Sightseeing in Jakarta - what to see. Complete travel guide

Jakarta is famous for large choice of wonderful places, entertaining and cultural facilities. Many travellers visit Jakarta only when transferring from one destination to another, but this wonderful city deserves much more attention.

From historical point of view tourists are advised to visit Batavia district that was founded by the Dutch people in the 19th century. Many interesting houses have remained from those colonial times. Some ancient mansions are now used as museums and galleries, so you will definitely enjoy your walk in this place. The Museum of History is a wonderful place to learn much new information about the development of Jakarta. The halls of the museum exhibit various collections devoted to costumes, armor, household items and even a collection of cannons. There is a large system of underground canals on the territory of the museum. In previous years they were used as prisoners’ cells.

The travellers, who are interested in ancient facilities, should attend an excursion to Candra Naya mansion. It is located not far away from the center of the city near one of the modern hotels. The house is in great state and has all furniture and decorations remaining from previous centuries. Masjid Istiqlal is one of the most beautiful buildings of Jakarta. This is one of the largest mosques of South-East Asia. The building is made of marble and this makes it look even more glorious. Even in the hottest days the air in the mosque is cool. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

You may also enjoy visiting Taman Prasasti Museum, which exhibition is devoted to gravestones. This is a relatively big complex under the open sky, which has been opened in the site of the former Dutch graveyard. In 18th century many noble and rich people were buried here, so many gravestones were true pieces of art created by famous sculptors. Jakarta’s port is another amazing destination where you can find large number of beautiful ships, the most amazing of which is Sunda Kepala.

One of the most visited attractions of the city is Taman Mini Park. It is a huge open-air museum with an area of ​​more than 100 hectares. The territory of this huge park is divided into 14 thematic zones, each of which is dedicated to the culture of a certain region of Indonesia. In the park, replicas of houses of locals are built. In each of these buildings, an interesting collection of exhibits is presented. Here you can see items of everyday life of indigenous people, handicrafts, and amazing works of art.

Among religious sites, it is worth noting the beautiful Istiklal Mosque. It is the largest mosque in South-East Asia. This magnificent mosque is located on Liberty Square. For locals, it is a symbol of the independence of their country. The beautiful mosque is interesting not only as a religious monument, but also as a place for holding various cultural events. Many tourists are recommended to inspect the mosque in the evening, when its facade is decorated with spectacular lighting.

In Jakarta, there is the world-famous temple complex Borobudur, which is considered one of the greatest monuments of antiquity. Currently, it is the largest of the remaining Buddhist monuments. The temple complex was built in the 8th century. Like many years ago, the majestic temple presently attracts not only curious tourists, but also pilgrims.

In the vicinity of Jakarta, there is another majestic temple complex – Prambanan. The central part of this Buddhist complex is the Shiva Temple. Its height is 47 meters. These historical buildings are decorated with beautiful bas-reliefs, and within the walls of the temple, there are many interesting Buddhist shrines.

Jakarta has many interesting cultural centers and museums. One of the most unusual museums is considered to be Purna Bhakti Pertiwi Museum. In it you can see a variety of incredible souvenirs, which were once presented to the President of Indonesia by the rulers of other states and business people. In this museum, many unique works of art and precious things that exist in a single copy, has been collected. Absolutely everyone can admire these luxurious things today.