Hidden Places
A Thousand Doors
By Kezia Surjadi
Lawang Sewu is a museum located in the district
of Tuguh Mudah. Also known as the “haunted house
with a thousand doors”, the place serves as one of
the major tourist attractions of Semarang. However,
only few are aware of the wonderful history that
Lawang Sewu holds within.
As you enter the grand Lawang Sewu, first thing
one will notice is the magnificence of its three
building complex. Its many arches holding up the
long corridors lined with numerous doors leading to
one of its famed icons - the exquisite stain glass
window. Though the buildings are part of one
complex, age and significance differs from building to
building. The oldest building once served to house
the workers and architects who constructed the
Lawang Sewu. It now functions as a small museum.
The most prominent building of all is the one built in
1904, which resembles the letter L. The neighboring
building was built in 1916 and owes most of its
characteristics to the 1904’s building—except for its
stain glass windows.
Lawang Sewu is closely connected to two major
historical events: the early railroads of Indonesia and
the Five Days War. It became the new headquarters
of the Dutch railroad company (known as NIS) when
the older headquarters were not able to accommodate
the growing number of workers. Employing Dutch
architectural techniques, the 1904 building was a feat
of engineering. Its many doors earned it the
nickname “Lawang Sewu”, which literally means “a
thousand doors” in Javanese language.
The old NIS headquarter is also the site of the Five
Days War, where young Indonesian men and
Japanese soldiers fought for the control over the
trains. Many were slaughtered inside the building and
five were buried under the grounds of Lawang Sewu.
The canal underneath the Lawang Sewu, a drainage
system during the time of Dutch occupation, was
turned into a prison by the Japanese. These historical
incidents inspired stories of ghosts roaming around
the Lawang Sewu.
Despite Lawang Sewu’s tragic past, the history that
abounds within it supersedes any legend. Newly
renovated after years of neglect, it is now a museum
of the early Indonesian railroads. Its unique
architecture ( a mix of Hindu, Javanese, and Dutch
styles), legendary “thousand doors”, and the intricate
details of the stain glass windows attract many
tourists into its gates. The opening hours is from
seven in the morning to nine in the evening with a
small price of Rp.10,000.00 for adults and Rp.
5,000.00 for children and an additional Rp. 15.000.00
for tour guides. Come enter its many doors and
enjoy it’s mysterious but breathtaking beauty.
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