Towering over the city of Jakarta like an age-old guardian that keeps an eye on everything that happens in the city is Monas, the Indonesia National Monument. Officially declared for the public on 17th August 1961, the Monument is the brainchild of Indonesia’s first President Ir. Soekarno. The monument was erected in memory of the Indonesian heroes who fought for independence and defended the country from colonial subjugation. The architect of the masterpiece is F. Silaban, along with Ir. Rooseno as a consultant to the construction.
The Monas is more than a mere tower as it would first appear to the untrained eye. The pillar of Monas symbolizes a pestle of rice that is 137m tall, which is placed on a chalice-like structure symbolizing the rice barn. The rice barn and the pestle have been used to pound rice since the ancient days in Indonesia, and represent the fact that it is a country thriving on agriculture. In addition to that, the rice barn and the pestle are considered as symbols of fertility, as well as a representation of males and females. Atop the tall pestle is a small pedestal, upon which a flame has been shaped using bronze, plated with 35kt gold. With a diameter of 6m, this symbolizes the inextinguishable spirit of the Indonesians that has preserved through numerous obstacles in history and will continue to do so.
The Monas is popular among the local populace as a place for sports and fitness activities. However, it is a constant reminder to the tourist of the historical accomplishment of the place they are visiting, a fact that is highlighted by many a Jakarta City hotel such as Alila Jakarta, by ensuring that the first view their guests would have when at the hotel is the Monas. If you are planning on visiting the Monas, though, it is best to visit in the morning of a weekday, as weekends and evenings see a horde of people visiting the place.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.