NATIONAL MONUMENTS

National Monuments

National Monument or the popular abbreviated or Tugu Monas Monument is a monument as high as 132 meters (433 feet) which was established to commemorate the resistance and the Indonesian people's struggle for independence from the Dutch East Indies colonial administration. Construction of this monument began on August 17, 1961 under the orders of President Sukarno, and opened to the public on July 12, 1975. The monument is crowned with flame-coated gold leaf that symbolizes the spirit of the glowing struggle. National Monument is located right in the middle of Merdeka Square, Central Jakarta. Monuments and museums are open every day starting at 08:00 to 15:00 West Indonesia Time. On Monday last week of each month is closed to the public.

History
After the central government of the Republic of Indonesia returned to Jakarta after the previous domicile in Yogyakarta in 1950 following the recognition of the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia by the Dutch government in 1949, President Sukarno began thinking about building a national monument which is equivalent to the Eiffel Tower on the ground right in front of Merdeka Palace. Monas monument Development aims to commemorate and preserve the Indonesian struggle during the revolution of independence, 1945, to continue to inspire patriotism and spirit of present and future generations.
On August 17, 1954 a national committee was formed and a national monument design competition held in 1955. There are 51 works entered, but only one works made by Frederich Silaban who meet the prescribed criteria of the committee, among others, describe the character of the Indonesian nation and can last for centuries. The second contest was held in 1960 but again none of 136 participants who meet the criteria. Chairman of the jury later asked Silaban to show the design to Sukarno. However, Sukarno less like the design it and he wanted the monument was shaped phallus and yoni. Silaban then asked to design a monument with a theme like that, but the design of the proposed Silaban too extraordinary that the costs are very large and can not be borne by the state budget, especially when economic conditions were bad enough. Silaban refused to design a smaller building, and suggested that development be postponed until the Indonesian economy improves. Sukarno then asks architect R.M. Soedarsono to resume the draft. Soedarsono enter number 17, 8 and 45, represent begin August 17, 1945 proclamation of Indonesian independence, into the design of the monument. [1] [2] [3] The National Memorial was later built in the area of 80 hectares. This monument diarsiteki Silaban and R. Friedrich M. Soedarsono, began construction August 17, 1961.

Development
The development consists of three stages. The first phase, the period 1961/1962 - 1964/1965 officially begins with the start of construction on August 17, 1961 with a ceremonial stick Sukarno first concrete pegs. Total 284 pins are used as building foundation concrete. A total of 360 pegs embedded earth for the foundation of the national history museum. The entire foundation erection completed in March 1962. The walls of the museum at the base of the building was completed in October. Development obelisk then started and finally completed in August 1963. The second phase of development took place in the period 1966 until 1968 due to the September 30th Movement of 1965 (G-30-S/PKI) and an attempted coup, this phase was delayed. The final stage took place in 1969-1976 by adding a diorama at the museum's history. Although construction has been completed, problems still occur, including leakage of water that flooded the museum. The monument was officially opened to the public and was inaugurated on July 12, 1975 by the President of the Republic of Indonesia Soeharto. [4] [5] The location of this monument known as the Merdeka Square. Monas Square experiencing five times the renaming Gambier Field, Field Ikada, Merdeka Square, National Monument Square and Monument Park. Around the monument there is a garden, two ponds and some open field where the exercise. On holidays Medan Merdeka filled with visitors who enjoy the scenery Monas recreation and perform various activities in the park.

Design Monuments
Monas design based on the concept of universal eternal partner; Linga and Yoni. Monument towering obelisk that symbolizes the phallus male, masculine elements which are active and positive, and symbolizes the day. While the court of the cup base of the obelisk is Yoni symbolizes the female, the feminine element is passive and negative, and symbolizes the night. [6] Linga and yoni is the symbol of fertility and harmonious unity complementary Indonesia since prehistoric times. Also Monas form can also be interpreted as a pair of "pestle" and "mortar", a rice pestle found in every traditional Indonesian peasant household. Thus the full dimensions of the monument design distinctive national culture of Indonesia. The monument consists of 117.7 meters above the obelisk on a square base of The 17 meters tall, the court of the cup. This monument is coated with Italian marble.
Swimming on Merdeka Square Park North is 25 x 25 meters designed as part of the air conditioning system as well as enhance your appearance Monument Park. Nearby there is the fountain and statue of Prince Diponegoro, who was riding his horse, made of bronze weighing 8 tons. The statue was created by Italian sculptor, Professor. Coberlato [7] as a donation by the Consulate General of Honores, Dr. Mario Bross in Indonesia. The entrance to the monument located in North Merdeka park near the statue of Prince Diponegoro. Entrance through a tunnel that is 3 m below the park and cross the road this monument, the entrance of visitors to the memorial monument. Ticket booth located at the end of the tunnel. When the visitors got back into the ground on the north side of the monument, visitors can continue the tour of the relief of the history of the struggle of Indonesia; get into the museum of national history through the door at the northeast corner, or straight up into the middle towards independence hall or elevator to the top court of the monument.

