7 hours ago
9
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tourism is not only about having fun in amusement parks or refreshing the eyes with visits to natural tourist destinations, but there are also alternatives such as religious tourism that can be done to seek inner peace.
Basically, religious tourism itself can be defined as tourist destinations related to history, figures, and places of worship. This type of tourism has many benefits for one's mental and spirituality. It helps increase faith, expand religious knowledge, and enhance the understanding of the culture and history of a place.
As cited from the Kemenparekraf page, religious tourism can be attended by all religions, not only for Muslims. As we know, Indonesia recognizes six religions including Islam, Protestant, Catholic, Hindu, Buddha, and Confucianism. Each religious teaching has its own religious tourism.
However, even if it doesn't align with one's beliefs, visitors can still explore and learn about the culture of each religious tourism destination. In other words, religious tourism can also promote tolerance among religious communities in Indonesia.
However, when visiting, one must respect the worshippers and the rules. Here are some recommended religious tourism destinations in Indonesia.
Recommended series of religious tourism destinations in Java Island.
1. Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta
In 1953, KH. Wahid Hasyim, the first Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, along with H. Agus Salim, Anwar Tjokroaminoto, and Ir. Sofwan and around 200 Islamic leaders led by KH. Taufiqorrahman proposed to establish a foundation. On December 7, 1954, the Istiqlal Mosque foundation, chaired by H. Tjokroaminoto, was established to realize the idea of building the national mosque.
As cited from the Istiqlal Mosque page, this mosque project was delayed due to the unfavorable political situation. This situation peaked in 1965 during the G30S/PKI event. After the political situation subsided, in 1966, Minister of Religious Affairs KH. Muhammad Dahlan initiated the resumption of the mosque's construction.
Seventeen years later, Istiqlal Mosque was completed. The construction began on August 24, 1961, and was inaugurated for public use by President Soeharto on February 22, 1978, marked by a plaque installed on the stairs of As-Salam door. The construction cost was mainly obtained from the state budget amounting to 7 billion rupiah.
2. Prambanan Temple, Yogyakarta
Prambanan Temple is not only a tourist attraction visited by local and international tourists, but it also serves as a center of worship for the Hindu community worldwide. The Director General of Hindu Community Development I Nengah Duija stated that Prambanan Temple is evidence of the past advancement of Hindu civilization.
"In the 8th and 9th centuries, we had a civilization with futuristic technology. Without scholars, architects, and others, the technology used to build the temple had existed thousands of years ago," he said as quoted from Tempo.co on December 9, 2023.
For Hindus, Nengah stated that Prambanan Temple embodies the concept of Hindu theology in Javanese culture. The temple complex was built with the Shiva Temple in the middle, the Vishnu Temple on the left, and the Brahma Temple on the right. "The concept shows that Javanese Hindu civilization is based on the concept of trimurti. This has continued until now," said Nengah.
3. Maha Vihara Majapahit, Mojokerto
One of the religious tourism destinations for Buddhists in East Java is the Maha Vihara Mojopahit. The temple is located in Mojokerto, East Java. The building covers an area of about 20,000 square meters.
Maha Vihara Mojopahit adopts Javanese style architecture. Additionally, visitors can see a large sleeping Buddha statue at the site.
4. Sam Poo Kong Temple, Semarang
The next tourism destination is the Sam Poo Kong Temple located in Semarang, Central Java. The temple area tells the story of Admiral Zheng He, who is believed to have sailed to Semarang. Visitors can also enjoy taking typical bamboo curtain photos.
5. Immanuel Church Semarang
Immanuel Church or Blenduk Church is one of the ancient buildings that stands majestically among other colonial architecture buildings. It is often dubbed as the "tetenger" or "landmark" of the Old City. Blenduk Church has both historical and unique architectural appeal.
As cited from the Immanuel Church Semarang page, in terms of architecture, Blenduk Church was built two and a half centuries ago, designed in the Pseudo Baroque style, a European architectural style from the 17th-19th centuries. The building has a unique feature, an octagonal layout with the main chamber located in the center, making it a centralized building with a dome-shaped or blenduk roof model.
6. Sunan Bungkul's Tomb
Ki Ageng Mahmuddin, better known as Mbah Bungkul, is believed to have been one of the Muslim rulers in Surabaya in the 14th century AD.
As cited from the East Java Provincial Government Communication and Informatics Service (Kominfo) website, Adrian Perkasa, a Lecturer in the Department of History at Airlangga University (Unair), stated that Mbah Bungkul played a special role in spreading Islam during the heyday of Majapahit.
There are still many more religious tourism destinations that you can visit in Java Island.
Melynda Dwi Puspita and Mutiara Roudhatul Jannah have contributed to the writing of this article.
Editor's choice: Religious Tourism in West Sumatra from the Grand Mosque to the Oldest Surau in West Sumatra
