Lawang Sewu - Semarang

Lawang Sewu

For decades, this building has been visited by tourists curious to see the ghosts that allegedly haunt it. Since 2010 though, the building's ghoulish image has faded somewhat. The owners of the building, PT. Kereta Api Indonesia (the nation's rail operator), have carried out major renovations in order to magically transform Lawang Sewu into a tourist attraction. After buying a ticket, visitors can explore this splendid building with a guide, without fear of any hair-raising moments. Built in 1904, this cultural landmark used to be home to the office of the first railroad operator in Java (the Dutch Nederlandsch Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij).

 

A Historical Building that Tells Stories

The rapid growth of train as mean of transportation in Java had made the number of workers was getting bigger, so they needed larger office to work. This was the reason for Het Hoofdkantoorvan de Nederlandsch Indische Spoorweg Maatscappij (NIS) or the center of NIS railways division was built on the corner of Bodjongweg or now known as Pemuda street. This building that was constructed with art deco style and has twins tower in front is later famous as Lawang Sewu.

It is called Lawang Sewu by the indigenous people because in Javanese language, lawang means door and sewu means a thousand. In other words, lawang sewu can be translated into a thousand doors. It doesn’t mean that this building has exactly one thousand doors, but the word thousand is used to figure out that Lawang Sewu has so many doors. Though it has been a hundred years old, the building that was built with European style and has local ornament still strongly exists. The glass decorative items on the window makes this building looks more luxurious and elegant. It seems that times cannot make this building as the landmark of Semarang fade away.

Beside its beautiful architecture, Lawang Sewu also provides historical value. At the beginning of its era, this building that was located in front of Daendels Highway Post was used as the office of NIS and also house for the Ducth people. Its basement was also ever used by the Japanese army as jail in the 5 day incident in Semarang and as government office after Indonesia’s independence. Nowadays, the organization of Lawang Sewu is controlled by Indonesia Railways Division.

Entering one of the building in Lawang Sewu, YogYES was greeted by a long path with wooden doors on both sides. There was a ballroom, dining hall, multi-functioned room, and showroom on the upper floor. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find any furniture or tools left but only empty room. Our visit to Lawang Sewu was continued to the basement. Seeing narrow, dark, and damp rooms that had been used as jail made us frightened. The smell of cruelty in the past was still there.

It opens from:
Monday to Sunday at 6a.m to 6p.m

The ticket is:

• Entering the building: IDR 5,000
• Visiting the basement: IDR 10,000

Special on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, we may have a visit tour to Lawang Sewu at 12p.m

Selama puluhan tahun bangunan ini bergelar sarang hantu. Tapi, sejak 2010, citra horor itu sedikit luntur. Pemilik bangunan, PT. Kereta Api Indonesia, telah menyulap Lawang Sewu Jadi obyek pemikat turis. Setelah membayar tiket, pengunjung bisa menyelami kemegahan bangunan bersama pemandu, tanpa khawatir bulu kuduk menegang. Didirikan pada 1904, cagar budaya ini pernah menampung kantor kereta api pertama di Jawa (Nederlandsch Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij).