Historical destinations in Indonesia – Spanning more than 17 thousand islands, Indonesia is rich in its history, culture, and natural beauty. The isles and ocean that make up this country contain hundreds of interesting sites across the archipelago.
From the east to the west, you can conquer the most famous historical destinations in Indonesia. Keep reading through this ultimate travel guide to alluring destinations in the country, t-mates!
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10 Most Popular Historical Sites Across Indonesian Archipelago
The archipelago holds untold treasures in its cultures, landscapes, and cities that has its own different uniqueness. Whichever way you want to take to start exploring, the experience will surely be filled with awe and appreciation of these 10 historical destinations in Indonesia.
1. Borobudur Temple
Borobudur is a Buddhist temple and one of the greatest Buddhist sites in the world. It is a 30 meters high temple and decorated with more than 500 Buddha statues and more than 2,000 relief panels for you to discover. This historical construction is nothing but offering you a breathtaking experience
Borobudur is situated near Yogyakarta, a city that is known for its culture and history. You can visit during sunrise or sunset when the complex is bathed in sunlight.
Brace yourself for a lot of walking & climbing through so many stairs to reach the top. Psst, every your struggling is worth it, t-mates. Because, after you’ve arrived at the top, your eyes will be mesmerized with the magical view from above.
Operational days & hours: every day, 8.30 AM – 4 PM (local time)
Address: Jl. Badrawati, Kw. Candi Borobudur, Borobudur, Magelang Regency, Central Java (Check on Google Maps)
2. Taman Sari Water Castle
Another charming historical destination in Central Java is Taman Sari Water Castle. It was once a bath for the king’s family and other multiple purposes. It’s now only several buildings remain and can be visited by visitors.
The architecture is a combination style of Hindu, Buddhist, Javanese, Islam, China, Portuguese, and European. Today, the building is surrounded by homes for local residents. Even so, most tourists find this place interesting because there’s a unique story behind its origins.
Operational hours & days: every day, 9 AM – 3 PM (local time)
Address: 59Q5+XM Patehan, Yogyakarta City, Special Region of Yogyakarta (Check on Google Maps)
3. Lawang Sewu
Nestled in the heart of Semarang, Lawang Sewu is a historic building located nearby Tugu Muda Semarang. It was built in 1904 as the office of Nederlands-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij before Indonesia got its Independence Day. The building took 3 years of construction and has 1,000 doors in total.
Every corner in Lawang Sewu is a good spot to capture your minutes by minutes of exploration! Besides that, there are many exciting activities that you can do in Lawang Sewu. Such as knowing the history of Indonesian railways from the past to the present.
Operational hours & days: every day, 7 AM – 9 PM (local time)
Address: 2C86+C5 Sekayu, Semarang City, Central Java (Check on Google Maps)
4. Maimun Palace
Here’s the must-visit building in Medan that has a mixed of Malay, Spanish, Indian, and Italian architecture. The Maimun Palace designed in 1888 by a European architect with the domination of yellow color, resembles the greatness of the Malay people.
The main hall of the palace is dominated by the color yellow. And, when you enter the palace, you will be mesmerized by the beauty of architectural buildings, t-mates. So, make sure to prepare your camera, okay?
Operational hours & days: every day, 8 AM – 5 PM (local time)
Address: HMGM+4G A U R, Medan City, North Sumatra (Check on Google Maps)
5. Fort Rotterdam
The 17th-century fort in Makassar is a Dutch fort built around 1634 on top of an existing fort of the Gowa Kingdom. This old colonial fort is overlooking the harbor and is now one of the top attractions in Makassar.
If you want to visit the fort, you can take local transportation or a taxi. If you happen to be in Losari Beach, stroll down the boulevard and enjoy the ocean scenery before reaching Fort Rotterdam. The best part is, there’s no entrance fee for visitors.
