Jakarta Attractions

National Monument

Visitors will inevitably be pulled to the National Monument to inspect the enormous phallic obelisk that can be seen from much of the city. The first president Sukarno began to build the structure as a symbol of nationalism complete with 35 kilograms of gold shaped into the tip's flames. For visitors it serves as a great landmark in an otherwise confusing city centre and it also offers elevator rides to the top for a bird's eye view of the city. The surrounding park and monument are open to the public which includes a museum and hall of mediation at the monument's base.

Address: Lapangan Merdeka, Monas, Gambir; Telephone: +62 21 384 0451; Opening time: 8.30am to 5pm daily, closed last Monday of every month; Admission: free