Sitinjo, a unique spiritual tourism site

Sitinjo, a unique spiritual tourism site

Besalicto S. T., Contributor, Sitinjo, North Sumatra

Imagine you are on top of a mountain surrounded by forests.
The slightly overcast sky seems close to you. Around you there
are only trees.

Through the trees you can see a wide valley below. In the
distance is a chain of thousands of mountains, shrouded in
beautiful blues. And quiet. Only birdsong occasionally breaking
the total silence.

Such is the environment found at a spiritual tourism site in
Sitinjo, about nine kilometers to the east of Sidikalang, the
capital city of Dairi regency in North Sumatra province.

Sidikalang is a mountainous city about 160 kilometers to the
west of Medan. The regency is located on the western flank of
Lake Toba, the biggest lake in Asia. Part of the beautiful lake
can be seen at Lae Pondom on the way to Sitinjo.

Dairi Regent M.P. Tumanggor said that due to its mountainous
topography his administration has developed the Sitinjo area as a
spiritual tourism site.

All religions have shown that mountains and sky are two
combined things that can bring you closer to God. "I think the
mountainous area of Sitinjo can create such a spiritual
environment for visitors," Tumanggor said recently.

He said they had built five houses of worship for the major
religions -- a mosque for Islam, a Catholic and Protestant
church, and a Hindu and Buddhist temple, on a 13-hectare area on
top of the Sitinjo mountain.

Other facilities have also been provided to cater for
religious activities, such as a simulation of the hajj pilgrimage
to Mecca, and a religious retreat for Christians.

For visitors who want to stay for several days, there is a
small inn which can accommodate about 100 visitors. But since the
area is only nine kilometers from Sidikalang, visitors can also
stay in a hotel in the regency's capital.

According to the regent, the tourism site will increase
tolerance among followers of the five religions as they can see
and visit each other's houses of worship.

"There you can see a Muslim enter the church and see for
themselves what it is and how its believers practice their
religion. Or a Christian enter the mosque and to take a closer
look at the religion."

Because of its uniqueness, there being nothing else like it in
Indonesia, a number of high ranking officials have made a visit
to Sitinjo. Among them are Bagir Manan when he was the head of
the Supreme Court, Army Chief of Staff Ryamizard Ryacudu, Said
Agil Al Munawar when he was Minister for Religious Affairs during
the administration of President Megawati Soekarnoputri, and of
course North Sumatra Governor T. Rizal Nurdin.

The regent said the numbers of visitors to the site are
increasing. Since its development last year, the site had been
visited by around 1,500 people, including those from Jakarta. But
until now only a few foreign tourists have visited the area, he
noted.

"Maybe it's because the place is not yet being promoted
through travel bureaus. So we need to do more publicity," he
said. "But next year (2005), we'll market a spiritual tourism
package through the travel bureaus and will provide a guide for
foreign tourists. I think amid the current crisis at the national
level and religious conflicts in some parts of the world, people
need this kind of tourism."