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{{short description|National monument and architectural icon of Jakarta, Indonesia}}
{{redirect|Monas|scientific nomenclature meaning "unicellular"|-monas|the genus|Monas (genus)}}
{{Infobox building
| name             = National Monument
| native_name      = {{lang|id|Monumen Nasional}}
| image            = Jakarta Indonesia National-Monument-02.jpg
| caption          = The Monument in 2015
| building_type    = [[Obelisk]]
| location         = [[Central Jakarta]], [[Jakarta]], Indonesia
| coordinates      = {{coord|6|10|31.4|S|106|49|37.7|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| mapframe-zoom    = 15
| start_date       = 17 August 1961
| completion_date  = 12 July 1975
| inauguration_date = 12 July 1975
| public_transit   = '''[[KRL Commuterline]]''':<br>{{rint|jakarta|red}} [[Juanda railway station|Juanda station]] or [[Gambir railway station|Gambir station]] (U/C) <br>'''[[Transjakarta]]''':<br>
{{rint|jakarta|tjk1}} {{rint|jakarta|tjk2}} {{rint|jakarta|tjk3}} {{rint|jakarta|tjk5C}} [[File:TransJakarta roundel 7F.png|16px|link=List of TransJakarta corridors#Cross-corridor routes]] Monas<br />{{rint|jakarta|tjk2}} {{rint|jakarta|tjk2a}} {{rint|jakarta|tjk5C}} {{rint|jakarta|tjk6A}} {{Rint|Jakarta|tjk6B}} [[File:TransJakarta roundel 7F.png|16px|link=List of TransJakarta corridors#Cross-corridor routes]] Balaikota<br />'''[[Jakarta MRT]]''':<br>{{rint|jakarta|M1}} ''Monas'' (U/C)
| owner            = Republic of Indonesia
| operator         = Government of Jakarta
| height           = 132 m
| main_contractor  = P.N. Adhi Karya <br />(foundation piles)
| architect        = {{unbulleted list|[[Friedrich Silaban]]| {{interlanguage link|Soedarsono|id|Soedarsono (seniman)}}}}
}}
The '''National Monument''' ({{langx|id|Monumen Nasional}}, abbreviated '''Monas''') is a 132&nbsp;m (433&nbsp;ft) obelisk in the centre of [[Merdeka Square, Jakarta|Merdeka Square]], [[Central Jakarta]]. It is the [[national monument]] of the [[Republic of Indonesia]], built to commemorate the [[Indonesian National Revolution|struggle for Indonesian independence]]. This monument is crowned with a flame covered in [[gold leaf]] which symbolizes the burning spirit of struggle of the [[Indonesia]]n people.
Construction began in 1961 under the direction of President [[Sukarno]], and the monument was opened to the public in 1975. The monument and the museum are open daily from 08:00 to 16:00 Western Indonesia Time ([[UTC+7]]) throughout the week except for Mondays when the monument is closed. Since April 2016, the monument is also open during night time, from 19:00 to 22:00 on Tuesdays to Fridays, and from 19:00 to 00:00 on Saturdays and Sundays.<ref name="Detik-Niken">{{cite news |work=Detik Travel |date=5 April 2016 |title=Wisata Malam Monas Dibuka, Yuk Lihat Jakarta dari Puncak Tugu |author=Niken Widya Yunita |language=Indonesian |url=https://travel.detik.com/travel-news/3180166/wisata-malam-monas-dibuka-yuk-lihat-jakarta-dari-puncak-tugu |access-date=27 April 2017 |archive-date=19 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519221247/https://travel.detik.com/travel-news/3180166/wisata-malam-monas-dibuka-yuk-lihat-jakarta-dari-puncak-tugu |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Background==
[[File:Sukarno Inspect Monas Construction.JPG|thumb|120px|upright|Sukarno inspecting the Monas construction process|left]]
After the Indonesian government returned to [[Jakarta]] from [[Yogyakarta]] in 1950 following the [[Indonesian National Revolution#Transfer of sovereignty|Dutch recognition of Indonesian independence]], President Sukarno began to contemplate the construction of a [[national monument]] comparable to the [[Eiffel Tower]] on the square in front of the [[Istana Merdeka|Presidential Palace]].
