Visiting the Selamat Datang (Welcome) Monument in Jakarta

Visiting the Selamat Datang (Welcome) Monument in Jakarta
Visiting the Selamat Datang (Welcome) Monument in Jakarta

Everything you need to know about the Selamat Datang Monument – one of Jakarta’s most iconic symbols.

The Selamat Datang Monument in central Jakarta is one of the most famous and well recognized landmarks in the entire city. It is so famous that it a trip to the city is not complete without driving around it!

The Selamat Datang Monument goes by different names because of its location in central Jakarta.

It is surrounded by a roundabout that is translated to Bundaran HI in Bahasa Indonesia, therefore, it is also called the Bundaran HI Monument. This is not the only name for the Selamat Datang Monument, however. It is also called ‘The Welcome Monument’.

It is also called The Welcome Monument because “selamat datang” in Bahasa Indonesia translates to “welcome” in English. Therefore, if you do happen to be sightseeing in central Jakarta be prepared to hear the Selamat Datang Monument being called any one of these three names.

It is important that you can recognize what locals are calling this structure as you sightsee in the city center.

The Selamat Datang Monument is also very famous in Jakarta because it is situated directly right in the middle of the city center. This is one of the iconic places right in center of the city. It is surrounded by some of the most famous five-star luxury hotels in all of Jakarta including the:

The Mandarin Oriental

The Grand Hyatt

Hotel Kempinski

The Pullman Hotel is also situated near Bundaran HI and therefore, it too can be considered one of the hotels surrounding the roundabout. The roundabout is only approximately 1 or 2 km south of the National Monument (the Monas) which makes it convenient to check out if you are in central Jakarta.

In case you are wondering, the Selamat Datang Monument was originally completed in 1962 by sculptor Eddie Sunarso.  The original construction of the Monument was initiated because president Sukarno wanted to beautify the city in preparation for the Asian Games.

Since the Asian Games were a perfect opportunity to highlight Indonesia, and more specifically Jakarta, he felt that the city should be improved prior to the initiation of the games.

This landmark depicts two bronze statues of a man and a woman, waving in a welcoming gesture. The woman holds a flower bouquet in her left hand. According to research, Sukarno also contributed to the design of the Selamat Datang Monument.

In case you are wondering, the Welcome Monument measures 5 m from head to toe or even longer at 7 meters from the tip of the raised arm all the way down to the toe.

All-in-all the Welcome Monument stretches approximately 30 m above ground level. Although the Monument originally was designed to welcome visitors to Jakarta and Indonesia for the Asian Games, it still currently welcomes visitors from around the world to the capital city of Indonesia.

The Welcome Monument still remains one of Jakarta’s most iconic symbols and it is commonly selected by locals as one of the sites for political demonstrations to send a message to the local government authorities.


What is around The Selamat Datang (Welcome) Monument in Jakarta?

The Selamat Datang Monument in Jakarta is located arguably in the most convenient area of the entire city to stay while visiting the capital of Indonesia.

In case you are wondering why this is the case, the The Selamat Datang Monument is very close to excellent, world class five-star hotels, and also a wide selection of high-quality shopping malls within only a few hundred meters of the roundabout.

If you are sightseeing in the central Jakarta there is a very high probability that you will see the Selamat Datang Monument during your trip.

Many tourists that are staying in Jakarta choose to stay at one of the hotels surrounding the roundabout. These properties include the Mandarin Oriental, the Grand Hyatt,  Hotel Kempinski Indonesia, the Pullman and the Ascott. They routinely are ranked as some of the best hotels in Jakarta.

Of these properties, the Grand Hyatt, Hotel Kempinski Indonesia and the Mandarin Oriental tend to receive the most positive verified guest review scores.

It is also a wise decision to stay near Jakarta’s Selamat Datang Monument because of its proximity to popular malls in Thamrin such as:

Grand Indonesia

Plaza Indonesia

Thamrin City

These three malls are all conveniently located within a few hundred meters of the roundabout. Staying here will allow you to literally walk from mall to mall from your hotel in Thamrin in only one or two minutes which completely bypasses the need to enter Jakarta’s notorious traffic jams.

This will make your trip much more efficient because there are plenty of excellent restaurants, shops and family activities to satisfy even the pickiest of travelers.  

Also if you choose to travel further east of Bundaran HI you will be able to access some of Jakarta’s most famous public parks such as:

Taman Suropati

Taman Menteng

Taman Situ Lembang.  

If you walk slightly more east of Taman Situ Lembang, you will also be able to visit Jalan Surabaya Antique Market.

Jalan Surabaya Antique Market is one of the most interesting markets in all of central Jakarta. This is especially true if you are interested in antiques such as old masks, paintings, ceramic pieces and Indonesian swords.

Fortunately, Bundaran HI, the Selamat Datang Monument and the superb hotels in this area of Jakarta, are also now connected to the M1 North-South MRT Line as well.  

The new MRT line in Jakarta is completed and open to the public. This is a big game changer for tourism in the city. Now you can literally travel to Bundaran HI MRT Station and reach the aforementioned malls in about 4-5 minutes (walking). This will make your trip to Jakarta even more convenient than in the past.

If you travel further north you will be able to easily access the Monas, the National Museum of Indonesia, as well as the National Gallery of Indonesia.  You will have the choice to either walk, take a car or use TransJakarta bus service to reach the Monas area from the Selamat Datang Monument.


Summary: Visiting the Selamat Datang Welcome Monument in Jakarta

The Selamat Datang Monument in Central Jakarta is one of those landmarks that you want to definitely see before you leave the city.

An iconic symbol such as this does deserve some photos during your trip.  If you do decide to stay at one of the excellent hotels surrounding the roundabout be sure to request for a room that offers a clear view, so that you can take videos and photos to capture as much as you can of this important symbol in Jakarta.

If you want to easily access the Welcome Monument using the MRT head straight to Bundaran HI MRT Station. Take the southernmost exits from the station. You can walk to the monument in about 2-3 minutes from the station.

This is a great area for time lapse videos as well. Consider bringing a tripod and capturing video of vehicles and motos circling this iconic place in Jakarta.

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