Kampung Arab (Arab Quarter) - Jakarta
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Tibs
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Kampung Arab could be a tourist attraction in Jakarta. It has not been developed yet so you have both the benefit of the authenticity and the disappointment of finding out the sights are not properly taken care of. Located in Pekojan, in the Tambora district in North Jakarta, it is a 15 minutes walk from Taman Fatahillah. If you go by taxi, you can ask to be dropped at the corner of Jalan Pekojan Raya and Jalan Pengukiran Raya. The area has several old mosques to visit, among which Masjid Al-Anshor (that I already reviewed separately as the oldest mosque in Jakarta ), Langgar Tinggi and Masjid Jami' Annawier. At the time they were built, some of the worshippers were Muslim Indian merchants who helped spread Islam to the rest of Indonesia.
Visiting the Sikh Temple Gurdwara, just a few hundred meters away from Pasar Baru market, is one of the most interesting and original things you can do in Jakarta. Indonesia has approximately 15,000 sikhs, most of whom live in Jakarta or Medan. I was told that there is a slight difference in the origin of the two communities. Most Sikhs in Medan came to Indonesia as warriors for the Dutch army in the 19th century, while Sikhs who came to Jakarta were mostly traders and businessmen. Built in 1955, the Gurdwara Sikh Temple in Pasar Baru is the largest in Jakarta. There is another one in Tanjung Priok (built in 1925) and two smaller ones in Ciputat and Tangerang. All were built by Sikhs families from Medan who migrated to the capital. To enter the temple, you must obey certain rules such as taking off your shoes, washing your hands and feet, and wearing something to cover your head. You can borrow a hat or a veil at the entrance if needed.
Vihara Bahtera Bhakti, also know as Kelenteng Ancol or Da Bo Gong is the oldest Buddhist temple in Jakarta. Built around the year 1650, it is made of several beautiful buildings on 4000m2. I did not find a lot of explanations about it in English either on the spot or on the internet. Wikipedia mentions it is quite unique as you will find rooms dedicated to Chinese Buddhist gods, particularly the earth god Tu Di Gong, but also a muslim shrine for Muslim Indonesians. They are Ibu Siti Wati and Sampo Soei So, supposedly the cook of Zheng He / Cheng Ho the explorer. There is also an area in the back dedicated to Said Areli and Ibu Enneng who seem to be the parents of Siti Wati. If anyone has more explanations, you are welcome to comment below. The temple is located within an upmarket, quiet residential area and it is quite difficult to find without asking someone for directions. I made the mistake to come by foot from Pantai Carnaval and I had to walk alm
I visited Masjid Jami Al-Anshor, the oldest mosque in Jakarta, during ramadan. It is a bit hard to find as it is located inside tiny streets of the Tambora district in North Jakarta. You will probably need to ask your way several times to local residents. I was just going around saying "Saya cari masjidnya yang paling tua di Jakarta" and amused kids led me to it.
The Istiqlal Mosque is probably the most impressive monument to visit in Jakarta, before the Monas. The largest mosque in Indonesia, the largest in Southeast Asia and the sixth largest in the world, it can welcome up to 120,000 people during special celebrations. If you want to see it fully packed, you should go during Idul-Fitri or Idul Adha. It was Sukarno who first had the idea of erecting a national mosque in the 1950s, following the independence of the country. It took 25 years for the building to be completed and it was finally inaugurated by Suharto in 1978. Interestingly enough, the architect of the Istiqlal Mosque, Frederich Silabanis, was a Christian. Also, the Mosque is located next to the Jakarta Cathedral to symbolize religious tolerance.
Gereja Sion is the oldest church in Jakarta. Also known as the Portuguese outer church, it was built in 1695 by the Dutch for the benefit of their "black Portuguese" prisoners ( Mardijker ), some of whom descendants of families captured during the siege of Galle in 1640. Apart from its historical significance, there is nothing really spectacular about the Gereja Sion. The best thing about it is probably the massive pipe organ from the 18th century. There is also a graveyard outside the church where Hendrick Zwaardecroon, former Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1718 to 1725 is buried. Hendrick Zwaardecroon's grave