Central Jakarta sights

Museum Nasional

On the western side of Merdeka sq, the National Museum built in 1862 is the best of its kind in Indonesia and is the one museum in the city that's essential visit. A very impressive new wing was added on the north side of the neo classical colonial structure in 2007. No photographs are allowed.
The museum has an enormous collection. Around the open courtyard is some magnificent statuary including a colossal 5.5m stone image of a Bhairawa king from Rambahan in Sumatra who is shown trampling on human skulls. The ethnology section is superb, with Dayak puppets and wooden statues from Nias bearing beards (a sign of wisdom) plus some fascinating textiles.
Over in the spacious new wing there are four floors with sections devoted to the origin of mankind in Indonesia, including a model of the Flores 'hobbit'. There's also superb display of gold treasures from Candi Brahu in Central Java, including some glittering necklaces armbands and a bowl depicting scenes from Ramayana
Outside the museum is bronze elephant that was presented by the King of Thailand in 1871 thus the museum building is popularly known as the Gedung Gajah (Elephant House)

Monas

Ingloriously dubbed Sukarno's Final erection,  this 132 m high National Monument, towering over Merdeka Sq, is both Jakarta principal landmark and the most famous architectural extravagance of the former president. Begun in 1961, this tupically masculine column was not completed until 1975, when it was officially opened by Suharto. The munument is constructed from Italian marble and is topped with a sculpted flame, gilded with 35 kg of gold leaf
In the base of the monument, the National History Museum tells the story of Indonesia's independence struggle in 45 dioramas using thunderbirds like models. The numerous uprisings against the Dutch are overstated but interesting; Sukarno is barely mentioned and the events surrounding the 1965 coup are whitewash.
Except smog tainted views from the top of the monument. Avoid sunday and holidays, when the queues for the lift are long.

Taman Prasasti

To the nortwest of the National Museum, which is actually the Kebon Jahe Cementry; important figures from colonial era are buried here.






Lapangan Banteng

Just east of Merdeka Sq, in front of the Hotel Borobudur Jakarta, Lapangan Banteng was laid out by the Dutch in the 19th century, and the area has some of Jakarta's best colonial architecture.
The Chatolic catherdal has twin spires and was built in 1901 to replace an earlier church. Facing the cathedral is Jakarta's principal place of Muslim worship, the striking. Modernist Masjid Istiqlal which was completed in 1978 to a design by Chatolic architect Frederich Saliban. The mosque has five levels, representing the five pillars of Islam; its dome is 45m across and its minaret top 90m. During Ramadan over 200.000 worshippers can be accomodated here. Non Muslim visitors are welcome. You have to sign in first and then you'll be shown around by an english speaking guide.

Gedung Pancasila

To the southwest is Gedung Pancasila, which is an imposing neoclasicall building neoclassical building built in 1830 as the Dutch army commander's residence. It later became the meeting hall of the Volksraad (Poeple's council), but is best known as the place where Sukarno made his famous Pancasila speech in 1945, laying the foundation for Indonesia's constitution. Just west a long Jl. Pejambon from Gedung Pancasila is the Emanuel church, another classic building dating from 1893