Monas

Lonely Planet review

Ingloriously dubbed 'Soekarno's final erection', this 132m-high Monas, towering over Merdeka Sq, is both Jakarta's principal landmark and the most famous architectural extravagance of the former dictator. Begun in 1961, this typically masculine column was not completed until 1975, when it was officially opened by Soeharto.

The National Monument is allegedly constructed 'entirely of Italian marble', and is topped with a sculpted flame, gilded with 35kg of gold leaf. The highlight of a visit are the smoggy views of Jakarta from the top of the monument (adult/child around Rp5000 /around Rp2500 ). Avoid Sunday and holidays, when the queues for the lift are long.

In the base of the National Monument, the National History Museum tells the story of Indonesia's independence struggle.