Situated on enchanting Rhema hill, Chicken Church, or as the locals called it Gereja Ayam is popular for its uncommon shape. The church has a chicken-shaped structure. Its location is close to Punthuk Setumbu, a top spot to see the sunrise. Chicken church gains more popularity among domestic travelers after a scene from an Indonesian love movie.
Among locals, the chicken church is known as a praying house. Despite the building being called a church, it doesn’t mean serving one religion only. In fact, all people who believe in God can pray and are welcome. The chicken head shape is actually a failed construction job. It was meant to be a pigeon’s head, a bird representing a peace symbol.
Now after it went viral, the prayer house develops into a complete tourist attraction tour. Spare a minimum of 2 hours to explore the entire building. See the grand hall where there are many functional rooms and floors. Explore the first floor, the top floor of the bird crown, and see the vast greeneries and mountain view.
Chicken Church Entrance Fee
The entrance ticket to Gereja Ayam Rhema or chicken church is Rp25.000. Tourists will get complimentary snacks and could enjoy them in a cafe on the 3rd floor. From the parking lot, tourists will have to walk to the hill to get to the church. However, there is a shuttle service that cost Rp15.000 for a return trip.
| Chicken Church Entrance Fee | |
| Ticket | Rp25.000 |
| Shuttle service | Rp15.000 (return trip) |
Nearby: Guide To Explore Borobudur Temple, & Entrance Fee.
Chicken Church Opening Hours
Gereja Ayam Rhema or chicken church opens every day from 7 AM to 6 PM. The best time to be here is early in the morning. Since there will queue to get to the top of the church.
| Chicken Church Opening Hours | |
| Every day | 07:00 – 18:00 |
See: Punthuk Setumbu Sunrise & Top Things To Do.
Behind The Story of Gereja Ayam
The Chicken Church is a symbol of a human devotee and was built in 1992. The House of Prayer story begins when a young man Daniel Alamsjah has a vision in 1988. The vision told him to build a house of prayer for all nations. Daniel did not know where the scene was. A year later when he saw Rhema Hill he remembered his dream.
Rhema Hill is exactly the same hill as in his dream. From the landscape to the scenery around the hill. There was no difference. He then decided to build the prayer house just as his vision told him to. A big house, with a shape of a pigeon. The beautiful bird represents peace and love symbol.
In 1992, the construction begins and become the most difficult moment for him. He has to spend 5 weekdays working 300 miles away. Then going back to Magelang on the weekend. Where he has to see and supervise the construction. Four years later, the construction was not run smoothly.
Due to his financial limitation and rejection from the locals. Daniel decided to stop the construction. At times, the chicken church was left unmaintained. Despite that, the construction is never complete. Chicken Church had been used as the house of prayer. And become a rehabilitation place for drug and mental victims.
In 2000, the place was shut down again due to financial problems. Some travelers still visited this place even if it had been closed. Today the chicken church is popular more than ever. The founder of the place, Daniel still dedicating himself to rehabilitating drug addicts.
Explore The Chicken Church
Today the chicken church is a well-maintained building compared to years ago. Not only as a tourist attraction. But the building also continues to reform into a place to educate its visitor. The value of living, prayer, nationalism, and also the dangers of drug addiction.
Private Documentation & Painting Room
On the ground floor, there is a simple theater, with a projector and a screen. Here, guests can watch the process of Chicken Church construction. The movie showed all private documentation of Daniel’s struggle from 1990 during the construction.
The second floor is more alive than the ground floor. Guests can see the graffiti hanging on the wall telling about nationalism. Some of the art pieces are a story of moral values, traditional dance like Serimpi dance or Reog Ponorogo; or tourist destinations such as Borobudur Temple or Bunaken Beach.
On the underground of the house, guests can explore the entire area and find 25 rooms. The rooms on the ground are the prayer room. The smaller one is used for people to pray in private. And the bigger room is used for a group of people. Despite the building being called a church, the founder also provides a praying room for all religions.
Chicken Church Indonesia Upper Floor
From the ground floor, guests can see the entire area of the chicken church. In the ceiling of the building, there is unique cross-shaped ventilation. To get to the next floor and for comfort and security reasons, visitors will have to register and get in line. As there were guests maximum capacity for each floor. The second floor is narrower than the ground floor. And from the windows, guests will be able to see the view outside the chicken church.
The third floor is the transit floor. It’s a spot for guests to wait before getting to the top of the building. There is a small window on this floor, but the view is not that much. Guests can sit while waiting for the queue at the top. The crown is the most favorite spot in the house of prayer.
From the crown spot, guests can see Punthuk Setumbu Hill, Mount Merbabu, and Merapi in the background. Mount Sindoro on the west side and on the east, the view of the magnificent Borobudur Temple. For safety and security reasons, the maximum guest allowed is only 8 people.
Facilities
The parking area is spacious, however, tourists will have to walk a bit or ride a shuttle bus with an extra fee to get to the top. Toilets are scattered around the premises and clean as well. There is a cafe where visitors could exchange tickets with complimentary cassava. The view is stunning overlooking the greenish hill.
There are various beverage selections from hot coffee, traditional drinks ginger tea, and juices. For meals, the only Western dish is spaghetti, the rest is a traditional Indonesian dish. The price range for food and beverage is standard that ranges from Rp10,000 to Rp35,000.
See: Guide To Explore Beringharjo Market & Street Food.
How To Get To Chicken Church
Chicken Church is 45 minutes to 1 drive from downtown Yogyakarta. And 2,5 km or 10 minutes drive from Borobudur Temple. Going by public bus, tourists could catch Transjogja bus line 3A from Adisutjipto International Airport. Then transit in Condongcatur shelter and continue by bus line 2A head to Jombor Bus Station.
And from Jombor bus station, take the microbus and pay Rp20.000, stop at Borobudur junction. Continue the journey by motorcycle taxi to get here. It will cost around Rp30.000 depending on the negotiation skill. Always agree on the price before jumping on the seat.
See: YIA Airport Guide & Public Transportation To Yogyakarta.
Address & Location
Gereja Ayam or chicken church is located on the hill of Karangrejo Gombong village, Borobudur, Magelang, Central Java 56553.
