Monumen Nasional, National monument and obelisk in Central Jakarta, Indonesia
The National Monument is a 132-metre obelisk in the centre of Merdeka Square, Central Jakarta. A 117.7-metre marble-clad shaft rises from a 17-metre platform, and the whole is crowned by a flame covered in gold leaf. Below the base, a marble-lined hall holds 51 dioramas of Indonesian history.
Construction began in 1961 at the initiative of President Sukarno as a symbol of the country's independence struggle. The official opening took place only in July 1975, after political changes delayed the completion of the project.
Families and students often gather at the base of the structure, using the surrounding green spaces of the square as a meeting point and a place to relax. During important national holidays, people from across the country come here to take part in ceremonies and events together.
Access to the observation deck is via an elevator inside the column, with visits possible on most days of the week except Mondays. The underground museum and the viewing terrace require separate admissions, so visitors should allow enough time for both.
The monument's dimensions encode 17 August 1945: architect R.M. Soedarsono built the numbers 17, 8 and 45 into the structure, which rises from a 45 m square platform at a height of 17 m. The 117.7 m obelisk above it is clad in Italian marble.
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