Gereja Ayam: Indonesia’s Abandoned Chicken Church

In the forests of Magelang, Indonesia, looming high above the treeline, hikers may encounter a bizarre concrete chapel built in the shape of a chicken. Dubbed Gereja Ayam (or “Chicken Church”) by locals, the hulking structure was supposed to resemble a dove when it was built in the 1990s, though the outcome proved somewhat different. Atlas Obscura covers the bizarre history of Gereja Ayam along with some cool photographs, taken from a bird’s-eye view, of course. The site wrote: “While the locals have dubbed it the Chicken Church (and it’s easy to see why), the name is a bit of a misnomer since the visionary behind the crumbling chapel meant it to look like a dove. “The man behind the weird structure was 67-year-old Daniel Alamsjah, who received a holy vision that inspired him to create the dove church. He picked a forested hill near Magelang to build his pious tribute, and created possibly the most bird-like building in the world, complete with giant, squawking head, and ornate decorative tail feathers.” The Chicken Church welcomed all religions, holding services on its upper floors and a rehab facility below. Unfortunately the same divine guidance that led to its construction didn’t manifest later on, as operating costs and further expenses brought about its closure in 2000. Gereja Ayam, the abandoned Chicken Church, has since fallen into decay. Predictably, the neglected concrete building has fallen victim to vandals over the years. What’s more, writes Atlas Obscura, it’s become a popular spot for the youth of Magelang to commit “immoral acts”. Still, the Chicken Church remains popular with tourists, and is certainly the most bizarre building for miles around.