VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The National Monument or abbreviated Monas is a tower with 132 meters high in the center of Merdeka Square, Central Jakarta, symbolizing the fight for Indonesia. It is the national monument of the Republic of Indonesia, and built to commemorate the struggle for Indonesian independence.

Construction began in 1961 under the direction of Indonesian first President Sukarno. Monas was opened to the public in 1975. On the top, it is a flame covered with gold. The National Monument has long history. 

President Sukarno began to contemplate the construction of a national monument comparable to the Eiffel Tower on the square in front of the Presidential Palace. The monument was built at 80-hectare area and designed by Frederich Silaban and R. M. Soedarsono that began to be built on August 17, 1961. Underground of the monument, there is a museum of Indonesian national history. An elevator at the Southern side will carry visitors to the top of the monument. The top of the monument can accommodate around 50 people. There are also binoculars where visitors can see Jakarta’s panorama closer.  If it is sunny day without clouds, visitors can see Mt. Salak at the South which is located in Bogor regency, West Java province. At the North, there is stretch of sea with small islands.  

On the top of the National Monument, there is a platform or called Cawan that supports the flame of a bronze lamp which weighs up to 14.5 tons and is coated with 35 kilograms of gold. The flame is as a symbol of the struggle of Indonesian people who wanted to achieve independence. The gold was donated by Teuku Markam, an Acehnese entrepreneur. The platform can be reached through elevator or stairs when going down from the top of the monument to reach the base of the platform. To go there, you can use many kinds of public transportation.