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The National Monument (Monas)

The National Monuments one of the many monuments built during the Sukarno era of fierce nationalism. The 137-metre tall marble obelisk is topped with a flame coated with 35 kgs.of gold, and represents the people' s determination to achieve the freedom. It towers over Merdeka (Freedom) Square, and serves as Jakarta's most prominent landmark. The monument is open to the public and houses a historical museum and meditation hall. An elevator carries visitors to the top, offering a bird's eye view across the city to the sea.

Indonesian National Museum

Located on the west side of Merdeka square, the National Museum in Indonesia, if not South-east Asia. Established in 1778 by U.M.C. Rademacher under the auspices of the Batavia Association of Arts and Sciences, it offers historicals, prehistorical, archaelogical and ethnographic aspects of Indonesia through its extensive collection of artifacts and relics which date as far back as to the Stone Age. It has one of the most complete collections of bronzes and ceramics dating back to the Han, Tang and Ming Dynasties.

The Museum has one of the finest numismatic collections in the world. The religious art section is filled statuary and sculpture salvaged from sites of Hindu, Buddhist and Islamic edifices. Its collection of Cultural instruments, household utensils, arts and crafts provide an introduction to the life of the various ethnic groups which populate Indonesia. This museum is popularly known as Gedung Gajah or "Elephant Building" because of the stone elephant offered by King Chulalongkorn of Thailand in 1871, placed on the front lawn of the building.

Taman Ria Remaja Senayan

Located at Jalan Pintu VIII Senayan, this Park has a beautiful lake for boating, canoeing and paths for cycling. Other facilities for children include bumper cars, a miniature train and a merry-go-round. Evening entertainment features live music and popular local comedians. Open daily from 16.00 - 22.00 hrs, Saturday to midnight, Sundays and holidays from 08.00 - 22.00 hrs.

Satria Mandala Museum

The Museum of the Armed Forces displays exhibits on the development of the Indonesian Armed Forces, its role in the struggle for the nation's independence, and other military relics. Open daily except Mondays.

Perintis Kemerdekaan Building and the Soerkarno-Hatta Monument

Both are located at Jalan Proklamasi 56, on the site of the former residence of the late President Soerkarno where the nation's Independence was proclaimed. By the Perintis Kemerdekaan Building stands the Soerkarno-Hattan Monument, in commemoration of the nation's first president and Vice President, who together proclaimed Independence on behalf of the Indonesian People. Open daily from 8.00 a.m.

Jalan Surabaya

This street is located in one of the city's 'upscale' residential areas and is well-known for its flea market. Stalls offer a wide range of goods, some of them antiquities, including ornate lamps, porcelain, brassware, handicrafts. Bargaining is necessary, as is the skill to distinguish true antiques from the 'instant antiques'.

Sunda Kelapa

Sunda Kelapa , also known as Pasar Ikan (Fish Market), is located in the far north of the city at the mouth of the Ciliwung river. This is where the Portuguese traded with the Hindu King dom of Pajajaran in the early 16th century. The fish catch of the day was auctioned in the early morning at the old fish market. The street leading to it was lined with shops selling all sort of shells, dehydrated turtles, lobsters and everything else the seafarer might need.

Dutch domination of Jakarta and the rest of Indonesia began from this area, and the remnants of Kasteel Batavia, an old fort and trading post of the Dutch East Indies Company, can still be seen. Sunda Kelapa is at present fisherman's wharf and in inter-island port. Tall masted Bugis schooners from South Sulawesi anchoring there offer one of the finest sights Jakarta has to offer. They belong to one of the last fleets of sail boats in the world and still ply the seas between the islands, as they did centuries ago, carrying merchandise.

Indonesia in Miniature Park

The idea behind Taman Mini is to give the visitor a glimpse of the diversity of the Indonesian archipelago. In a single location. This extensive park represents Indonesia's 27 provinces and their traditional characteristic, reflected most strikingly in the exact regional architecture of the province. It has its own orchid garden varieties are grown. There is also a bird park with a walk-in aviary, a fauna museum and recreational grounds with a swimming pool and restaurants.

Of special interest at Taman Mini is the Museum Indonesia. A richly decorated building in Balinese architecture, it houses contemporary arts craft and traditional costumes from the different regions of the country. Open from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. daily.

"Teater Imax Keong Emas"

Also known as (Golden Snail Theater). Located in the Taman Mini is the Imax theater which presents "Beautiful Indonesia" on a gigantic screen using the latest Imax system. Not to be missed if you're visiting Taman Mini! Open from 11.00 hrs-17.00hrs.

Museum Komodo

Built in the form of the Veranus Komodiensis (the only pre-historic giant lizard found exclusively) on Indonesia's Komodo Island ), it exhibits dioramas depicting the amazing variety of fauna indigenous to Indonesia. Located at Taman Mini and open daily from 8.00 - 15.00 hrs.

