Lawang Sewu And Its History

Lot of people go to Semarang will definitely visit Lawang Sewu. This place is known as one of the Semarang’s tourism icons.

Several years ago, Lawang Sewu was known as a spooky and haunted place so tourists tend to think the rooms in this place as a mystical place.

However, thanks to the management of the government and PT KAI that made the face of Lawang Sewu more majestic without reducing the historical value of every corner.

History Lawang Sewu

At first, Lawang Sewu was used as the Head Office of the Private Railway NISM (Nederlandschindische Spoorweg Maatschappij) which was built on an area of 18,232 m².

Construction of the main building began in 1904 and was completed in mid-1907. While other buildings around began to be built from 1916 to 1918.

The architecture of the building was designed by an architect from Amsterdam, namely Prof. Jakob F. Klinkhamer and BJ Ouendag. There a lot opof doors in this huge building that local people call it Lwang Sewu or Thousand Doors.

All of those doors are deliberately made so that air circulation in the building is maintained.

Besides, there is also a unique and magnificent corner, stained-glass ornaments from the Johannes Lourens Schouten manufacture which has a story about the beauty of Java and the glory of the railroad at that time.

Well, now Lawang Sewu is used as a historical tourist spot and a charming photo spot. The building is used as a museum to present a collection of railway history in Indonesia.

Some of the collections include Alkmaar, Edmonson machines, typewriters, steam locomotive replicas, calculating machines, and securities.

Visitors can also see various collections of photos during the restoration and the restoration materials used. There is also a library containing books about trains and their history in Indonesia.

Rooms at Lawang Sewu

The corner that most attracts tourists is the basement which is said to be a place of torture and dungeons during the colonial period.

However, in recent years, the crypt has been closed by the management of Lawang Sewu for security reasons and to avoid historical bias.

Besides being used as a tourist spot and museum, Lawang Sewu is also often used as a place for exhibitions, meeting rooms, weddings, bazaars, and festivals.

Entrance Ticket Prices and Operating Hours

Visitors can come to Lawang Sewu from 7 AM to 9 PM. The entry ticket price for adults is IDR 10,000, IDR 5,000 for students, and IDR 5,000 for children.

Lawang Sewu is located in the Tugu Muda area of Semarang, where there are also many other attractions such as the Mandala Bhakti Struggle Museum, the Cathedral Church, and Kampung Pelangi.

Completed with the Semarang BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) shelter facility, tourists can use it to move to other tourist attractions throughout Semarang. (Nico/Contributor)