Dharma Bhakti Temple, A Temple That Represent the Existence of Confucianists and Buddhists Community in Glodok Chinatown Area

Dharma Bhakti Temple as One of the Oldest Temple That You Can Find on Jakarta Chinatown Tour

As Chinese community are often migrating to trade and find better opportunities, there are Chinatowns that you can find in many countries, so does Indonesia. Not only that, but you can also find Chinatown in different provinces in Indonesia. One of them is in Jakarta. The Chinatown in Jakarta is called “Glodok” area. You can find Chinese community resides and operating their business there. You can find malls, tenants, restaurants, and small stores that sell various kinds of products there. Aside from that, you can also find temples where they practice their religion. One of them is Dharma Bhakti Temple, or in another name, “Kelenteng Kim Tek Ie”.

A Brief History of Dharma Bhakti Temple That Colors the Pluralistic Community in Glodok Jakarta

The temple was believed to be built in year 1650, named Kwan Im Teng, that later absorbed to the Indonesian language as “kelenteng”, a place of worship for Confucianists. According to a sinologist, the temple was believed to be burned along with the massive massacre of Chinese ethnicity in the year of 1740 by the Dutch East Indies. The temple was later restored in 1755 and the name was changed to Kim Tek Ie. At the 18th Century, the temple was known as the most important place of worship in the Chinese community in Batavia. After the year of 1965, the government suggests that the Chinese Indonesian ethnicity to use more Indonesian sounding name for surnames or other original Chinese names, thus, the temple finally named as Vihara Dharma Bhakti.

How To Reach Vihara Dharma Bhakti and When Is the Time to Visit the Iconic Temple in Glodok Chinatown Area

The temple can be reached by walking from Kota Train Station, around 900 meters, and it opens everyday from 6 AM to 4 PM. The popularity of this temple can be seen in Chinese festivals such as the celebrations of Chinese New Year, Lantern Festivals, and more. Many people will come to practice their worship and the place will be crowded.

Visit The Dharma Bhakti as A Part of Jakarta Chinatown Tour During Your Stay in Jakarta

The temple is a place that is worth to visit among the Chinese community in Glodok Chinatown area as it has a precious historical value. Come to Jakarta and join us on the Jakarta Walking Tour. We will take you to explore things you can see and do in Glodok Chinatown area to learn about the history, culture, and delicacies that it offers. See you around!

Toa Se Bio, One of The Oldest Temple That Witness the History of Batavia That You Can Find on Jakarta Chinatown Tour

Toa Se Bio as A Temple That Represents the Diverse Culture of Jakarta in Glodok Chinatown Area

As an Indonesian citizen, it is mandatory to embrace a religion. And until this modern time, there are six religion that is officially recognized by the government, they are Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism. The existence of these religions reflected by the respective worship places. For Islam, represented by mosques, Catholicism by cathedrals, Buddhism and Confucianism by temples, and Hinduism by shrines. One of the oldest and iconic temples in Glodok Chinatown area is named Toa Se Bio Temple or “Wihara Toa Se Bio”.

A Brief History of the Toa Se Bio Iconic Temples that Colors the Glodok Jakarta Area

According to the Ministry of Religion, the temple was rebuilt at the year of 1751, after the massacre of Chinese ethnicity by the VOC, and began to serve its purpose as a place of worship for Buddhists community in the year of 1754. In the year 2022, a historical inscription was built to commemorate the history and devotion of the predecessors for 271 years. It represents the pluralistic society that exists in Jakarta. Until today, the temple is widely known amongst the community that live in the Glodok Chinatown area.

How To Reach and When is The Proper Time to Visit the Toa Se Bio Temple in While Strolling Around Glodok Jakarta Area

Since the temple is an iconic place with a historical value, not only for the Buddhists community, but people who embrace other religions are often curious to know and see the place. The temple is open from 6 AM to 6 PM every day. Though the place is open to welcome people from other religions, but we need to be respectful if there are rituals or prayers being practiced and comply with the rules while visiting to look around. The easiest way to reach the temple is to ride a commuter line train, get off at the Stasiun Kota, and walk around 800 meters into the Glodok Chinatown area.

Visit The Toa Se Bio as A Part of Jakarta Chinatown Tour While You Visit the City with Jakarta Walking Tour

If you think you are not familiar enough to find the temple by yourself as it is your first time in the city, join our Jakarta Chinatown Tour instead. We will take you to iconic places that hold many valuable histories. We can also try some delicacies along the way that reflect Jakarta’s diverse cultures. See you around!