Five houses of worship
A symbol of harmony.
Tkx — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sakurai Midori — CC BY 2.5 · Sakurai Midori — CC BY 2.5 · Sakurai Midori — CC BY 2.5
A volcanic hill in the Minahasa highlands turned into a symbol of interfaith harmony in Indonesia: five places of worship side by side on the slope, a mosque, two churches, a Hindu temple and a Buddhist temple, with a central monument bearing texts from the scriptures, a message of peace in a region that has known diversity. Sulphurous steam rises from cracks in the ground, small pools of hot mud bubble, and locals sell eggs boiled in the hot springs. From the bottom a long stairway of thousands of steps climbs to the summit, with a large cross and mountain views, and a huge rock carving of the two legendary ancestors of the Minahasa people. The fee is a token one. The full climb to the top is long and tiring, and most visitors stay with the places of worship and the steam below. Combine it with Lake Tondano and Mahawu crater on a day trip. The sulphur smell is strong, so do not go too close to the vents.
A symbol of harmony.
Eggs boiled in hot water.
Thousands of steps.
Kanonang, Minahasa, about an hour and a half south of Manado
Yes, the mosque is one of the five on the slope and can be used for prayer. Make wudu before arriving, as facilities are basic.