Monas (Monumen Nasional/National Monument), Jakarta

I live in Ciledug, Tangerang. Yes it's Tangerang but my place is closer to Jakarta City rather than to Tangerang City. I'm working in Jakarta, at one of the building that close to Semanggi Bridge, across the Sultan Hotel (previously Hilton). There are many interesting places around my office building (including Semanggi Bridge, Senayan Stadium Complex, Mal etc) but I will start with Monas.

Monumen Nasional (people call it as "Monas", National Monument) is the monument, the tower symbolizing the fight for Indonesia's Independence (it's also the symbol of Jakarta City, find it on our citizen card...!). It's 450 ft (137 m) tall tower, topped by a 14.5 tonnes flame-shaped bronze plated in 35 kg (1,125 troy ounces) of gold. Located at the central of Jakarta, just across the President's Palace. Built since August 1959 (Soekarno's time) and unveiled on August 17, 1961 (16th Indonesia's Independence Day) but opened for public after 14 years later on July 12, 1975 (Soeharto's time...but hey, wait a minute...it's my birthday...!). The architect of this monument are Soedarsono & Frederich Silaban and Dr Rooseno as their consultant.

The design of the monument is meant to combine elements of masculine and feminine. The design based on Lingga (a symbol for the worship of the Hindu god Shiva) & Yoni (place of birth, source, origin, spring, fountain, place of rest, repository, receptacle, seat, abode, home, lair, nest, stable): the symbol of fertility in ancient Hindu-Javanese belief. The phallic shaft comes toward the ground and is engulfed by square base meant to symbolize fertility. The monument body was made of steel and concrete covered with italian white marble.

You will also find a park in front of this monument called Lapangan Monas (Monas Field). This field had been changing it's name for several times: Lapangan Gambir (Gambir Field), Lapangan Ikada (Ikada Field), Lapangan Merdeka (Merdeka Field), Lapangan Monas (Monas Field) and Taman Monas (Monas Park). On the weekend people usually spend their time here in the morning doing some activities (walking, jogging etc).

I'm sure that you want to be on the top of this monument, so go to the north side of this monument; you will find one gate, then use the elevator. Not far away from that gate, actually, you will find the statue of Pangeran Diponegoro riding a horse. And before you go to the top, you also can stand on the 11mx11m "balcony" (it can accommodate up until 50 people). If you're lucky with the weather, you can see the view of Mount of Salak (Gunung Salak) to the south, Thousand Islands to the north and Cengkareng/Soekarno-Hatta Airport to the west.

At the base of this monument there is a museum of the fight for Indonesia's Independence. This museum can accommodate up to 500 people inside. And what's the inside of this museum...? There are 12 windows consist of the life of Indonesian people since the ancient time of Indonesia.

The monument and the museum open for public everyday from 9am until 4pm.

How to get there...?
To go to Monas, you can use TransJakarta bus (or people call it "BUSWAY", a relatively new public transportation) from Blok M or from Pulo Gadung or from Kota (Rp 3,500 only/person). The bus (yes "the bus") will tell your position every time you will reach one station. Stop at "Monas" Station, just in front of national Museum, then walk to the park/monument. Don't forget to take some pictures, specially when you're on the top.

Picture and article translated from Monumen Nasional, Wikipedia.