the hill.
The reigning Owa (King) wears the Crown and comes up to the Palace On the Hills every year to celebrate the Ade-Ide festival.

Cow heads

The Owa's palace

.

Part of the Beauty of the Hills

Some houses we passed by in one of the quarters

Following.... nice one op