Indonesia's independence was proclaimed on 17 August 1945 at the former home of Sukarno, which stood on the site of this large public square at Jl Proklamasi 56 (it was later done in by poor maintenance). The imposing monument with large statues of President Sukarno and Vice-President Hatta was designed by Nyoman Nuarta, a famous Balinese artist. The proclamation text is carved into a black marble cube. Other monuments honour various aspects of the revolution.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
2.52 MILES
The National Museum is the best of its kind in Indonesia and an essential visit. The enormous collection begins around an open courtyard of the 1862…
2.08 MILES
It is here that Jakartans come to take a breather from the traffic. The figurative centre of Jakarta, Merdeka Square (merdeka means independence) is…
5.22 MILES
Kota’s central cobblestone square, surrounded by imposing Dutch colonial buildings, is Jakarta's most attractive location and a popular gathering spot for…
8.19 MILES
Families will love Jakarta's kite museum, located in a quiet backstreet in Pondok Labu, South Jakarta. Inside a traditional Indonesian house, complete…
1.94 MILES
Over 1700 works of art by foreign and Indonesian artists are part of the National Gallery collection. While only a few works are on display at any time,…
5.08 MILES
This museum presents an engaging and easily consumed history of Indonesia from a loosely financial perspective, in a grand, expertly restored,…
5.48 MILES
Opened in late 2017, Museum Macan is Indonesia's first modern and contemporary art museum and an exciting cultural development for the city. It was built…
4.64 MILES
This large Chinese Buddhist temple compound dates from 1755 and is one of the most atmospheric and important in the city. The main structure has an…
Nearby Jakarta attractions
1.02 MILES
A village green surrounded by mansions, this area is a preservation zone for the colonial bungalows. Many really qualify as mansions and have the art-deco…
2. Jakarta Planetarium & Observatory
1.02 MILES
Travel the galaxy in only an hour at this popular planetarium that's part of the Taman Ismail Marzuki cultural complex. There are two to four shows each…
3. Museum Perumusan Naskah Proklamasi
1.1 MILES
This atmospheric mansion saw historic events as Indonesia proclaimed its independence at the end of WWII. It was the home of the Japanese naval commander…
1.16 MILES
Barack Obama attended this government-run elementary school from 1969 to 1971. It's in a fairly posh neighbourhood and is known as the school of choice…
1.49 MILES
During WWII, thousands of people were made prisoners of war and killed in and around Jakarta. Early victories by the Japanese killed scores of troops from…
1.61 MILES
A post-independence and appealingly bombastic statue depicting a farmer who became a soldier in the fight for independence from the Dutch. It shows the…
1.72 MILES
Set in the centre of a fountain on one of central Jakarta's most prominent alun-aluns (public squares) is the Salamat Datang, or Welcome Monument. Built…
1.94 MILES
Over 1700 works of art by foreign and Indonesian artists are part of the National Gallery collection. While only a few works are on display at any time,…