The Selamat Datang Monument stands in the middle of a large roundabout at the Bundaran HI junction in Menteng, Central Jakarta. Its name means welcome, and it is one of the city's best-known landmarks. Traffic around it is heavy on weekdays, but on Sunday mornings cars are kept off the roads, and families and street food vendors fill the streets. At New Year, the area closes to traffic for fireworks and a live stage show. Come early on a Sunday to see the monument with room to walk around it.
What the name means and where it came from
Selamat Datang means welcome in Indonesian, and the monument carries that name. Sukarno commissioned it to welcome people to Indonesia.
It is one of the many monuments built in Jakarta after independence. Today it is widely used as a symbol of the country's hospitality and as a gathering place for locals.
The roundabout and its surroundings
The monument sits in the roundabout where Jalan M.H. Thamrin meets Jalan Sudirman. On the north side of the roundabout is Bundaran HI metro station, the northern terminus of the North-South metro line.
The streets around it have large luxury hotels, the malls Grand Indonesia and Plaza Indonesia, and tall office towers. During the day, traffic lights give short breaks in the traffic, long enough to see the monument properly and take photographs.
A police station sits next to the roundabout, and its activity is worth watching while you wait. The area feels welcoming and does not feel overly touristy.
Visiting on Sunday, at night and at New Year
On Sundays, cars are kept off the roads from 6:00 to 11:00. Arrive early, because the streets fill up as the morning goes on, and street food is sold along the route.
At night, the fountains around the monument are lit, and the city skyline behind them makes a good backdrop for photos.
For New Year's Eve, the area is closed to all traffic. Large crowds gather to watch the fireworks, and a live show plays on a stage in the area. There is a paid parking garage nearby, and the area is good for children.
Preguntas frecuentes
Where is the Selamat Datang Monument?
It is at Jl. Kebon Melati 1 No.5 in Menteng, Central Jakarta, in the middle of the Bundaran HI roundabout on Jalan Thamrin and Jalan Sudirman.
When are cars kept off the roads on Sundays?
Cars are kept off the roads from 6:00 to 11:00 on Sundays. