Jakarta Welcomes You with Open Arms
The Welcome Monument in Indonesia’s capital city of Jakarta was commissioned for construction by the then incumbent President Sukarno to greet the thousands of athletes and foreign travelers that would attend the 1962 Asian Games. The Welcome Monument in many ways is a representation of Indonesian President Sukarno’s dream of turning Jakarta in to a modern metropolis. Almost half a century after the monument was erected Jakarta is well on its way into becoming a regional hub and a truly modern city.
Located at one of Jakarta’s busiest roundabouts near a well known luxury hotel, the Welcome Monument is located in a focal point of Jakarta. The monument is usually best seen during the late evening when the setting sun and the gentle cascade of its fountains create a beautiful visual effect. The central statue shows the image of two Indonesian children with their hands outstretched towards the sky in a sign of warm greeting.
Located in the Central District of Jakarta the Welcome Monument is housed in the city’s veritable nucleus. Inhabitants of the Indonesian Archipelago all throng here for commerce, trade and education. Also many top Indonesian companies have chosen M.H. Thamrin Road as their base of operations, while many important government offices are also located in this area.
Apart from the Welcome Monument a number of other Indonesian statues and monuments are also seen at traffic intersections such as the Farmer’s Monument, Arjuna Wijaya Statue and Prince Diponegoro Statue. Some of the city’s best entertainment venues are also seen in this area such as The National Museum, Textile Museum, Jakarta Arts Building, Puppet Museum and Taman Ismail Marzuki Arts Center.
For visitors looking to stay in Jakarta’s most central area, a great accommodation option particularly for long stay travelers would be the Jakarta serviced apartments that are located near the Welcome Monument.
