Jam Gadang

Coordinates: 0°18′19″S 100°22′10″E / 0.305210°S 100.3694°E / -0.305210; 100.3694

Jam Gadang
Jam Gadang in February 2017
Location Bukittinggi
Designer Yazid Abidin, Sutan Gigi Ameh & Haji Moran
Height 26 metres (85 ft)
Beginning date 1926
Completion date 1926
Dedicated to Bukittinggi City Secretary

Jam Gadang (Minangkabau for "Big Clock") is a clock tower and major landmark and tourist attraction in the city of Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia. It is located in the centre of the city, near the main market, Pasar Ateh. It has large clocks on each face.

History

The original clock tower before shape alteration.

Jam Gadang is located in central Bukittinggi, a city in the Minangkabau Highlands of West Sumatra. It sits in the middle of the Sabai Nan Aluih Park, near the Ateh Market and palace of Mohammad Hatta.[1] The structure was built in 1926, during the Dutch colonial era, as a gift from Queen Wilhelmina to the city's controleur.[2][3] It was designed by architects Yazin and Sutan Gigi Ameh, reportedly at a cost of 3,000 guilder.[2]

Originally a rooster figure was placed on the apex, but it was changed into a Jinja-like ornament during the Japanese occupation (1942–1945). Following Indonesian independence, the tower's top was reshaped to its present form, which resembles traditional Minang roofs (see Rumah gadang).[2] Local oral tradition holds that the internal mechanisms of the clock are twin to those of Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) in London.[1]

On March 6, 2007, the Jam Gadang tower was damaged by two earthquakes that struck western Sumatra. Over the following years it was refurbished by the Indonesia Heritage Trust (Badan Pelestarian Pusaka Indonesia). Funding for the 600 million rupiah (approximately 55 thousand Euros) restoration came from the Netherlands. The refurbished tower was inaugurated on December 22, 2010, as part of Bukittinggi's 262nd anniversary celebrations.[3]

The Jam Gadang tower has been as an observation posts during fires, such as one that affected the Ateh Market. During Ramadhan, the call to prayer that marks the breaking of the fast is sounded from the tower.[1]

Clock structure and location

Jam Gadang uses 'IIII' instead of 'IV'

The tower has four clocks made in Recklinghausen Germany by Bernard Vortmann and was shipped via Rotterdam. Each clock face has a diameter of 80 centimetres (31 in). The tower's base is 13 by 4 metres (43 ft × 13 ft) and it stands 26 metres (85 ft) tall.[2] The clocks use "IIII" for the number 4 instead of the traditional Roman number "IV".[2] According to one local story, the four vertical lines represents the four workers who died while constructing the building. Another story suggests that the clocks used "IIII" to avoid rumors that "IV" stood for a Dutch victory.[4]

The laying of the tower's cornerstone was done by the 6-year-old son of Rook Maker, the city secretary of Bukittinggi at the time.

Tourism

Bendi carriages for sightseeing

The Jam Gadang tower is considered an icon of Bukittinggi and the city's main tourist attraction.[5] Given its iconic appearance, the structure is a frequent object of local souvenirs. It is printed on apparel, painted, used as model for sculpting and magnet design, and so forth. It is common for tourists visiting Bukittinggi to take photographs in front of the tower, and local residents offer photography services for this purpose. Tourists visiting the tower were once allowed to climb to the top, but as of 2016 require written permission to do so.[1]

Many hotels are located near Jam Gadang, as are traditional horse-drawn carriages called bendi.[1] The Jam Gadang plaza has, since 2016, hosted traditional Minang dances for tourists.[1] It also serves as the centre of New Year celebration in Bukittinggi.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bachtiar, Imelda (April 11, 2016). "Jam Gadang, Ikon Wisata Bukittinggi" [Clock Tower, Bukittinggi Travel Icons]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on April 21, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2017. Google translation
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Jam Gadang, Gengsi Kota Bukittinggi" [Jam Gadang, the Prestige of Bukittinggi]. Kompas (in Indonesian). March 19, 2009. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2017. Google translation
  3. 1 2 "Jam Gadang Selesai Diperbaiki" [Repairs to Jam Gadang Completed]. Republika (in Indonesian). December 23, 2010. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2017. Google translation
  4. ↑ Wulandari, Retno (February 19, 2016). "Jam Gadang Bukittinggi, Kembaran Big Ben London" [Jam Gadang of Bukittinggi, the Twin of London's Big Ben]. Liputan6 (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2017. Google translation
  5. ↑ Farhan, Afif (October 3, 2010). "Jam Gadang di Bukittinggi, Saingannya Big Ben di London" [Jam Gadang of Bukittinggi, Competitor to London's Big Ben]. Detik.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on February 23, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2017. Google translation
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