Bukit Rhema Prayer House: A Complete Travel Review

For a long time, the tourism charm of Magelang Regency has always been synonymous with Borobudur Temple. But this city also has a unique and fascinating tourist destination: Bukit Rhema Prayer House.

The name Bukit Rhema — or Gereja Ayam (Chicken Church) — became increasingly popular after it appeared as one of the romantic spots for Rangga and Cinta in the film AADC 2. The building at Bukit Rhema has a uniquely distinctive architectural style.

Curious about the uniqueness and charm of Gereja Ayam? Here’s a complete review.

History of Gereja Ayam (Chicken Church)

Looking at the name Gereja Ayam, at first glance the building does resemble a chicken complete with neck and head. But did you know that at the beginning of its construction, this house of prayer was actually designed to resemble a dove? According to Daniel Alamsjah — the founder of this building — in the Christian faith, the dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit that descended when Jesus was baptized.

However, the purpose of building this house of prayer was not only for Christians, but for all people who believe in God — in keeping with the dove’s symbolism as a bird of peace. In its development, the building was not only used as a place of worship, but was also once used as a rehabilitation and shelter facility for children with drug addiction and disabilities. As if also wanting to imply the meaning of the dove as a bird of sincerity and gentleness.

Unfortunately, due to limited funds for construction and maintenance, work on the building stopped and was abandoned. At that point, the completed structures were the front side (shaped like a chicken’s head), the body, and the back (tail). That is why locals called it Gereja Ayam (Chicken Church) rather than Gereja Merpati (Dove Church).

How to Get to Gereja Ayam

Gereja Ayam is located at Bukit Rhema, in Dusun Gombong, Desa Kembanglimus, Kecamatan Borobudur, Kabupaten Magelang — approximately 45 kilometers from Yogyakarta city center. To get to the location, you can choose several routes: the main road directly to Bukit Rhema, or via Punthuk Setumbu, or Bukit Purwosari.

From Borobudur Temple, Bukit Rhema is only about 2.5 kilometers away and can be reached by both motorbike and car. There is a parking area managed by local residents, with parking fees ranging from IDR 7,000–10,000. If coming from Punthuk Setumbu or Bukit Purwosari, you can walk.

Sections of Gereja Ayam

When viewed as a whole, the building resembles a chicken or bird crouching on the ground with a crown perched on its head. Gereja Ayam has several sections: the ground level is the chicken’s body, the second level is the neck, the third level is the beak, and the fourth (highest) level is the crown.

On the ground floor, you’ll find a large open hall resembling a worship hall as in churches in general. There are also pillars and windows in an abandoned state, which actually add a vintage feel. Below, there are several 2×1 meter rooms without window and door frames. You can also see a glass ceiling with a cross motif in the body section.

On the chicken’s neck section, there are openings resembling parallelogram-shaped windows, so visitors can freely look outward — including directly seeing the body and tail of Gereja Ayam.

An even more beautiful view can be enjoyed from the beak section with its bright red color. Going higher, you’ll reach an open space of about 2×2 meters — the crown. Here, you’ll be treated to an exotic green and lush natural landscape. You can also see the grandeur of Borobudur Temple from the heights of Bukit Rhema. Amazing, isn’t it?

Since the crown is the main destination for visitors, you must register first to get a queue number. The number of people who can go up and the time allowed at the top of Gereja Ayam is limited.

So when you’re at the top of Bukit Rhema, enjoy every moment and don’t forget to capture it on camera. Enjoy your visit!

History of Gereja Ayam (Chicken Church)

How to Get to Gereja Ayam

Sections of Gereja Ayam

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