The bizarre case of Indonesia’s Chicken Church that was mysteriously abandoned!

There are many pretty churches across the world, but did you know that there are some bizarre structures too that evoke curiosity? Like there is one church that looks like a giant chicken?

Well, this lies hidden deep inside the Indonesian jungle, which has long been abandoned, and is locally known as Gereja Ayam, or Chicken Church. The structure of this church is such that it lures hundreds of curious photographers and travellers to the hills of Magelang, Central Java, every year.
However, as per its eccentric creator, this majestic building is neither a chicken nor a church. It was actually meant to be a dove, but looks more like a hen, and is the result of one man’s vision of a temple for all faiths.

The story behind this creation
Well, it all started with a dream.

Daniel Alamsjah, a devout Christian living in Java, Indonesia, falls in the first category. According to him, his dream came one night in 1988 in the form of a divine vision. He said he saw before him a divine vision in the form of a giant dove, residing on a hilltop. It was meant to be a place of worship for all faiths, and that he was meant to build it.
It so happened that some time later, while he was walking in the Magelang jungle, Alamsjah recognised Bukit Rhema as the hill from his vision. So, he went ahead to buy an acre of land on top within a week, and started taking necessary steps for seeking permission to build.

Although there were many paper trails, and intense resistance, his perseverance did not deter. As per the records, for nearly 10 years, he spent almost every weekend overseeing the construction of his bird-shaped prayer house and when the main structure was almost completed, the giant crowned dove sat atop its hill, tail cocked, beak open, as if it’s permanently surprised at its own existence.

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Although his vision has been of a dove, it resembled a different bird, which earned a moniker, Gereja Ayam, or the Chicken Church. By now, he turned broke and had to leave his creation to the jungle, which was left to decay.
Interestingly, over the next 15 years, those visiting Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist temple that is situated nearby, started hearing of a different architectural wonder that was just a few miles away. Their curiosity infused life to that decayed structure.

The rest is history. The spot gained prominence due to word of mouth, and the number of visitors visiting this place grew exponentially. This is when Alamsjah returned and started to charge a nominal entrance fee. In short, that place came back to life again.

The highlights

The Chicken Church is no longer the same. Nowadays, its floors are decorated with jewelled tiles, with walls adorned with scenes from Indonesian mythology, ceilings painted with clouds, along with 12 prayer rooms that have been created in its catacombs.

Those visiting this place early, can catch the sunrise from its crown. There is a cafe too, in the bird’s posterior!