Lawang Sewu
Abandoned and antique buildings inspire stories: legends, Myths, and Haunted tales of the building’s origin, owners, and builders. Indonesia is home to numerous historical and mystical buildings, many antique and dating back hundreds of years. One such building is Lawang Sewu which was built by the Dutch between 1904 and 1907 and functioned as the head office for The Dutch East Indies Railway Company (Nederlandsch Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij) until 1942. The building was used as the Japanese Military Headquarters during World War II.
In Javanese, Lawang Sewu is translated to mean “a thousand doors.” And while the building does not have a thousand doors, the massive, three-story structure is lined with numerous doors and windows resembling doors, from which the building obtained its name. This large and mysterious building is not simply a deserted structure but is an icon of history.
And heroes. As people may expect, the building has many doors, as if it comes with a thousand. This majestic structure is located in Sekayu Village and belongs to Central Semarang Sub-District. The site has lots of exciting allures that visitors can enjoy for sure.
On October 14, 1945, shortly after Indonesia declared independence, the building became the scene for the bloody “Battle of Semarang.” The 5-day battle occurred between AMKA, Angkatan Muda Kereta Api (Railway Youth Force) against the Kempeitai and Kidobutai, the Japanese Military Police and Strike Force. Many were tortured and executed during this battle. In 1950, the Tugu Muda monument was built to remember this fight for freedom and honor those who died in battle. Each year, a celebration is held around this monument to commemorate the heroic, 5-day struggle at Lawang Sewu.
On October 14, 1945, shortly after Indonesia declared independence, the building became the scene for the bloody “Battle of Semarang.” The 5-day battle occurred between AMKA, Angkatan Muda Kereta Api (Railway Youth Force) against the Kempeitai and Kidobutai, the Japanese Military Police and Strike Force. Many were tortured and executed during this battle. In 1950, the Tugu Muda monument was built to remember this fight for freedom and honor those who died in battle. Each year, a celebration is held around this monument to commemorate the heroic, 5-day struggle at Lawang Sewu.
Aside from learning history, people come to Lawang Sewu to conduct exploration. The building consists of many rooms, after all. In the basement, a watery underground was used as a prison back then. At the top of the building, a vast ballroom resides. Several bats also live in that room; those who love a thrilling experience must visit Lawang Sewu in the evening! The nuance would be more mystical, for sure.
Another common thing to do in Lawang Sewu is photography. Tourists can take photos either outside or inside the building. Sometimes, couples even conduct a pre-wedding photo session there. The structure is valuable enough as the background of photography, after all.
From downtown, tourists can take any available transportation service and head to Lawang Sewu Building for 10 minutes from Padma Hotel. Their destination is none other than Central Semarang Sub-District. Later, they only need to reach Sekayu Village, where the building resides. Please don’t worry. The trip only takes about 11 minutes, as the distance is 5 km. The fastest route is Pandanaran Street.
October, the same as September or November, is another warm spring month in Semarang, Indonesia, with temperatures in the range of an average low of 21.1°C (70°F) and an average high of 27.9°C (82.2°F).
In Semarang, the average length of the day in October is 12h and 16 min. On the last day of October, sunrise is at 05:11, and sunset is at 17:32 WIB. The Sun’s UV radiation is most powerful between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Limit exposure to the direct sun during these hours to the extent possible. So bring your sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses and prepare an umbrella.
Semarang Old Town
Kota Lama is a cultural heritage area with many old and historic buildings from the Dutch Era. At that moment, the area was the center of government. The architecture of the buildings is in European style, with large main doors and windows, decorative elements, and high ceilings.
Kota Lama consists of several areas that come with a distinct nuance. The good thing is tourists can explore them all freely. Most of the buildings apply Dutch architecture, for sure. These structures have been there since the 18th century. Despite the age, the condition remains excellent and sturdy. The appearance doesn’t look too good, though. The local government wants to retain its historical value, so it decided to keep it that way. Here is the tip. Tourists should hire a local guide to show good spots in Kota Lama. Because the size is extensive, first-timers will likely get lost during the exploration. Some exciting spots include Blenduk Church, Taman Srigunting, Jiwasraya Insurance Building, Outdetrap Building, Semarang Art Gallery, De Spiegel, Marba, etc. For those who like walking, strolling around the corners of Kota Lama is very interesting since you can walk comfortably in the pedestrian area. You can also take a regular tour organized by a touring community. On a weekend evening, we can enjoy the atmosphere of Car Free Night along Jl. Lt. Gen. Suprapto Semarang, near the harbor and Old City, is very close to the Padma Hotel and directly for 15 minutes (6.6 Km) in Sultan Agung No.86 Street to Letjen Suprapto No. 31 Street. Don’t forget to bring your phone to capture
Sam Poo Kong
The Sam Poo Kong Temple, also known as Gedung Batu (the Stone Building), is the oldest Chinese temple in Semarang, capital of the province of Central Java. Unlike most temples, the building does not belong to any specific religion, but rather functions as a place of worship for people of various ethnicities and religious groups including Buddhists, Taoists and muslims. The temple is located on Jalan Simongan, West Semarang.
Sam Poo Kong is the oldest of 5 temples included in the Sam Poo Kong complex which spans across 3.2 hectares. The building covers an area of 1,020 square meters and is influenced by both Chinese and Javanese 14th century architectural styles. The temple is painted with a magnificent red color and crowned with a triple-layered pagoda-style roof, typical of East Asian culture. The surrounding area is thick with incense smoke, giving the feel of being in China itself.
The temple foundations were first built by Admiral Cheng Ho, elsewhere better known as Admiral Zheng He, a muslim explorer from Mainland China. After some time, Cheng Ho left Java, but many of his crew decided to stay behind and settle in the area. They married with the locals, and till now, Simongan is inhabited by descendants of China.
In 1704, the original temple and cave collapsed in a landslide. The local community rebuilt it 20 years later in a different location, closer to the city center and further from areas prone to decay by natural elements. It functions both as a place of worship, and a shrine honoring Cheng Ho for his services to the community. Sam Poo Kong Temple is located on Simongan Road, approximately 3 KM south west from Simpang Lima and about 8 minutes from Padma Hotel Semarang. The temple is open to the
