Gorga Batak on Church of St. Fransiskus Asisi

If you are driving from Medan to Berastagi, do not only passing by this place.. Take a moment in front of the church, I mean Church of St. Fransiscus Asisi. This is the first bulding which has traditional design I found in Medan area. It’s on the right side from Medan, in Jl. Raya Medan-Berastagi, Kabanjahe, about 30 minutes from Medan. Church of St. Fransiskus Asisi, of course, is not Rumah Batak. But as public building, it has been built steady by the combination of traditional and modern construction. Design of this building is very similar to traditional house of Batak.

Look at the upper wall and roof, it has full of engraving along the wall. Gorga Batak. Gorga is mean engraving or chisel and really full of meaning. Gorga only has three colour, black, white, and red. They are called the three bolit. All of the ornament has specific theme. Gorga Ipon-ipon is designed along the wall in some centimeters, Gorga Jorgom above of main door, Gorga Ulu Paung as symbol of pride of the building, and much more style and meaning of Gorga. And all of Gorga in this building, of course, was designed for exceptional and sustainable the function of building.

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Vihara Avalokitesvara or Dewi Kwan Yin

This Vihara is in Pematang Siantar, about 3-4 hours by car from Medan, and well known has highest the godes Avalokitesvara or Dewi Kwan Yin.
See the below photograph, it is a picture of statue of the goddess Kwan Yin. It is 22 m high and 8m wide..wow! Do you believe ? It was shipped directly from China ... (Hooaahhh .... can you imagine how it was packaged ?...) At four corners at the based of statue of godes Kwan Yin is guarded by four statues of king with some characters.

And still in the same area, in front of the statue goddess Kwan Yin, there is a big bell and praying wheel. Buddhist pushed the wheel while continue to pray.
Vihara Avalokitesvara was designed with a lot of stanchion and reliefs of deities on the walls.
Meanwhile, relief of dragon is main theme for stanchion. Yups…look, I found Mega Mendung,they are patterned on one side. (Hughh..it makes me remember my hometown!) All of sidewall has good reliefs.If you will go or come from Lake Toba, please come to this place-Jl. Pane,Pematang Siantar- just to take photo or pray. It's up to you !

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Posted in: Buddhism,Kwan Yin,Medan,Pematangsiantar,shrine,Statue

Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple, Medan

When I was standing in front of Sun Plaza,the biggest plaza in Medan, and then I looked to the left…Huuowwoww!...Exciting!... I saw fantastic ornaments on the roof of a building. Yeah..it is Sri Mariamman Temple. Built on 1881st by the Tamil, India. From the outside it has invited more tourists to come. Beautiful indeed. The terrific Statues of Hindu Gods could be watched from in front of temple. I really very impressed when I came in to the temple. With so many extraordinary decoration such statue of godes Hindu along the wall of temple would make impressed all of everyone who ever come here. All of statues are good interesting eyes with many shapes and styles. Want to know more ? Hoho….please browse another blog to see the photos, and I am sure it will intrigued you to come to Medan.
Sri Mariamman Temple is located in the center of crowd and busy street, Jl. Teuku Umar No. 35 Medan, just 100 meters from Sun Plaza!

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Posted in: Hindu,Hinduism,India,Medan,shrine,Sri Mariamman Temple

Catholic Church of Annai Velankanni

Annai Velankanni is one of spectacular shrine in Medan and Indonesia too…

It was built based on a dream. Father James Bharataputra SJ, is the dreamer, which has working hard to realize his dream. His ideas also inspired from healing events at the XVII century in Tanjung Bengal Province Tamil Nadu, South India, famous as the place of occurrence of various diseases wonder healing.

Detailed design showing how the church will look from each elevation once it was built. Please let us see the part side, what more would you like to see ? Is it look like hand which is embracing ?
The influence of its architectural clearly visible India style. Annai Velankanni is a unique combination of existing Hindu-Temple and Church.



Really, you will be very impressed with this church. If you have plan to go to Medan, visiting Annai Velankanni should be added to your itinerary.
Located :
Jl. Sakura Indah III No. 10 Tanjung Selamat-Medan,North Sumatera.

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Posted in: Annai Velankanni,Asia,Hindu-Temple,India,Indonesia,Medan,shrine,Tamil Nadu

Al-Mashun - Grand Mosque of Medan

Not far from Maimun palace,Great Masjid-Al Mashun, is one of more popular places for tourist destination. This masjid has designed by a Dutch Architec,J.A. Tingdeman, on 1906-1909 during a periode of Sultan Ma'moen Al Rasyid Perkasa Alam, the Deli Sultanate IX and has not been changed since its building. What a durable building, after having a hundred years !...
When looking at dome, arcades, and ornaments most are based on Malay Kingdom style. It’s important to remember, that masjid is where people prays to God. Thus when designing to the altar it should be carried out so that it is quiet and comfortable for praying.

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Posted in: masjid,Medan,Mosque,Palaces,shrine

Horas!...This is Medan...

Image via WikipediaMedan. This is known as the third big city in Indonesia. “Is it hot and crowded like Jakarta and Surabaya ?” I always thought about it before I came to Medan. And for the first time I came, I was impressed as I saw along the way between Airport,Polonia, till the outside of Medan. Unlike Jakarta or Surabaya, the air feels different, big trees give fresh breeze as we through some busy streets. Hmmmm!….

As a big city Medan completely describe all assimilation process of diverse cultural. Here the Javanese, Chinese, Malay, and even Tamil from India, adjacent life harmonious with Batak, the indigenous. It is not surprising to hear Batak people and Javanese can speak Hokian language clearly, and India are not separated from common ones, maybe you will find they trade their traditional food, bread cane.

But wheres is traditional houses ? I mean Rumah Batak. Ugghhh…..This town is also constantly influenced by metropolitan city ....Medan looks like the other cities in Java too. Such as Jakarta, Surabaya, or Bandung, mall, shops, and office buildings are rapidly growing built as reflecting a metropolis. It’s difficult to find the traditional building in Batak style along downtown streets. You'd be disappointed. They are just found in countryside. Don't wory…this site features some unique and beautiful shrine buildings for you coming there….. :-D

Heyyyy….look at the transportations! Be careful when you are crossing the street. The drivers make competition each other to grab the passengers... Horas!....This is Medan, Man!

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Posted in: Indonesia,Medan,North Sumatra,Places

Maimun Palace

Image via WikipediaMaimun palace is famous as symbol of Medan and Malay Kingdom. 'Did you come to Maimun?' It’s a question we were asked a lot.
Built on the 1888 in 4 hectares area, width of the palace has 2.772 square meters with 20 bedrooms on the first floor, 20 bedrooms on 2nd floor, 4 bathrooms, warehouse, and jail underground.Wow!....Could you imagine how this palace should be cleaned ?
The style has distinctive features with Palaces or Keraton in Java which has Persian, Chinese, and Arabic style. Maimun was designed by Captain of TH. Van Erp, with unique combination of Malay and European style. Some of materials have been delivered from Europe such marmer, crystal lamps, and terrazzo. Look! It’s sunny with the yellow colour. You know, it is reflecting of greatness colour Malay kingdom.
The arcade, doors, windows, and roof, represents several style from Spain to Dutch and Turkey. Please find the history in another site and I hope you will be proud with our history and remember a treasured keepsake.

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Posted in: City,culture,Medan,Palace