Historical Places of Interest in Jakarta - Top 5 places to visit for the history buff

The skyline of the city consists of towering sky scrapers, hotels and Jakarta service apartments like the famous Ascott Kuningan Jakarta. However, the National Monument or Monumen Nasional as it's known locally stands out as a truly iconic landmark. It is a needle-like structure engulfed in gold foils shaped like flames. The National Monument is located away from the many buildings to provide an obstructed view of the city once you make your way to its viewing deck. It is 115m high and doubles as a museum that chronicles the history of the country.

Being a predominantly Islam country, it is not a wonder to find mosques in Indonesia on almost every street. Istiqal Mosque, however, is a must-visit, a wonder unto its own. It is the biggest mosque in the Southeast Asian region and has attracted many a famous visitor including King Salman of Saudi Arabia and Barack Obama. Located in the heart of the city, the mosque has a fascinating history. Its architecture is quite interesting, too, and is well worth a closer look.

Indonesia was once under the colonial rule of the Dutch. It is the Dutch who identified the potential of the city of Jakarta and named it as the country's capital. Once established as the capital, the administration of the Dutch East India Company was carried out from an area now known as Kota Tua. You can still walk the streets of Kota Tua and see Dutch-style buildings that have withstood the passing years. One of the best ways to explore the area is to rent a bicycle; they are usually decorated and make quite the picture set against the dilapidated giants of the past.

Fatahillah Museum is also known as the Jakarta History Museum. As the name itself suggests, this is the place to visit if you want to know more about the history of the city. The structure is an original Dutch construction, made for the purpose of a city hall. It was renovated and opened as a museum in 1974, with exhibits found from all over Jakarta making it to the display. The architecture of the building is supposed to be inspired by that of the Dam Palace found in Amsterdam.

Bearing testimony to the multi-cultural aspects of the city, the Jakarta Cathedral can be found at the city centre. It is a neo-gothic structure that is both stunning and daunting at the same time. The Cathedral was built during the colonial times, thus following the Dutch architectural structure. The tall spires and the pillars speak of a different era, while the furniture of the Cathedral has its roots in the Netherlands. The striking feature of Jakarta Cathedral is the massive pipe organ. There is also a small museum attached to the Cathedral which gives historical information about the place in general.