Merdeka Square

The most impressive of Soekarno's great heroes-of-socialism structures. This 132m (433ft) National Monument (Monas) was constructed during the marble-and-gold project, that commenced in 1961 and took 14 years to complete. The phallic symbol topped by a glittering flame symbolizes the nation's strength and independence. It towers above the otherwise-desolate Merdeka Square, right in the heart of Jakarta. In the base of the monument is the National History Museum, where 48 dramatic dioramas a selective and overstated view of Indonesian history represent. A lift will take you to the top of the monument for dramatic - though rarely clear - views of Jakarta.