On 17 August 1954, a National Monument Committee was established and a design competition was held in 1955. This attracted 51 entries, but only one design, by [[Friedrich Silaban]], met any of the criteria determined by the committee, which included reflecting the character of Indonesia in a building capable of lasting for centuries. A repeat competition was held in 1960, but once again, none of the 136 entries met the criteria.
The chairman of the jury team then asked Silaban to show his design to Sukarno. However, Sukarno did not like the design as he wanted the monument to be in the form of a [[linga]] and [[yoni]]. Silaban was asked to design such a monument, but his design was for a monument so large that it would have been unaffordable given the economic conditions at the time.
Silaban refused to design a smaller monument, suggesting that construction be delayed until the Indonesian economy improved. Sukarno then asked the architect R.M. Soedarsono to continue with the design. Soedarsono incorporated the numbers 17, 8 and 45, representing the 17 August 1945 [[Proclamation of Indonesian Independence]], in the dimensions of the monument.{{sfn|Heuken|2008|p=25}}{{sfn|National Monument Office|1996|p=3-9}}{{efn|The height of the goblet yard at the base of the plinth is 17m, the width of the plinth at the base is 8m and the width of the goblet yard is 45m.}}
==Construction==
[[File:National Monument (Monas) under construction.jpg|thumb|left|120px|Construction of Monas]]
The construction of Monas proceeded in three stages. The first period, from 1961/1962–1964/1965 began with the official start of construction on 17 August 1961 with Sukarno ceremonially driving in the first concrete pile.
A total of 284 piles were used for the foundation block. A further 360 piles were driven in for the museum foundations, with work being completed in March 1962. The walls of the museum in the base were completed by October. Construction of the obelisk then commenced and was finished in August 1963. Work in the second stage, from 1966 to 1968, was delayed by shortages of funding and the aftermath of the [[30 September Movement]] coup attempt.
[[File:peresmianmonas.jpg|thumb|200px|President [[Suharto]] and Mrs. [[Siti Hartinah|Tien Suharto]] inaugurated the National Monument behind them, the Governor of DKI Jakarta [[Ali Sadikin]] and his wife]]
In the final phase, from 1969 to 1976, the dioramas for the historical museum were added. Problems remained once construction was complete, and work was needed to solve problems with water leaking into the museum. Monas was officially opened to the public on 12 July 1975. The location of Monas is known as [[Merdeka Square, Jakarta|Merdeka Square]].{{sfn|National Monument Office|1996|p=12-13}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jakarta.go.id/jakartaku/museum_di_dki01.htm |website=Jakarta Local Government |title=Museums in Jakarta |language=Indonesian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310162517/http://www.jakarta.go.id/jakartaku/museum_di_dki01.htm |archive-date=10 March 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Description==
===Design===
[[Image:Jakarta-Panorama.jpg|thumb|left|220px|"''Monas''" and the Jakarta skyline]]
The towering monument encapsulates the philosophy of [[Lingam|Lingga]] and [[Yoni]]. Lingga resembles an ''alu'' rice [[pestle]] and Yoni resembles a ''lesung'' rice [[Mortar and pestle|mortar]], two important traditional Indonesian tools. Lingga and Yoni also symbolize harmony, balance, fertility and eternal life with the lingga [[phallic]] symbol, representing masculinity, positive elements, and daytime and the Yoni the [[female organs]] symbol, representing femininity, negative elements, and night.
It also resembles the bloom of the famous ''[[Amorphophallus titanum]]'', native to Indonesia. Indeed, fiberglass ''Amorphophallus'' and ''[[Rafflesia]]'' sculptures were once installed around the monument.
