Yogyakarta is home to the Chicken Church Bukit Rhema, one of the strangest attractions in Indonesia and a unique place to visit.
36 kilometres outside of Yogyakarta and less than 4 kilometres from the famous Borobudur Temple sits Bukit Rhema, a church shaped like a giant chicken.
Ever since it was built in the 90s, this unusual structure has attracted thousands of visitors. Bukit Rhema is so strange and mysterious that you shouldn’t miss it on your next trip to Yogyakarta.
If you’re planning to visit Borobudur anyway, then why not make a quick stop at the Chicken Church? It’s definitely one of the world’s most bizarre religious places.
Are you planning a trip to Yogyakarta? Check out our complete three-day itinerary to help plan your trip.
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Why you can trust this article about the Chicken Church in Yogyakarta
Hi, I’m Victoria, and I’m your go-to source for Bali and Indonesia travel information.
I’ve lived on this beautiful island for several years now and visited plenty of times before that, both as a tourist and backpacker. I know how to save money and when to splurge on things, so I’ll introduce you to the best luxury getaways for a special occasion but also the cheapest airport pickups and fun group tours you can join if you want to make friends.
Yogyakarta is just a quick flight from Bali, so I actually come here quite a lot. It’s such a vibrant and underrated city, and there isn’t a lot of reliable travel info out there for it.
After my first trip to Yogyakarta in 2019, I’ve come back a few times and always make sure to keep these posts up to date several times per year.
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Bukit Rhema is not a church and not a chicken
Many of the staff at Bukit Rhema aren’t very fond of the term Chicken Church. In fact, you’ll find the building is supposed to be neither a church nor a chicken. It’s meant to be shaped like a dove to represent peace between all faiths and religions.
Still, locals refer to it as Gereja Ayam, which translates to Chicken Church in Indonesian.
Originally, it apparently looked more like a dove until the “crown” was added to the head of the bird, which made it appear more rooster-like. The crown is actually meant to represent holiness.
It is also not technically a church. The building is a “House of Prayer” for all religions, not just Christianity. Inside, there are prayer rooms and religious imagery of many faiths. They do seem to focus mostly on Islam and Christianity, though.
Who built the Chicken Church in Yogyakarta and why?
An interfaith religious site shaped like a bird is a strange thing to find in the middle of the Indonesian jungle. As you might expect, the building actually has a very interesting story behind it.
Bukit Rhema or the Gereja Ayam was constructed in the early 90s (sometime around 1990 and 1992) by a man named Daniel Alamsjah. At the time, he worked in Jakarta as a manager at a German chemical company. One night, he had a vision of a white dove sitting on top of a mountain overlooking a jungle.
A voice started telling him to construct a church shaped like a dove in this exact spot. But it wasn’t supposed to be a church just for his own Christian faith. This church should unify all religions.
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At the time he did not think too much of this vision until one day one of his employees did not show up to work. He decided to check on him and travelled to his home town Magelang, which is not far from Borobudur.
After his employee promised to return to work soon, he invited Daniel to watch the sunrise on Bukit Rhema, the hill where the church sits today. He immediately recognised the landscape from his vision and knew that this was where he needed to build his house of prayer.
He bought the land (1 acre) from the local owners for what would be around US $2000 today. This was a large amount of money at the time and it took him five years just to pay it off.
Construction of the Chicken Church
It took almost four years to just obtain the legal documents to start construction. Daniel had no experience in construction but still designed the entire church himself in order to stay true to his vision.
But Daniel still had his job in Jakarta, which he depended on financially. He took the train to Yogyakarta to work on his church every weekend for more than five years to oversee the construction. Money was tight so most of the structure was built by either him or locals whom he became close with.
The project had to face many problems, including disapproval from local communities, which are predominantly Muslim. No one really liked the idea of an interfaith institution.
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Why Bukit Rhema was abandoned
In the year 2000, there was simply no money left, and the project had to be abandoned. At this point, not all floors were completed, and the basement consisted mainly of dirt with no floor or real walls. The church was mostly an empty shell.
Despite the steady number of tourists who visited Bukit Rhema every year during this time, the structure was abandoned for almost fifteen years and was close to collapsing. Many parts of the structure were vandalised, and nature started to take back the concrete walls.
By this time Daniel had moved to the area and was managing a local rehab centre (Panti Rehabilitasi Mental). He tried to keep the church alive by collecting entrance fees from any visitors who found the remote chicken. But with only around 100 visitors per month, there was no way to continue the construction.
Restarting construction of the Chicken Church in Yogyakarta
However, mainstream media attention and the internet managed to resuscitate global interest in the project, and construction was resumed in 2015. The church was even mentioned in the popular volcano documentary “Into the Inferno”, which increased its fame significantly. It suddenly became a popular wedding location, and Indonesian movies used it as filming sets.
Atlas Obscura has also done excessive research on the project.
Now, there were more than 2,000 visitors per week, and Daniel was still charging the same entrance fee, which was US $1. As the local communities started to benefit from the increased tourism streams they began to view the project more favourably.
With the funds that Daniel collected, he was finally able to restart the construction at Bukit Rhema.
By 2019, the Chicken Church was pretty much finished and had become a popular tourist hotspot. Daniel is in his late 70s and has dedicated his life to his rehabilitation centre.
Today, Daniel says: “You know, everyone said I was crazy. In the 90s, I kept rereading the Bible, trying to find the courage to continue. My children were very angry with me. I had to keep telling them this isn’t my plan. This is God’s plan.
It’s been 30 years, and I’m glad I continued – thousands of visitors come each year to pray or to reflect on their lives, and my children finally respect what I’ve accomplished.” (Source)
When is the best time to go to the Chicken Church in Yogyakarta?
