Sections | Monas: Icon of Jakarta

Outer Yard

An underground tunnel, from across the northern side of Monas, serves as the only entrance inside the monument. Unfortunately, the ceramic flooring and walls nowadays have a number of leakages, which has caused some abrasion on the walls and may render the floor slippery.

Emerging from the tunnel, more persuasive vendors line the exit, selling a variety of snacks and Monas-themed souvenirs. After climbing out of the tunnel, reliefs of Indonesian History border the four corners of the garden outside the monument. Carved in gray stones, the relief highlights the grand and colorful past of Indonesia including the ancient Majapahit and Sri Vijayan empires. A grand staircase leads to the base of the monument.

In the northern entrance, a wall covered in frames of manuscripts and several trophies show some basic information about the monument, as well as a note from President Sukarno regarding his purpose of building the monument.

The long, wet road The wet road from the gate leading to the monument.	Grand welcome The statue of Prince Diponegoro, a Javanese leader who resisted the Dutch during the early 19th century, welcomes visitors near the monument.
Enter the monument Students about to enter the monument's base.	Scenic view The view of a landscaped garden from the base.
Surrounding buildings Some of the buildings around the area as seen from the base.	Reliefs of Indonesia History The relief shows the nation's colorful and tumultuous history.
Empires, Religions and Independence The reliefs document ancient empires such as the Majapahit and Sri Vijaya, as well as religions that shaped the people's beliefs, like Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam.

National History Museum

Situated at the base of the monument, The Indonesia National History Museum has a height of 8 meters and a width of 6400 square meters and can accommodate 500 people. The museum, whose walls, floor and pillars are layered with marble, is famous for its dioramas - three-dimensional full-size or miniature models of scenes of Indonesia’s historical events enclosed in glass displays. From Prehistoric Indonesia to 20th century occurrences such as the Japanese Occupation and the struggle for the nation’s independence, the 51 dioramas show it all.

Museum entrance A sign welcomes visitors inside the museum.	Couple's entrance A couple walks inside the museum. The huge wooden doors with intricate designs complements their dramatic entrance.
Admiring the dioramas The students admire the dioramas that line up the museum.	Historical displays 51 dioramas showcase the watershed events of the country from the ancient to the modern.
What happened? Each diorama has an explanation of what the event was all about.	Sukaro and Hatta: Model Figures The figures of Sukarno declaring independence with Hatta beside him, depicted in this diorama.
A model of the Monas The Monas is depicted in this diorama.

Hall of Independence

The Hall of Independence, or Ruang Kemerdekaan, is accessed through a spiral staircase at the north and south doors of the monument. This hall, which is situated inside the goblet or cawan part of Monas, contains a variety of Indonesia’s symbols of Independence.

Northern Wall

Coated in gold on the northern side of the hall is a map of the Indonesian archipelago.

Southern Wall

A massive statue of the gold-coated Garuda Pancasila, the national emblem of Indonesia occupies the southern wall. It weights 3.5 tonnes.

Eastern Wall

The bronze lettering of the text of Proclamation is fixed on the eastern wall. The Sang Saka Merah Putih, the revered Indonesian flag that was raised on the 17th of August 1945, is no longer exhibited on the eastern wall due to its fragility and old age.

Western Wall

The original manuscript of the Proclamation of Independence is kept in a glass case behind mechanized bronze doors on the western wall, which, when opened, would be accompanied by the nationalist Bagimu Negeri song and a recording of Sukarno reading the text of Proclamation. The four-ton doors, known as Gerbang Kemerdekaan (the Gate of Independence) are located on the western wall and engraved with the image of the Wijaya Kusuma flower, which symbolizes eternity and purity, and coated with gold. The flower, also known as the Queen of the Night, only blooms at midnight. In the olden days, it is believed that kings must pluck this flower while it is in full bloom before getting crowned.

Hall of Independence The students going around the Hall of Independence.	Map of Indonesia The map of Indonesia coated in gold is shown on the northern wall.
Proklamasi text The bronze letters of the Proklamasi is exhibited on the eastern wall.	Gate of Independence The mechanized bronze doors of the Gerbang Kemerdekaan or Gate of Independence on the western wall. Behind it lies a copy of the Proklamasi or Proclamation.
Proklamasi A copy of the Proklamasi or Proclamation is shown as the doors open.	Garuda Pancasila The Garuda Indonesia soars in the southern wall.
On the goblet The researchers and writers of this article on the viewing platform of the cawan or goblet.

