Heritage Sites
Many of the world's most ancient wonders can be found in Indonesia. From sacred temples to palace ruins, from prehistoric remains to living traditions, visitors from around the world come to Indonesia, attracted by its unique and diverse cultures and vibrant heritage.
Whether you take the opportunity to see traditional batik cloths being made, experience centuries old customs and festivities with a visit to a traditional village, or soak up some history in one of Indonesia's many museums – the list of heritage attractions appears endless.
Monetary History in the Bank of Indonesia Museum
The Bank of Indonesia Museum, which displays the role of the Central Bank in the history of the Indonesian archipelago since Dutch colonial days, is located by Old Batavia’s main Fatahillah Plaza, next to the Bank Mandiri Museum, opposite the Beos Station, at Jalan Pintu Besar Utara No. 3, in present day West Jakarta. Built in 1828 in neo-classical architecture mixed with Indonesian features, this elegant, still sturdy white building was...
Location: Java » DKI Jakarta » Jakarta Barat
Bada Valley: Sulawesi’s Mystifying Prehistoric Statues
The Bada Valley or Napu Valley, as it is sometimes called, is located in the District of Poso in Central Sulawesi, and is part of the Lore Lindu National Park. The valley is particularly prized for the beauty of its natural environment – a scenic expanse of rice paddies and green plains, engraved with small streams, and surrounded by soft rolling hills which give way to dense forests and rocky mountains. The Lairiang River flows through the...
Location: Sulawesi » Central Sulawesi » Kab. Poso
Heritage Mosques in Old Batavia
Two mosques in Old Batavia that were built in the 18th and 19th century respectively are the An-Nawier mosque and the Masjid Langgar Tinggi at Pekojan, now more familiarly known as Kampung Arab or the Arab village, in West Jakarta.Before the Arabs, the neighborhood was dominated by Muslim Indians from Bengal. The name Pekojan is said to derive from the word “Khoja” or “Kaja”, an area in India. On the other hand, the...
Location: Java » DKI Jakarta » Jakarta Barat
.jpg "Jakarta’s Neo Gothic Catholic Cathedral")
Jakarta’s Neo Gothic Catholic Cathedral
Jakarta’s neo-gothic Roman Catholic Cathedral stands on the north corner of Lapangan Banteng, or Banteng Square, which, during the Dutch colonial period was called Waterlooplein, or Waterloo Square in Central Jakarta. Today, the Cathedral stands right across Jakarta’s largest mosque, the Istiqlal Mosque. Their proximity is not a coincidence. Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno, chose the site for the mosque on purpose,...
Location: Java » DKI Jakarta » Jakarta Pusat
Understanding the Thousands of Relief Panels of Borobudur
Borobudur Temple is a majestic masterpiece. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Borobodur is the largest Buddhist monument in the world and the single most visited spot in Indonesia. 75 years in the making, Borobudur is constructed from 2 million intricately carved volcanic rocks, and assembled using a complex interlocking technique without the use of cement or mortar. Aside from its enchanting beauty and high artistic value, Borobodur is...
Location: Java » Central Java » Kota Magelang
 (1).jpg "Londa : Visit into the Cave Cemetery of Toraja")
Londa : Visit into the Cave Cemetery of Toraja
“On the walls of a steep hill, coffins hang from cracks in the rocky face.Lifelike wooden sculptures or effigies complete with clothes, stand in neat rows in cracks hollowed out inthe cliff faces, very much like the windows & balconies of a house. These represent the dead who are buried there.Not far from this hanging grave hides a burial cave many hundreds of years old. This site has attracted and amazed many tourists from all over the...
Location: Sulawesi » South Sulawesi » Kab. Tana Toraja
Impressive Pura Kehen in Bangli, on the road to Kintamani
Travelling from the southern lowlying coasts of Bali up the mountainous region of Kintamani overlooking spectacular Mount and Lake Batur, one passes the town of Bangli. Once a very important town in the kingdom of Bangli, today Bangli is a quiet town that comes alive only on busy market days and temple ceremonies, when people from surrounding areas converge in the town’s market place and temples. Bangli is an old city believed to...
Location: Bali » Bali, Kab. Bangli
The Tin Museum of Indonesia
In its heydays, the twin islands of Bangka-Belitung were once the hub of a thriving tin mining industry. In Pangkalpinang, capital of Bangka-Belitung, remnants of this early industrial era are well preserved and showcased to all curious eyes at the Tin Museum of Indonesia. Located on jalan Ahmad Yani.No 179, Pangkalpinang on Bangka Island, the museum occupies the building what was once the house of the Head of Administration of Bangka...
Location: Sumatra » Bangka Belitung » Kota Pangkal Pinang