The monument consists of a 117.7m obelisk on a 45m square platform at a height of 17m, the goblet yard. The obelisk itself is clad with [[Italy|Italian]] [[marble]].<ref>Monument Nasional brochure; Dinas Pariwisata dan Kebudayaan Provinsi DKI Jakarta, Unit Pengelola Monumen Nasional</ref>{{sfn|National Monument Office|1996|p=5}}
The northern pond measuring 25×25&nbsp;m was designed to cool water for the [[air conditioning]] system of Monas as well as to enhance the beauty of the surrounding area. To the north, there is a statue of [[List of National Heroes of Indonesia|Indonesia national hero]] [[Diponegoro|Prince Diponegoro]] by Italian sculptor Cobertaldo.{{sfn|National Monument Office|1996|p=28-29}}
===Reliefs of Indonesian history===
[[File:Relief of Indonesian History, Monas.JPG|thumb|200px|Relief of Indonesian history]]
In the outer yard surrounding Monas there are [[high relief|reliefs]] of [[History of Indonesia|Indonesian history]]. The story begins in the northeastern corner and describes events during eras such as the [[Singhasari]] and [[Majapahit]] empires. The reliefs extend along the four walls showing the European colonialization of the Indonesian archipelago, various popular local uprisings, modern Indonesian organizations in the early 20th century, the [[Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies|Japanese occupation in World War II]], the [[Proclamation of Indonesian Independence|Proclamation of Independence]], and post-independence developments. The reliefs were made from molded cement although several of the statues are damaged and have decayed due to weathering.
===The National History Museum===
The Indonesian National History Museum has a display of [[diorama]]s in the large marble-lined hall below Monas. There are a total of 51 dioramas around the walls and in the centre of the hall.
The dioramas begin in the northeastern corner, displaying the scenes from [[history of Indonesia|Indonesian history]] from the beginning during the earliest days of [[Prehistoric Indonesia]], the construction of [[Borobudur]], the [[Sriwijaya]] and [[Majapahit]] eras, followed with events from the period of European colonization and uprisings against [[Dutch East Indies Company]] and [[Dutch East Indies]] rule.
The dioramas continue well into the 20th century showing the Japanese occupation, the proclamation of Indonesian independence in 1945, the struggle for independence of Indonesian revolution, and on to events during the New Order era of Suharto's regime.
===The Hall of Independence===
[[File:Independence Room.JPG|thumb|left|200px|Hall of Independence, Gate of Independence in the left wall and [[Garuda Pancasila]] the right side]]
The Hall of Independence ({{langx|id|Ruang Kemerdekaan}}) is situated inside the goblet or "cup" part of Monas ({{langx|id|Cawan}}). The hall, which contains various symbols of independence, can be reached through spiral stairs at the north and south doors.{{sfn|Heuken|2008|p=25}}{{sfn|National Monument Office|1996|p=24-28}} The original text of the [[Proclamation of Indonesian Independence|Proclamation of Independence]] is stored in a glass case inside the bronze door. On the west side of the inner wall. Mechanized bronze doors weigh 4 tons and are coated with gold leaf adorned with the image of a ''Wijaya Kusuma'' flower, symbolizing eternity, and a lotus flower, symbolizing purity. The doors, known as ''Gerbang Kemerdekaan'' or the Gate of Independence, open slowly while the nationalist ''Padamu Negeri'' song plays followed by a recording of [[Sukarno]] reading the text of the Proclamation. On the southern wall there is a large bronze gold-coated statue of the [[Garuda Pancasila|coat of arms of Indonesia]] weighing 3.5 tons. On the eastern side is the text of the proclamation in bronze lettering. Originally the eastern side displayed the most sacred Indonesian flag, ''Sang Saka Merah Putih'', originally raised on 17 August 1945. However, because it is fragile and in poor condition it is no longer displayed. The wall on the northern side displays a map of the [[Indonesian archipelago]] coated in gold.
There is a middle platform on top of the ''cawan'' (goblet) which provides visitors with views from a height of 17 metres. This middle platform is accessible through the elevator on the way down from the main observation deck (the lift stops on the way down at the ''cawan'' to allow visitors to exit) or through stairs from below.
