Description of the attraction
The National Monument is a pylon located in the middle of Medan Merdeka, Freedom Square, Central Jakarta. The height of the pylon reaches 132 meters, and the pylon itself is a symbol of the struggle for the independence of Indonesia and was erected in order to serve as a reminder of those who died in this struggle.
The construction of this magnificent monument began in 1961 at the direction of the President of Indonesia, Sukarno. Sukarno was president of Indonesia from 1945 to 1967. It is worth noting that President Sukarno was awarded the honorary title "National Hero of Indonesia", a title given by the Indonesian government for his services in the struggle for the independence and development of the Indonesian state. The public opening of the monument took place in 1975. The top of the monument is made in the form of a flame and is made of sheet gold.
The construction of the monument took place in three stages. The first stage lasted from 1961 to 1965. In August 1961, President Sukarno laid the first pile of the monument in an official ceremony. In total, 284 reinforced concrete piles were driven into the foundation of this monument, and 360 piles were used to build the foundation of the museum. The foundation work was completed in March 1962, and the walls of the museum were completed in October. After that, the construction of the obelisk began, which was completed in August 1963. The next stage of construction (1966-1968) was accompanied by delays due to lack of funding, as well as due to the "September 30 Movement", when an organization that consisted of pro-communist officers tried to carry out a coup d'etat on the night of September 30 to October 1, 1965 of the year. The last stage of construction lasted from 1969 to 1976. Dioramas were added to the museum, and the remaining technical work in the museum was also to be completed.
The official opening of the monument took place in July 1975. It is worth noting the fact that the architecture of the monument embodies the Hindu philosophy of Ling and Yoni, the indivisible unity of male and female principles. The monument stands on a square platform with a museum inside. In the museum, guests are presented with about 50 dioramas depicting the history of the people of Indonesia. At the top of the tower, at a height of 115 m, there is an observation deck. On the north side of the monument there is a statue of the Indonesian hero Diponegoro.
