The Mystery of the Chicken’s Church
This abandoned structure is known to the locals as Geraja Ayam – meaning Chicken Church – and each year it attracts hundreds of curious tourists and photographers on the hills of Magelang. According to the person who built it – Daniel Alamsjah, the building is neither a chicken nor a church.
He’s saying that he was working in Jakarta when he received a message from God, who told him to build a “prayer house” in the shape of a pigeon. “People probably thought that because of my religion I’m building a church. But, it’s not a church. I’ve built a house of prayers… a place where people who believe in God can come and pray.”
In 1989 he was in the Magelang area, the place where his wife’s family lives and he saw the perfect spot that he dreamt about. “I prayed there all night and I had a revelation that showed me that I must build there the house of prayer.”
A year later the land owners sold him a 3000 sqm area on the Rhema Hill for 2 million rupees (172 USD) – sum that he paid in four years.
In present time, people of different religious beliefs – including Buddhists, Muslims or Christians travel so they can pray. The house of prayer closed its doors in 2000 because of high maintenance costs.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Bukit Rhema (Chicken Church), near Borobudur, Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia
- Coordinates
- -7.605694, 110.1805
- Access
- Entry includes access to the seven-floor Bukit Rhema building and a guide (Indonesian/English). From parking, the approach is about 200 m with a slope up to 40 degrees; an optional jeep shuttle is available. Wear suitable shoes and consider the shuttle if the steep walk is difficult.
- Admission
- 2026 operator guide: IDR 25,000 for domestic and international visitors; children under 100 cm free. The ticket includes the seven-floor building, a guide and a fried-cassava snack. Optional jeep shuttle: IDR 15,000 return or IDR 10,000 one way. Confirm rates before travel.
- Time needed
- The operator estimates 1.5–2 hours to see all seven floors, take photos and stop at the café; allow 2–3 hours for a more relaxed visit. This is for Bukit Rhema alone, not a combined Borobudur day.
- Best season
- The operator gives no preferred month or season. It recommends arriving early for cooler air and fewer crowds; Private Sunrise is a separate reservation.
- Opening hours
- Visitor admission daily 06:00–17:00 WIB according to the operator’s 2026 ticket guide. The separate contact page lists service-response hours to 19:00; those are not visitor-entry hours. Private Sunrise visits require advance reservation and may start earlier.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-23
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-29
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I went there in March 2024. This place has now been well-renovated and visitors can enjoy a prayerful experience or simply visit as a tourist attraction. If you’re lucky, you might even meet someone who witnessed the construction of the Chicken Church.