Relief Indonesian History
In the courtyard outside around the monument, at every corner there is a relief depicting the history of Indonesia arise. Relief begins at the northeast corner to perpetuate the glory of the archipelago in the past, displaying the history Singhasari and Majapahit. This relief continues in chronological order in a clockwise direction towards the southeast corner, southwest, and northwest. Chronologically depict the Dutch colonial period, the resistance of the people of Indonesia and Indonesia's national heroes, the formation of modern organizations that fight for an independent Indonesia in the early 20th century, Youth Pledge, the Japanese Occupation and World War II, Indonesia's independence proclamation followed the Revolution and War of Independence of the Republic Indonesia, to achieve the development of modern Indonesia. Reliefs and sculptures are made of cement or metal pipe with the frame, unfortunately some sculptures and statues began to fall out and damaged by rain and tropical weather.

National History Museum
At the base of the monument at a depth of 3 meters below ground level, there is the Museum of National History of Indonesia. Large space museum of history of national struggle with the size 80 x 80 meters wide, can accommodate about 500 people visitors. This marble great room there were 48 dioramas on all four sides and 3 diorama in the middle, so that a total of 51 dioramas. This diorama shows the history of Indonesia since the pre-history to the New Order. This diorama dimula from the northeast corner moving clockwise journey tracing the history of Indonesia; begin the pre-history, the ancient empire like Srivijaya and Majapahit, followed by European colonial period that followed the resistance of the pre-independence national hero against the VOC and Dutch East Indies government. Diorama continues until the period of the Indonesian national movement of the early 20th century, Japanese occupation, wars of independence and the revolution, until the New Order of Suharto's reign.

Independence Room
Inside the monument there is cup-shaped amphitheater Independence Room. This room can be achieved through spin ladder in the north and south side doors. The room is storing state symbols and independence of the Republic of Indonesia. Among the original text of Indonesia's Independence Proclamation stored in a glass case inside the gilded gates, the symbol of the state of Indonesia, a map of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia archipelago gold plated, white and red flag, and the walls are inscribed the manuscript Proclamation of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia. [1] [8 ]. In the space of Independence National Monument was used as a quiet room and meditate for a moment of silence remembering the essence of independence and the struggle of the Indonesian nation. The original of the proclamation of Indonesian independence is stored in a glass case in the gold-plated gate. Mechanical door is made of bronze weighing 4 tons of gold-plated engravings adorned Wijaya Kusuma flower that symbolizes eternity, and the lotus flower which symbolizes purity. This door is located on the west side of the wall right in the middle of the room and black marble. The door is known as a mechanically Independence Gate will open as he let out the song "State Song" followed later by a recorded voice reading the manuscript proclamation middle Sukarno on August 17, 1945. On the south side there is a statue of Garuda Pancasila, the Indonesian state emblem made of bronze weighing 3.5 tons and gold plated. On the eastern side there is writing the script lettered proclamation bronze, this side should display the flag of the most sacred and exalted Sang Saka Merah Putih, which was originally flown on August 17, 1945. But because his condition was getting old and fragile, sacred flag is not displayed. Diding north side of this black marble featuring gilded archipelago, symbolizing the location of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia.

Court Summit and Independence Fire
An elevator (lift) on the south side of the door will bring visitors to the court of the peak size of 11 x 11 meters at an altitude of 115 meters from ground level. This elevator transport capacity of 11 people once. Court of this peak can accommodate about 50 people, and there are binoculars to see the panorama of Jakarta closer. In the elevator around the body there is an emergency staircase made of iron. From the top court of the Monas monument, visitors can enjoy views across the city. If the sunny weather conditions without the smoke haze, in the direction to the south visible from a distance of Mount Salak in Bogor regency, West Java, stretching north sea with small islands.
National Monument at the top there is the cup that sustains bronze torches weighing 14.5 tons and 35 Kilograms of gold coated. Flame or torch, measuring 14 meters high and 6 meters in diameter consisting of 77 sections that are put together. This flame as a symbol of the spirit of struggle of the Indonesian people who want to achieve independence. Initially the flame is coated sheet bronze gold weighing 35 kilograms [1], but to welcome the celebration of half a century (50 years) Indonesian independence in 1995, gold leaf was re-covered so as to achieve weight 50 kilograms of gold sheet. [9] Peak monument form of "Fire Nan unflagging" meaningful for the Indonesian nation always has a fiery spirit in the struggle and never recede or outages of all time. Court of the cup to provide views for visitors from a height of 17 meters from ground level. Court of the cup can be reached via an elevator when it fell from the top court, or through the ladder reached the bottom of the cup. High court of the cup from the bottom of 17 meters, while the high range of space history museum to the bottom of the cup is 8 m (3 feet below ground plus 5 meters of stairs to the base plate). Area of the square courtyard, measuring 45 x 45 meters, it is the preservation of sacred figures Proclamation of Independence (17-8-1945).