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Monumen Nasional

Indonesia's National Monument or Monumen Nasional, fondy called the Monas (MOnumen NASional), by Indonesians, is a towering structure built to remember the struggle of Indonesian heroes fighting for the nation's indpendence.

 

It is located at the very center of the country's capital, Jakarta, in one of the world's largest public square known as the Medan Merdeka or Merdeka Square (6°10′31″S 106°49′38″E).

 

 

Indonesia’s first president, Sukarno was the one responsible for the creation of the 132 metre tower. He envisioned a memorial that will commemorate the struggle for independence and unite the country together through the symbols of nationhood. He imagined a monument that was larger than the Borobodur in Yogyakarta, and taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

 

Construction began on the 17th of August 1961 with President Sukarno himself ceremoniously driving in the first concrete pile but he would not live to see it open to the public as this would only happen on the 12th of July 1971, a year after his death.

 

The 17th of August marks the date of Indonesia’s Independence Day. With this immense structure, it not only memorializes the struggles for Indonesia’s heroes to fight against the colonial domination but also the success towards freedom and an end of the Japanese occupation in the 17th August of 1945 and later against the Dutch Empire.

 

 

Going to the Monas is actually quite easy as most public transportation drivers, if not all, know how to reach the place. For those who are feeling adventurous, they can take the Transjakarta buses, which has dedicated routes passing by the Monas.The bus fare going to Monas costs only Rp 3,500 (around US$ 0.30). Taking the bus allows one to experience the notorious Jakarta traffic but get to experience the true sights and sounds the city has to offer and even get a chance to rub shoulders with Jakartans.

 

The Monas and the museum that it houses are open daily from 08.00 in the morning until 3.00 in the afternoon, except for the last Monday of each month when the Monas and museum are closed. The entrance fee for children and students is Rp 2,000 (around US$ 0.17) and Rp 5,000 (around US$ 0.43) for adults. To reach the observation deck, one needs to pay Rp 7,500 (around US$ 0.65) for the lift.

 

Even though the monument and museum is closed by 3.00 in the afternoon, one can still enjoy the different forms of entertainment around the square ranging from watching acrobatic stunts, kite-flying, riding tandem bikes, and sampling the tasty street food from hawkers’ stalls that surround the square.

 

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