Operational hours & days: every day, 9 AM – 6 PM (local time)
Address: VC84+C4 Bulo Gading, Makassar City, South Sulawesi (Check on Google Maps)
6. Tana Toraja
Experience the feeling of stepping far back in time, by visiting Tana Toraja in South Sulawesi. Travelers can visit villages and connect with locals, or trek in the lush and countryside.
The architectural style of Tongkonan or boat-shaped houses which represent the social hierarchical system will totally leave you in wonder. The natives of Tana Toraja are popular for their culture and funeral rituals, which can last several days with plenty of food and traditional dance performance.
Address: South Sulawesi (Check on Google Maps)
7. National Monument
Monas or National Monument is a very popular tourist destination in Jakarta and also symbolizes the fight for Indonesia. It was built to commemorate the struggle for Indonesian independence.
Enjoy a lovely park with beautiful greenery, wide paths, and roads when you visit this monument. Don’t forget to come to an interesting diorama-based museum underneath it.
National History Museum displays many dioramas depicting the important points in the long history of Indonesia, from the prehistoric era to the golden era. It would be such a good idea to come to Monas and watch the history of Indonesia flash before your eyes, t-mates.
Operational hours & days: every day, 8 AM – 10 PM (local time)
Address: Gambir, Central Jakarta City, Jakarta (Check on Google Maps)
8. Jam Gadang
Next, it’s not valid if you travel to the city of Bukittinggi without visiting the building that is the symbol of this city, Jam Gadang or Clock Tower. It also has become a popular tourist attraction in the city.
The construction of the clock tower building was handled by an original Minangkabau architect, Jazid Rajo Mangkuto Sutan Gigi Ameh in 1926. Another fun fact is that this tower was built without using any steel supports and cement, t-mates. However, Jam Gadang was only built using traditional materials such as lime, egg white, and white sand. Impressive, right?
Address: M9V9+WR Benteng Pasar Atas, Bukittinggi City, West Sumatra (Check on Google Maps)
9. Gedung Sate
Gedung Sate is the popular name for the governor’s office of West Java Province. It is one of the landmark buildings of Bandung and has become an icon for the city
Gedung Sate was designed by Dutch architect J.Gerber and it was completed in 1922. Gedung Sate literally means ‘Satay Building’. The name is a reference to the metal spike on the roof which reminded Iocals of a satay skewer, t-mates.
The building attracts tourists for both its beautiful architecture as well as its rich historical value. It has a neoclassical design that incorporates elements from many cultures, from east and west. Around the building, you will see the beautiful gardens suited to be photo backgrounds, so do not hesitate to take as many photos as you want while taking a leisure stroll in the park.
Operational hours & days: Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 4 PM (local time)
Address: 3JX9+2F Citarum, Bandung City, West Java (Check on Google Maps)
10. Masjid Baiturrahman Aceh
Masjid Baiturrahman represents one of the first domed mosques in Southeast Asia. Built by the Dutch in 1879 and completed in 1881, it was intended to replace a 12th-century mosque that had been destroyed by previous battles.
A visit to the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque is a must for any trip to Banda Aceh, t-mates. It’s hard to miss, after all, because of its location in the city center.
In addition to worship, you can do various things such as enjoy the beauty of architecture and see the electric umbrella in this Baiturrahman Mosque. After worship, you can also relax and enjoy the view of the garden and pool in the mosque courtyard. So, don’t forget to capture some photos while at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, okay t-mates?
Operational hours & days: every day, 4.30 AM – 10 PM (local time)
Address: H838+CW Kampung Baru, Banda Aceh City, Aceh
Indonesia is Celebrating Independence Day Soon!
Let’s have the freedom to fly across the country with the best deals to explore an array of historical destinations in Indonesia! Don’t forget to join the festivity of Indonesia’s Independence Day from anywhere in the archipelago!
Before that, let’s also take a look at how Indonesia celebrate their freedom day and some other countries in the world, learn more about the diversity of each country’s cultural and historic parts!
