RANTAUPRAPAT — A landmark facility that once served as a vital educational center for Islamic pilgrimage exercises in Rantauprapat, Labuhanbatu Regency, is currently facing acute neglect. The Kaaba replica, constructed to facilitate manasik (Hajj and Umrah rituals) for prospective pilgrims and local school students, has fallen into a state of severe physical deterioration.
Once revered as a local spiritual and educational symbol, the miniature structure is now surrounded by overgrown weeds, peeling paint, and cracked masonry. The deteriorating site has raised deep concerns among local residents and religious groups who used to utilize the venue for congregational practice prior to departing for the Holy Land.
Observers at the location reported that key surrounding elements designed to simulate the pilgrimage experience—including designated paths and practice stations—are equally damaged due to a prolonged lack of routine maintenance and clear site management.
Local community members expressed their disappointment over the facility’s decline, stressing that the site holds significant educational and religious value for the Muslim community in Rantauprapat.
“This location used to be filled with energy every Hajj season as pilgrims and school children gathered to learn the rituals of Hajj. Seeing it completely abandoned and unmaintained today is truly saddening,” said a local resident living near the site.
Residents are appealing to local municipal stakeholders, relevant agencies, and religious organizations to intervene immediately, clean up the area, and restore the structure so it can regain its primary function as an active educational hub.
Without immediate rehabilitation, the continuous exposure to extreme weather threatens to cause irreversible structural failure to the replica. Community figures emphasize that reviving the facility would not only safeguard public assets but also rejuvenate community-led religious programs across Labuhanbatu Regency.
In regional hubs across North Sumatra, purpose-built simulation facilities like Kaaba miniatures serve as essential infrastructure for Islamic education. They provide prospective pilgrims—many of whom are elderly or traveling internationally for the first time—with practical spatial awareness regarding the circumambulation (Tawaf) and walking (Sa’i) rituals. Beyond Hajj preparations, such sites regularly host interactive field trips for Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) and local elementary institutions.
The decline of the Rantauprapat Kaaba replica underscores a recurring challenge in regional development: the absence of sustainable operational funding post-construction. Often built through joint initiatives or single-phase budget allocations, non-profit public facilities frequently lack designated annual maintenance funds. Tourism and urban management experts suggest establishing multi-stakeholder governance models—involving local religious councils (MUI), regional government departments, and community trusts—to ensure long-term upkeep for local public landmarks.