Monas - National Monument of Indonesia

Jakarta -  Jakarta is a city that never really stops moving—its streets buzzing with life, its skyline constantly growing taller, and its history deeply embedded in every corner. During my recent morning in the Indonesian capital, I decided to visit one of its most iconic landmarks: Monumen Nasional, more popularly known as Monas.

Towering at 132 meters in the heart of Merdeka Square, Monas is not just a monument but a symbol of Indonesia’s struggle for independence. For many, it is the nation’s pride, standing tall with its golden flame on top. For me, it was a chance to see Jakarta from a new perspective, quite literally. My morning here was filled with a mix of history, culture, and panoramic views that offered both reflection and wonder.

As I got closer, the scale of the monument became clearer. It is simple yet majestic, a towering obelisk that draws your eyes upwards. The monument was commissioned by President Sukarno in the early 1960s and finally completed in 1975. Every Indonesian student grows up learning about Monas as a national symbol, and seeing it in person gave me a sense of the country’s resilience and pride.

After I paid the entrance fee, I entered the huge hall which is their museum.  The museum showcases dioramas that tell the story of the country’s struggle for independence, from the early kingdoms and Dutch colonial period to the Japanese occupation and finally the proclamation of independence in 1945. Each diorama is carefully crafted, almost like a frozen moment in time.

Pledge of Independence

The Slow Lift Ride to the Top

One of the highlights of visiting Monas is, of course, the viewing gallery at the top. Accessing it involves taking a single lift up the core of the tower. What struck me was how slow the lift was. Unlike modern high-speed elevators in skyscrapers, this one felt like a deliberate, almost ceremonial journey upwards.

At first, I was impatient, but as the seconds ticked by, I realised the slow pace added to the anticipation. It gave me time to imagine what the view might be like once the doors opened. Finally, after what felt like several long minutes, the lift reached its destination.

The 4 views from the top.  The city stretched endlessly in every direction—tall office towers, clusters of residential buildings, winding roads filled with traffic, and patches of green parks breaking up the urban sprawl.

To the north, I could see the outlines of the old city and beyond it, the faint line of the Java Sea shimmering in the distance. To the south, Jakarta’s modern skyscrapers stood proudly, each one representing the city’s rapid growth. Looking down, Merdeka Square formed a massive green carpet around the monument, a refreshing contrast to the dense urban jungle outside.

The view was both impressive and humbling. Jakarta is a city of contrasts with old and new, tradition and modernity, all coexisting in one dynamic metropolis. From this vantage point, I could almost feel the pulse of the city, a reminder of why Monas was built as a unifying symbol.