National Monument, popularly known as Monas, was constructed aiming at commemorating and preserving the Indonesian struggle for independence during the revolution in 1945, for the inspiration and spirit of patriotism of the current and future generations.
The towering monument in the form of an obelisk-marble stone stands for the phallus (lingga), measured by 132 meters high, and cup (yoni) symbolizing the fertility. On top of the monument, there is cup-shaped space, supporting a bronze torch flame which weighs 15 tons and gold plated 35 kilograms. It is "the non-extinguishable fire", symbolizing the unstoppable struggle of Indonesian independence.
The space at the top is of 11x11 square meters and can accommodate 50 visitors. Along with the elevator, there is an emergency staircase made of iron. Standing at the space on the top of the monument, visitors can enjoy spectacular views across the city of Jakarta, wherein southerly direction, there stands in the distance Mount Salak in Bogor regency, West Java, in the north stretches the sea with small islands scattered. When turned to the west the Soekarno-Hatta Airport is looming in the distance and at any time people can see a plane take off or prepare for landing.
The height of the cup from the bottom is 17 m and from the history, the museum is 8 m. The courtyard of the history museum measuring by 45x45 m is nothing but the preservation of sacred figures of the proclamation of independence (17-8-1945). Visitors of the monument, who will climb to the peak can step up through the entrance plaza of the park around the Merdeka Square, in the north of the monument. Through the tunnel which is 3 m below the monument, visitors can step into the monument peak through the entrance fenced with yellow bamboo.
Facts in Briefs
The height of the monument is 132 m. Flames (in the form of gold leaves) on top of the monument are of 14 m high, the 3rd floor of the monument is 115 high above the ground. Inside the monument, there are 51 dioramas. Cost for its construction was 700,000 dollars. The national monument was built in an area of 80 hectares. It was designed by Friedrich Silaban and M. Soedarsono.
The construction began on August 17, 1961, as the manifestation of Soekarno's great idea, the first Indonesian president, and was inaugurated on July 12, 1975, by President Soeharto. In the northern corner of the square, there is the fountain and statue of Prince Diponegoro, who fought against Dutch in 1825-1830, riding his horse, made of bronze weighing 8 tons. The statue was created by Italian sculptor, Prof. Coberlato as a contribution of his Consulate General in Indonesia.
The monument was the long obsession of Soekarno, the proclaimers of Indonesian independence. He was certainly a big nation and character builder. He did not have a chance to build a strong and robust economic foundation for his nation but he believed that the first thing he had to do was building the nation spirit, character, integrity, maturity, pride, and independence from other nations. Without those foundations, a nation would be easily swaying to and fro just like grasses blew by the wind.
It was early in 1966 when Jakarta streets were inundated by demonstrators asking for his resignation, Soekarno felt very lonely, nobody, even the closest friends dared to accompany him. When he was asked why he still wanted to continue building Monas, one of his ambitious projects, he answered: "Look," said Sukarno looking far away through the sky: "If the construction of this monument, which is taller than the White House monument, could be completed, it will be great. Imagine! One or two hundred years from now, if there is a plane full of foreign tourists hovering over Jakarta, the passengers looking downward, admiring the monument, they will say to each other, 'Look on my friends, there certainly a great nation live beneath'. "
