Tanah Kusir Cemetery, cemetery in Indonesia
Tanah Kusir Cemetery is a large public burial ground in South Jakarta's Kebayoran Lama area with simple headstones and well-maintained pathways. The grounds feature scattered trees providing shade and open spaces where visitors can walk among the graves and sit quietly to reflect.
The cemetery opened officially in 1965 when Jakarta needed more burial space, and it grew to become one of the city's largest. Mohammad Hatta, Indonesia's first vice president, was buried here in 1980 after requesting to be laid to rest as an ordinary person rather than in a place of honor.
The name Tanah Kusir originates from a colonial-era story where a Chinese-Indonesian landowner gave land to his carriage driver as a reward for a favor. Visitors today see families placing flowers on graves and making offerings during special occasions like Idul Fitri, reflecting local customs of respect and remembrance.
Most visitors arrive by motorbike or car, especially on weekends and special occasions when family gatherings are common. The pathways are easy to navigate with open areas for walking and sitting as you tend to graves or spend time in reflection.
Mohammad Hatta's grave is marked with a small Balinese-style roof and draws visitors interested in Indonesia's independence history. What stands out is that the former vice president deliberately chose to be buried as an ordinary person rather than in a place of honor.
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