===The Observation Deck and Flame of Independence===
[[File:Monas - panoramio.jpg|thumb|130px|left|Monas observation deck crowned with gold-coated flame of independence]]
A lift on the southern side carries visitors to the viewing platform at a height of 115 metres above ground level. The capacity of the elevator is about 11 people. The top platform can accommodate about 50 people. There is also a staircase for use in emergencies. The total height of the monument is 132 metres. The distance from the viewing platform to the tip of the flame is 17 metres. The ticket to observation deck is Rp.10,000 (adults, 2016).<ref name="Detik-Niken"/>
[[File:Coat of arms of Jakarta.svg|thumb|120px|Monas on the [[coat of arms of Jakarta]]]]
Monas is topped by a 14.5 ton [[bronze]] Flame of Independence containing the lift engine. The base of the flame, in the shape of a goblet, is 3 metres high. The bronze flame structure measures 14 metres in height and 6 metres in diameter, It consists of 77 sections. Originally the bronze flame structure was covered with 35&nbsp;kg{{sfn|Heuken|2008|p=25}} of [[gold leaf]]. For the 50th anniversary of Indonesian independence in 1995, the gold leaf was reapplied and increased to 50&nbsp;kg{{sfn|National Monument Office|1996|p=28}} of gold.
==Visitation==
The observation desk and other facilities are open daily from 08.00 to 15.00 daily (except for Mondays; as of August 2022). The entrance to Monas is located around 100 meters from the northern side of the monument. Visitors must enter by steps leading to a tunnel which leads back towards the base of the Monas. There is a ticket office (Rp 5,000 for adults, Rp 2,000 for children, 2016) at the end of the tunnel to provide tickets that allows access to the National History Museum, diorama displays, as well as several other parts of the area.To access the observation deck, a different ticket must be bought for RP10,000 or adults (2016) and may be purchased at a second booth after passing through the hall that displays dioramas.<ref name="Detik-Niken"/>
{{wide image|View of Jakarta from Monas.jpg|1800px|The view of Central Jakarta from the Monas viewing tower}}
==Gallery==
{{Gallery |align=center |width=150 |height=150 |title=
|File:Monumen Nasional Jakarta.jpg|View of monument and square
|File:Kartini Statue, Merdeka Square.JPG|[[Kartini]] statue, hero of Indonesian women's emancipation
|File:Chairil anwar patung monas-arca-8a.jpg|[[Chairil Anwar]] statue, a prominent Indonesian writer
|File: diponogoro.jpg|[[Prince]] [[Diponegoro]] statue, Javanese war leader
|File:Mh thamrin images.jpg|[[Mohammad Husni Thamrin|MH. Thamrin]] statue, Indonesian politician in the Dutch East Indies era
|File:Patung ikada unnamed.jpg|[[Ikada Stadium|Ikada statue]]
}}
==See also==
{{Portal|Jakarta|Indonesia|Architecture}}
* [[Juche Tower|''Juche'' Tower]], a similarly designed monument-tower in [[Pyongyang]], [[North Korea]], topped with flame statue and elevator ride to the top observation deck.
* [[Washington Monument]] in Washington DC, an obelisk erected to commemorate George Washington.
* [[Tugu Pahlawan]] in Surabaya, a similarly design ten sided obelisk to commemorate Heroes of [[Battle of Surabaya]].
* [[Tugu Muda]] in Semarang.
* [[National Press Monument]] in Surakarta.
* [[List of museums and cultural institutions in Indonesia]]
==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}
===Works cited===
*{{cite book |last=Heuken |first=A. |title=Medan Merdeka - Jantung Ibukota RI |trans-title=Merdeka Square - Heart of the Indonesian Capital |publisher=Yayasan Cipta Loka Caraka |location=Jakarta |language=Indonesian |year=2008}}
*{{Cite book |author=National Monument Office |location=Jakarta |publisher=Jakarta Capital City Administration |year=1996 |title=National Monument: The Monument of the Indonesian National Struggle |isbn=979-95172-0-6}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Monumen Nasional|National Monument}}
{{Jakarta topics}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Military history of Jakarta]]
[[Category:Towers in Indonesia]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1975]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in Jakarta]]
[[Category:Post-independence architecture of Indonesia]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Jakarta]]
[[Category:Obelisks]]
[[Category:Cultural Properties of Indonesia in Jakarta]]
[[Category:Monumental columns in Indonesia|Monas]]
[[Category:1975 establishments in Indonesia]]
[[Category:Central Jakarta]]
[[Category:Indonesian National Revolution]]