Goblet & Obelisk

On top of the base is the middle platform, which is easily accessible using the stairs from below or the elevator from the viewing platform. The platform is elevated 17 meters above and offers a 360˚ view of the Merdeka Square and a number of skyscrapers located nearby. The 117.7 meter tall obelisk is covered in Italian marble covers and also works as an elevator shaft.

Viewing Platform & Flame of Independence

Using an elevator, which runs along the height of the monument, visitors are able to view the entire city from an altitude of 115 meters. The observation deck rests just 17 meters under the Flame of Independence and has room for about 50 visitors at a time. The elevator can only carry around 11 people, and a staircase is available in case of emergencies.

On top of the Monas is the 14.5 ton bronze Flame of Independence. It is 14 meters high and 6 meters in diameter and contains the lift’s engines. The flame rests on a goblet 3 meter high. The 77 parts of the flame was initially plated with 35 kg of gold, but it was recoated with 50 kg of gold in the 50th Indonesian Independence Day celebration in 1995.The funds for the second coat were donated by several Indonesian businessmen.

At the top: North The Diponegoro Statue lies in front of the the Merdeka Palace, the Supreme Court of Justice, and the Army HQ.	At the top: Northeast The Istiqlal Mosque at the center.
At the top: Southeast The Gambir Train Station, National Gallery, and US Embassy.	At the top: South The Governor's Office and the National Library are visible from this view.
At the top: Southwest The two towers of the Bank of Indonesia with the fountain in front.	At the top: West The Musical Fountain stands at the center. Behind it lies the Ministry of Defence, The National Museum, The Ministry of Communication and Information, Ministry of Transportation, and the Constitution Court.

Outer Yard

The long, wet road

The wet road from the gate leading to the monument.

Grand welcome

The statue of Prince Diponegoro, a Javanese leader who resisted the Dutch during the early 19th century, welcomes visitors near the monument.

Enter the monument

Students about to enter the monument's base.

Scenic view

The view of a landscaped garden from the base.

Surrounding buildings

Some of the buildings around the area as seen from the base.

Reliefs of Indonesia History

The relief shows the nation's colorful and tumultuous history.

Empires, Religions and Independence

The reliefs document ancient empires such as the Majapahit and Sri Vijaya, as well as religions that shaped the people's beliefs, like Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam.

National History Museum

Museum entrance

A sign welcomes visitors inside the museum.

Couple's entrance

A couple walks inside the museum. The huge wooden doors with intricate designs complements their dramatic entrance.

Admiring the dioramas

The students admire the dioramas that line up the museum.

Historical displays

51 dioramas showcase the watershed events of the country from the ancient to the modern.

What happened?

Each diorama has an explanation of what the event was all about.

Sukaro and Hatta: Model Figures

The figures of Sukarno declaring independence with Hatta beside him, depicted in this diorama.

A model of the Monas

The Monas is depicted in this diorama.

Hall of Independence

Hall of Independence

The students going around the Hall of Independence.

Map of Indonesia

The map of Indonesia coated in gold is shown on the northern wall.

Proklamasi text

The bronze letters of the Proklamasi is exhibited on the eastern wall.

Gate of Independence

The mechanized bronze doors of the Gerbang Kemerdekaan or Gate of Independence on the western wall. Behind it lies a copy of the Proklamasi or Proclamation.

Proklamasi

A copy of the Proklamasi or Proclamation is shown as the doors open.

Garuda Pancasila

The Garuda Indonesia soars in the southern wall.

On the goblet

The researchers and writers of this article on the viewing platform of the cawan or goblet.

Goblet & Obelisk

Viewing Platform & Flame of Independence

At the top: North

The Diponegoro Statue lies in front of the the Merdeka Palace, the Supreme Court of Justice, and the Army HQ.

At the top: Northeast

The Istiqlal Mosque at the center.

At the top: Southeast

The Gambir Train Station, National Gallery, and US Embassy.

At the top: South

The Governor's Office and the National Library are visible from this view.

At the top: Southwest

The two towers of the Bank of Indonesia with the fountain in front.

At the top: West

The Musical Fountain stands at the center. Behind it lies the Ministry of Defence, The National Museum, The Ministry of Communication and Information, Ministry of Transportation, and the Constitution Court.