Visiting Jakarta National Monument is where you should start to get to know Indonesia’s capital city. You’re not only visiting the monument but also seeing Jakarta’s skyline from the tower deck. Yes, the tower is The National Monument! It’s a symbol of the country’s struggle for independence.
For the locals, they call the tower Monas or simply Nasional Monumen in their lingo.
Staring at the towering structure, you might be wondering about its odd shape. It did puzzle me a bit when I saw it. However, there’s a mind-blowing explanation for it. Can you see a phallus and a female reproductive organ? Look at the photo below and stare at it! 🙂 Yes? Ok, it may sound/look vulgar to you but these combined symbols represent fertility. 🙂
The tower also hosts the Hall of Independence and the National History Museum. You’ll need time at the museum if you are really keen on the country’s history. The museum itself is well-arranged chronologically and has English descriptions.
Going up to the top of the tower is nerve-wracking. The elevator is a bit wobbly, but thanks goodness, there was an operator there.
As soon as you get out of the lift, the views of the city welcome you.
I was there on a gloomy day so the views weren’t really the best ones I’d expected.
Nonetheless, the views still charmed me in their own way.
From here, you’ll see Indonesia’s version of the White House – where the President lives.
You will also see Istiqlal, the country’s national mosque.
The Old Train Station can also viewed from here.
On our way down, we stopped at these carved sculptures in the garden.
I actually enjoyed it – trying to analyze and pretending to be a historian. 🙂
These statues vividly reflect history, culture, traditions, and religions. It’s an incredible piece of art!
From the Nasional Monumen, we walked to the White House and to other tourist attractions in Jakarta. For all the places I visited on this walking tour, click this blog post.
Where to Stay in Jakarta
I was in Jakarta twice on this trip – and so I stayed in two different hotels: Oria Hotel and Simple Hotel. They are both on the same street – at Wahid Hasyem Street. Staying on this street is the best decision ever. It has restaurants, groceries, and shops where locals go. Also on the same street, you’ll find western fast-food chains (McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, etc.). Twenty minutes walk from the street, you will find two of Jakarta’s premier shopping malls. The staff members were nice, too, and the wifi connection was okay. The rooms are basic but clean. You can book both hotels via Booking, TripAdvisor, and Expedia. For cheap hostels in Jakarta, HostelWorld has a list of them.