Jam Gadang, Clock tower monument in Bukittinggi, Indonesia.
Jam Gadang is a 26-metre white clock tower in central Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia. Its square shaft has four stacked levels of tall rectangular openings and recessed panels, with a round clock face near the top. The base widens into a terrace with a white balustrade, reached by a staircase with a central arch.
Construction began on 27 May 1926 under city secretary Hendrik Roelof Rookmaaker, and the tower was inaugurated on 25 July 1927. The June 1926 Padang Panjang earthquake tilted it 30 degrees before repairs. The roof changed three times: a round form with a rooster statue, a Shinto-style top under the Japanese occupation, and since 1953 the gonjong roof of a Minangkabau rumah gadang.
The name literally means big clock and locals commonly use it as a meeting point in everyday life. The upper section displays traditional Minangkabau curved roof shapes that resemble buffalo horns, replacing the original Dutch design after independence.
The tower stands in Sabai Nan Aluih Park beside Pasar Ateh, in the city centre. Since 2016 climbing to the top requires written permission, so most visitors view it from the plaza. The four clock faces, each 80 cm across, can be read from every side, and the number 4 is shown as "IIII".
The builders used limestone, egg whites, and sand instead of metal or cement. This unusual binding material still gives the tower stability after almost a century.
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