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Weekly 5: Interesting places of worship that are worth a visit

(JP/R

The Jakarta Post
Fri, April 11, 2014

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Weekly 5: Interesting places of worship that are worth a visit (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama) (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)

(JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)

In the multicultural melting pot that is Jakarta, certain holy houses open their doors to people of any religious leaning. With awe inspiring architecture and historically important art, these buildings attract sightseers of many creeds and cultures. Here are some such places in Greater Jakarta that are worth stopping by:

Mosques

One the biggest mosque in Southeast Asia, the famous Istiqlal Grand Mosque in Central Jakarta attracts visitors from all over the country.

The mosque was designed by Frederich Silaban, a Christian architect who won a competition to design the mosque in 1955. Former president Sukarno was on the jury.

The mosque'€™s management said it saw more foreign visitors after US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama visited it in 2010.

Another popular mosque is Lao Tze on Jl. Lao Tze in Pasar Baru in Central Jakarta. Established in 1991, the four-story mosque'€™s architecture reflects its location in a predominantly Chinese area and its Chinese Muslim congregation.

The beautiful Dian Al Mahri Mosque in Cinere, Depok, has a gold dome and luxurious interior design.

Catholic churches


The majestic Jakarta Cathedral is just a stone'€™s throw from the Istiqlal Grand Mosque. The heritage building has neo-gothic architecture and a vast wooden ceiling.

The cathedral, which has 60-meter tall twin spires, was designed by Dutch priest Antonius Dijkmans and was built in 1901.

The cathedral also has a collection of interesting items, such as an image of the cathedral painted on dried banana leaves by Kusni Kasdut. Kusni was the talk of the town in the 1960s after masterminding a series of vintage art robberies. He converted to Catholicism while in jail.

Another Catholic church that is proud of its art collection is Kristus Raja Church in Pejompongan, Central Jakarta. The smallest Catholic church in the capital collaborated with renowned Indonesian artists when it was renovated in 2011. Visitors can enjoy the works of Muslim artist Yani Mariani Sastranegara, noted visual artist Teguh Ostenrik and Balinese artist I Wayan Winten.

Hindu temple


Pura Aditya Jaya is located in Rawamangun, East Jakarta, and was the first Hindu temple in Jakarta.

The temple is managed by members of the Hindu community in Jakarta, mostly from Bali, and is built on a vast swathe of land. On weekends, the temple holds Hindu educational programs for primary to high school students.

Inside the temple'€™s grounds, visitors can also find several stalls selling prayer paraphernalia and food stalls that sell traditional Balinese cuisine.

The I Gusti Ayu Taman food stall, which opened in 1981, sells dishes such as lawar (a spicy mix of coconut shavings, vegetables and minced meat) and various pork based dishes, including babi guling (suckling pig).

Buddhist temples

One of the oldest and most visited temples during Chinese New Year is Klenteng Petak Sembilan, also known as Vihara Dharma Bakti. Originally called Klenteng Kim Tek Ie, the temple on Jl. Kemenangan III in Glodok, West Jakarta is also famous for its collection of toapekong (worshipped god statues or pictures).

The temple was built in 1650 to honor a loving female Buddhist priest named Guan Yin or Kwan Im.

Protestant churches


The Immanuel Church in Gambir, Central Jakarta, is a beautiful example of Dutch colonial arcitecture. The church, which is currently undergoing conservation work, was built in 1834 and was declared a heritage building in 1972 by the city administration.

Inside, there is a small meeting room and the body of the church is home to a giant pipe organ.

'€œThe organ is still played during Sunday service,'€ Doni Patipeilohi, a security officer, told The Jakarta Post. '€” JP

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