Joanna James
While the capital of Indonesia may be better known for its shopping malls and festivals, Jakarta is home to its fair share of heritage hotspots. Here are five historic landmarks that must be part of every traveller's Jakarta sightseeing itinerary.
Also called the Jakarta History Museum, the illustrious Fatahillah Museum occupies the city's Old Town area. Housed in a structure that dates back to 1710, the venue once served as the Batavia City Hall when Indonesia was ruled by Dutch colonizers. Offering visitors a look back at the tumultuous legacy of the city, there's a host of artefacts and relics that belong to the prehistoric period in Jakarta. Documenting the city's evolution until the country achieved independence in the mid-1940s; the museum pays tribute to the national heroes and movements that made this feat possible. Some of the most coveted exhibits at the museum are the underground prison in which warrior Prince Diponegoro was once held captive.
Dubbed TMII for short, Taman Mini or the Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park is a one-stop heritage hotspot for those who wish to see all of Indonesia's top cultural attractions in one go. Ideal for business travellers and those in Jakarta for a short stay, the park showcases miniatures of iconic heritage buildings spread out across cities and islands the likes of Papua, Java, Kalimantan, Sumatra and Sulawesi. Must-see points of interest within the park include Balinese homes, the traditional households from Rumah Gadang and the Torajan Tongkonan. Tourists can also take a cable car ride above the park to get a bird's eye view of its main highlights.
Dubbed the Elephant Building, the Indonesian National Museum is located down Jalan Merdeka Barat in the heart of the capital city. Boasting an extensive collection of relics and historical objects, the statues housed within the museum alone number in the thousands. Open from 8 am to 4 pm Tuesday to Friday and 8 am to 5 pm on weekends, the best time to visit the museum is during the morning hours of a weekday.
Those based at Ascott Jakarta or any similar Jakarta luxury apartments will also drive by this larger-than-life landmark on their tours around the city. Towering above the surrounding landscape at 132m, the tower called Monas is a national icon that stands for the heroic spirit of the Indonesians and the country's hard-won sovereignty.
Open to all visitors free of charge, the Istiqlal Mosque first opened its doors to the public back in 1978. Occupying Central Jakarta opposite a catholic church, this mammoth place of worship was the brainchild of President Soekarno himself. Welcoming visitors at all hours of the day this massive place of worship is the largest mosque in all of South East Asia. Travellers should remember to dress modestly when heading to the Istiqlal Mosque as you will not be granted access if you are indecently attired.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