The church’s opening hours vary but are generally from around 4:00 AM to 6:00 PM or roughly sunrise to sunset. You can see the sunrise from the top of the church, but you’ll have to arrive early. They limit the number of people that can go to the top to around 15, so you have to be among the first to be able to go up.
It could be advisable to pre-book a slot to make sure you get a space.
Check out the Bukit Rhema website for more details.
The church is rarely very crowded, at least not in my experience. As you might expect, the busiest times are around noon and the early afternoon.
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Chicken Church dress code
Since this is a religious place, you will be asked to cover your shoulders and knees. Definitely take your own sarong or a change of long clothes as there weren’t any rental sarongs available when we last went.
How much is the entrance fee for the Chicken Church in Yogyakarta
Entrance tickets cost IDR 30,000 (~ €2) for foreigners and IDR 25,000 for domestic visitors. You can purchase them on arrival or pre-book on the website in advance. This isn’t really necessary, though, in my experience, and only advisable if you’re coming for sunrise.
The price includes a small snack, usually fried cassava. Parking costs around IDR 3,000 (~ €0.20) per vehicle.
Restaurant and food options
The church has Kedai Rakyat W’Dank Bukit Rhema, a small cafe which sells food and drinks. This is where you can redeem your snack voucher. The cafe has an outdoor terrace with a great view, so it’s actually a really nice place to sit for a bit and rest.
They serve mostly traditional Indonesian food, and the fried cassava is their speciality.
There are also some small warungs next to the church and down the road which might have slightly cheaper prices.
Trying to save money on your travels? Check out our 21 Tips on how to save money on your trip to Indonesia
Are there bathrooms at the Chicken Church?
There are bathrooms available at the church and they are of decent quality in my experience.
Drones and photography
It is permitted to fly a drone at the church, however, it can be tricky due to the surrounding jungle. Make sure to only fly your drone if you’re experienced in manoeuvring through dense foliage.
You can take photos throughout the church, but you should not forget that you are visiting a religious site. Be respectful of any other visitors.
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How to get to the Chicken Church in Yogyakarta
The church is easily accessible by main roads. You can drive there by yourself if you have a scooter. You can also hire a driver to take you there.
The road is not too difficult to drive, and the church is actually located only around 5 minutes from the main road, so it’s easy to reach.
Many locals know Bukit Rhema as “Gereja Ayam” which translates to chicken church, so tell that to your driver if you hire one.
Address: Karangrejo Gombong, Kurahan, Kembanglimus, Kec. Borobudur, Magelang, Jawa Tengah 56553, Indonesia
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If you’re headed to Jakarta next, read our complete guide on taking the train between the two cities.
How long do you have to walk to the Chicken Church?
The parking lot of Bukit Rhema is not located directly at the church, and you’ll have to walk for around 10 minutes to reach it. The walk is very steep but short. If you don’t feel like sweating on your way up you can pay some of the locals around IDR 15,000 (~ €1) to drive you on a bike or jeep.
How long should you spend at the Chicken Church?
You can spend anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour at the church depending on how many other people are visiting and if you make a stop at the cafe.
It’s not a big place, so a short visit is usually enough.
The layout of the Chicken Church
The dove-shaped building has seven stories in total. The bottom one is mostly designated to prayer rooms and different shrines. There is also a Wall of Hope where visitors can leave their prayers and wishes.
Then, there is the large hall that roughly resembles an actual church. This was one of the last parts of the church to be completed and is sometimes still under construction. The church is definitely a passion project and never seems to be entirely completed.
They have some display boards with pictures of the construction and remodelling of the building.
The upper stories are all located in the neck and head of the dove. These are very small and all beautifully decorated with various murals painted by local artists. You might notice the underlying themes of saying no to drugs and promoting peace, which are of great importance to the architect Daniel Alamsjah and his rehabilitation centre.
On one of the floors, you can access the small balcony that sits in the beak of the chicken.
The top floor and crown of the chicken are only accessible by a narrow ladder. It is not recommended to go up if you have a fear of heights. The space upstairs is very small, but the view is worth the climb.
You can see Borobudur in the distance, and it’s breathtaking during sunrise.
Is the Chicken Church in Yogyakarta worth visiting?
Yes, in my opinion, it is. It’s not the largest attraction, which means it won’t take much of your time. If you’re visiting Borobudur Temple anyway then why not make a quick stop here?
The church is such a weird place that I personally just wanted to see it with my own eyes. If you know the story behind this obscure building it’s even more interesting, I think.
If you love unusual places, this is a must-see, but keep in mind that Bukit Rhema has definitely become a popular tourist destination and less of a hidden secret.
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Other things to do close to Bukit Rhema
As I mentioned, Borobudur Temple is very close to Bukit Rhema. It’s amazing during sunrise. Check out our complete Borobudur at sunrise guide here.
Mount Merapi is also decently close and is great if you want to take a jeep tour. Read our 17 Things to do in Yogyakarta that aren’t Borobudur list to find out more.
Chicken Church Yogyakarta FAQ
Construction for the Chicken Church Bukit Rhema began around 1990.
Bukit Rhema, located close to Yogyakarta in Indonesia is a famous church shaped like a chicken, although it’s meant to be a dove.
The Chicken Church is meant to be an all-faith prayer house that is open to people of all religions.
The Chicken Church is located close to Borobudur temple, around 1 hour outside of Jogja.
Before you go…
You’re headed to Yogyakarta’s most unusual attraction, but the city actually has a lot more to offer. Read our complete list of things to do as well as our three-day itinerary for inspiration.
You might also find our guide to using the airport bus helpful and our article on how to avoid the city’s notorious batik scams.
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Did I miss anything?
If you have any questions or feel like something is missing from this post, please leave a comment below or contact me.
