Gereja Ayam (unsurprisingly "chicken church"), is a "prayer house" often referred to as a church in the area of Magelang on the island of Java, Central Java, Indonesia. The structure is constructed in the shape of a dove, but instead reminds many onlookers of a hen; hence, the locals have taken to calling it the chicken church, a name by which the building is often known across the internet.
As the largest Buddhist temple ever built, Borobudur in Indonesia is truly one of the world's great wonders. But it's not the only iconic place of worship on the island of Java. Just 15 minutes to the west of the enormous stone structure, if you venture a bit into the jungle, you'll find yourself standing in a clearing, looking up at the largest chicken you've ever seen.
Should you be trekking through the thick forests of Magelang, Indonesia, try not to be too alarmed if you stumble upon a titanic building shaped like a chicken. Known as Gereja Ayam (unsurprisingly, “Chicken Church”), this mouldering, behemoth, bird-like building is an unexpected, whimsical sight to stumble upon.
The building was erected during the 1990s by Daniel Alamsjah, who claimed to have been inspired by God to build a prayer house through a dream he had in 1989.
Daniel Alamsjah
Alamsjah is Christian, but envisioned Gereja Ayam as a place to welcome followers of any religion for prayer or meditation
The prayer house opened its doors (or spread its wings, so to speak) by the 1990s. The fledgling church welcomed any religions that wanted to make the trek, including Buddhists, Muslims, and Christians, holding services in the upper floors, while the lower floors provided rehab and juvenile outreach, among other charitable services. Unfortunately the project was grounded in 2000 when further construction costs became too high.
The poor chicken-dove-church was vacated, and left to the forest. Gereja Ayam continued to rot over the years, becoming a bit more ghoulish (in an avian way), with each year.
But these days, it’s been cleaned up and turned into a proper tourist attraction. Local artists have covered the inner walls with vibrant murals showing local mythology and history,
and there’s a small cafe nestled within the chicken’s rear that sells traditional, tasty treats. You can even climb up to the top of the bird’s head for amazing 360-degree views.
