Lawang Sewu become one place
or the building that most talked about in Semarang, Indonesia. Not because of
the unique name, but also sometimes associate with the mystical.
Whatever it is, Lawang Sewu
is a historic building, It has been become operational offices of government
agencies, and now become one of the favorite tourist destinations in Semarang,
Indonesia.
Lawang Sewu is a building in
Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia, which was the office of the
Nederlands-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappijatau NIS. Built in 1904 and completed
in 1907. Located at the roundabout Tugu Muda, formerly called Wilhelminaplein.
Lawang Sewu was designed by
C. Citroen, from the firm of J.F. Klinkhamer and B.J. Quendag. Construction
began in 1904 with A building, which was completed in 1907. The rest of
the complex was finished in 1919. It was initially used by the Nederlandsch
Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij, the national railway of the Dutch East
Indies.
The name Lawang Sewu is from
Javanese; it means "Thousand Doors". The name comes from its design,
with numerous doors and arcs. The building has about 600 large windows.
Lawang Sewu is loaded with
historical events leading up to independence of Indonesia from Dutch colonial.
When that happens the great battle in Semarang five days (October 14 to October
19 1945). This building was a silent witness to a great battle between the
Young Generation Train (AMKA) against Kempeitai and Kidobutai, troops of the
Japanese invaders.
After the independence of
the Republic of Indonesia, Lawang Sewu building used as an office Djawatan
Repoeblik Indonesian Railways (DKARI) or now known as PT. Kereta Api Indonesia
(KAI). Furthermore, once used by the
military as the office of Infrastructure Agency Regional Military Command
(military command IV / Diponegoro).
Lawang Sewu is said to be
haunted, with many tourists visiting to see the ghosts. Among the ghosts
reported to inhabit the establishment are a Dutchwoman who committed suicide
inside and "headless ghouls”.