Museum Perangko

The Stamps Museum at Taman Mini has an attractive collection of stamps once issued in the country over the years. The Museum is ideal for the philatelist. Open daily except Monday, from 08.00-15.00 hrs.

Ragunan Zoo

Jakarta's zoo is situated in the subsurb of Ragunan in the southern part of the city. Indigenous animals such as the Komodo dragon , tapir, Java tiger, wild ox and brightly coloured birds are given ample room in a lush tropical setting. For a taste of Indonesian families on an outing visit on a Sunday or holiday when the zoo is most crowded. Open daily from 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

Orchid Gardens

Some of the world's most beutiful and exotic orchids come from Indonesia. Jakarta has a several extensive Commercial orchid gardens which are open to the public, the best known of them are located at Slipi, Taman Mini and the Ragunan Zoo.

Condet

This village in southern Jakarta is a protected area where the old rural life style of Jakarta is preserved. Condet is also famed for its fruit orchards.

Lubang Buaya Heroes Monument

Situated in the southeast of the city about 20 km from downtown, it is a memorial park dedicated to the six army generals and one army officers who were slain on October 1,1965, in an abortive communist inspired coup d'etat . The centerpiece is the Pancasila Monment with statues of the seven heroes, standing near the Old well in which their bodies were thrown after having been tortured and executed by communist militia squads.

T.I.M. Art Centre

The focal point of cultural activities in Jakarta is Taman Ismail Marzuki, or TIM for short. It is said to be the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia and consists of exhibition halls, theaters, an academy of arts , archives building and planetarium. There are performances almost performances almost every night with everything from traditional and modern dance, local and foreign film festivals, poetry readings and theatre, to music of every style imaginable. TIM serves not only as the center of contemporary Indonesian art, but has become in recent years a central showcase for international performing arts in Indonesia. A monthly programme of events is tourist offices and are listed in the Jakarta Post.

Pulau Seribu

This group of island scattered across the Java Sea to the north of Jakarta offers a heaven away from the bustle of city life. Golden beaches fringed with coconut palms line the sea; the surroundings waters are a paradise for snorkelers and scuba divers. The multi-colored coral reefs are home to a phenomenal variety of tropical fish. The islands can be reached from Tanjung Priok or Pasar Ikan (Sunda Kelapa) by ferry or by chartered boat. Among the island developed for tourism, with bungalows, restaurants, diving and sailing facilities are; Pulau Bidadari, Pulau Ayer, Pulau Laki and Pulau Putri. Pulau Tanjung near Putri has an airstrip.

Jaya Ancol Dreamland

This is Jakarta's largest and most popular recreation park. Its extensive range of attractions includes sea and fresh-water aquariums, swimming pools, an artificial lagoon for fishing and boating, a bowling alley, as well as an assortment of nightclubs restaurants, and massage parlors. The Ancol complex includes a marina, Dunia a Fantasi (Fantasy Land), a golf course, hotels and a drive-in theatre. "Pasar Seni" or art market has a varied collection of Indonesian handicraft, paintings and souvenirs on sale. An open-air theatre features live performances by local artists.

Fantasy Land

The latest addition to Jakarta's growing recreation facilities is the Fantasy Land, a 9.5 hectare(23.75 acres) entertainment park located inside the Ancol Dreamland, and is great for kids. The park offers a number of restaurants and souvenir shops. It is open on Monday to Friday from 2 to 9 pm, on Saturdays from 2 to 10pm.

Maritime Museum

Two of the original ware houses from the first trading post of the Dutch East Indies Company in Java now house the Maritime Museum. Exhibits include large models of boats from various islands. The old harbour master's tower stands nearby. Open from 8.00 a.m. till 2.00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. On Fridays closed at 11.00 a.m. and on Saturday at 1.00 p.m. It closed on Monday.

The Wayang Museum

This museum on the western side of Taman Fatahillah in "The Old Town" area has the finest displays of wayang puppets in Indonesia including puppets from all parts of Indonesia and other parts Southeast Asia as well. The wooden and leather puppets displayed here represent the finest craftsmanship in this particular form of traditional theatre. The museum also show shortened performances of the wayang kulit leather puppets every Sunday morning.

Jakarta Museum

Completed in 1627, the building initially served as the Dutch East Indies company's Town Hall. Additions and renovations including a stone gate, offices and renovations were added between 1705 and 1715. The well-known Indonesian hero, Diponegoro,was said to have been imprisoned in its dungeon before his exile to South Sulawesi.

The building was being used as military barracks and offices when the Jakarta City Administration decided in the early 1970s to make it the focus of a restoration plan of old Batavia. Now a Museum, it provides the historical background of Jakarta through displays of old maps and antiquities. Including furniture and porcelain used by the Dutch rulers of Batavia, as well as a 16th century Portuguese cannon which stands just across the cobblestone square.