Jakarta

Jakarta, Indonesia

It's a world of contrasts – tradition meets modernity; affluence and poverty are side by side. Bungalows and high-rises stand in clusters. Slab-paved backstreets and cement roads crisscross. Hip hotels tower over crowded villages. Tropical exotica makes this coastal city of international renown and the capital of Indonesia a worth destination.

Getting around

• Central Museum

  Built in 1868, it boasts the largest collection among the country's museums. Different exhibition halls deal with different themes, including gold ornaments, ancient currency, bronze pieces, wood items and folk customs.

• Istiqlal Mosque

  Built in 1979, the largest mosque in Indonesia is the conventional venue for all major events and ceremonies of the country. Two white domes perched high are quite eye-catching.

• Independence Square

  In downtown Jakarta, it's bordered by neat, wide streets with trees, plants and flowers sprinkled around. At its center towers the spectacular National Monument.

• Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park

  It contains museum, library, image center, children's palace and children's playground. Most in evidence is its panoramic cinema which screens “Beautiful Indonesia”, providing a quick snapshot of the country.

• National Monument

  This 137-meter modern icon of Jakarta towers in the center of the Independence Square. It's crowned with a torch sculpture made of 35 kilos' worth of gold. Carved reliefs depict the heroic struggles of the nation against colonial rule.

  
  
  
• Ragunan Zoo

  Laid out in a lush tropical setting, the zoo is the common home of many endangered animals from Indonesia and other parts of the world like Sumatran tiger, banteng wild ox and a Komodo dragon.