- Location: RW.2, Gambir, Central Jakarta City, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Area: 0,9 square meters. km
Indonesia is the largest island nation in the world, known for its respectable beaches , fashionable hotels and amazing nature. There is also a huge number of monuments telling about the history of the country. Some of them are located in Jakarta , more precisely - in its center at the Merdeka square, or Liberty Square.
History of the square
At a time when Indonesia was a colony of the Netherlands, two squares were built in Jakarta - Buffaleweld and Waterloopleyn, on which the buildings of the administration of the Dutch East Indies came. After the country became the property of Great Britain, city fairs and folk festivals were held in these squares. At the same time, sports complexes, running tracks and a stadium were built here.
Merdeka Square received its current name in 1949, when Indonesia gained independence. Before that, it was called Buffalewell, Koningsplie and Lapangan Ikada.
The architectural style and structure of the Merdeka Square
The British architect Arthur Norman worked on the design of almost all the large buildings in this area. Due to this, the Merdeka square has a harmonious appearance. Through it 4 roads pass, dividing it into 4 equal sections:
- Northern Medan of Merdek. This part of the square is adorned with a monument to the national hero of the country - Prince Diponegoro, who led the uprising against the Dutch colony. Here is a statue of the Indonesian poet Chairil Anwar.
- Southern Medan of Merdek. In this part of the square, a park is divided into 33 species of rare plants, serving as symbols of 31 Indonesian provinces and 2 districts. The deer also live in the park.
- Western Medan Medan. Here visitors of the square can look at the big fountain, and in the evening - admire the beautiful lighting.
- East Medan Medan. The main decoration of this part of the square is the statue of Cartini, a famous resident of Indonesia, who fought for the rights of women. The monument was donated by the Japanese government, which transferred it from the Surapati park in Menteng. Here is a beautiful pond.
Buildings located on the Merdeka square
Architect Arthur Norman managed to reflect in this object the characteristic features of European, Moorish, Saracenic and Asian architectural styles. To see this, you need to make an appointment for a tour of the Merdeka Square, during which you can see the following buildings:
- The Presidential Palace ;
- The palace of the vice-president of the country;
- National Independence Monument ;
- the Istiklal Mosque ;
- the Church of Saint Emmanuel;
- National Gallery ;
- Constitutional Court.
The last major reconstruction of the capital's sights was held under President Sukarno. Now the square of Merdek is constantly patrolled by security guards, who monitor the order and safety of people. It is open to all local residents and guests of the capital. Entrance here is prohibited only to the homeless and merchants.
How to get to Merdeka Square?
The main attraction of the Indonesian capital is located right in its center, at the intersection of Jl. Medan Merdeka Sel, Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat and Jl. Medan Utara. You can reach Merdeka Square from anywhere in Jakarta or the suburbs. To do this, take bus number 12, 939, AC106, BT01, P125 or R926 and get off at the Monas stop, Gambir2 or Plaza Monas. 100 meters from the square is the Gambir metro station, which can be reached by trains Agro Parahyangan, Agro Dwipangga, Cirebon Ekspres.