Magelang is a city rich in natural and cultural beauty. In this city, tourists can find various popular places such as Candi Borobudur, Taman Kyai Langgeng, Nepal Van Java, and Bukit Rhema, which is known as Gereja Ayam.
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Unique and Iconic Bukit Rhema: Gereja Ayam
Bukit Rhema got the nickname “Gereja Ayam” because the shape of the building is thought to resemble a chicken, even though the building is actually shaped like a dove. Apart from that, this hill is not only a place of worship for Christians, but also a house of prayer that is open to all religions, including Islam, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism.
The Beginning of the Establishment of Gereja Ayam
The inspiration to establish the Bukit Rhema House of Prayer began with the dream of a man named Daniel Alamsjah in 1988. In his dream, he received instructions to build a place of worship that could be used by all religious communities. One day, Daniel met a deaf boy named Jito who often visited the hills. The view of the hill matched what he saw in his dream, so he felt he had received guidance from God to build a house of prayer there.
In 1992, Daniel began construction of the Bukit Rhema House of Prayer. However, construction was stopped due to the economic crisis during the New Order, and this building was abandoned for almost 12 years. Finally, in 2010, construction continued and this Hill began to be known to tourists from within and outside the country.
Seven Floors of Philosophy in the House of Prayer Bukit Rhema
The Bukit Rhema House of Prayer building consists of seven floors, where each floor holds the philosophy of human life:
- First Floor: Describes the birth of a holy human being like a baby.
- Second Floor: Visualizing the human process towards maturity, understanding the good and the bad.
- Third Floor: Remind visitors about the bad effects of narcotics through illustrations of user suffering.
- Fourth Floor: Showing the diversity of Indonesian culture through murals created by local artists.
- Fifth Floor: Contains photos of many iconic tourist destinations from around the world.
- Sixth Floor: Located in the beak of a dove and symbolizes new hope.
- Seventh Floor: Is the crown of a dove, symbolizing gratitude and happiness.
Enjoy Sunrise Views and Traditional Culinary
Apart from its religious value, this hill offers beautiful natural views, especially at sunrise. This place is one of the best locations to enjoy the sunrise at Magelang besides Punthuk Setumbu. This hill has also been a film shooting location What’s Up With Love 2.
Not only that, visitors can also enjoy traditional culinary delights in the cafe located at the tail of the building. Here, visitors can exchange ticket coupons for free fried cassava and chili sauce, as a form of support for local cassava farmers around Borobudur.
Ticket Information and Access to Bukit Rhema
To enjoy tourism on this Hill, the entrance ticket is very affordable, only IDR 25,000 per person. Apart from that, a jeep service is available to take visitors from the bottom parking lot to the top of the hill for an additional fee of IDR 15,000. With all its charm, Bukit Rhema or Gereja Ayam is a mandatory destination for anyone visiting Magelang.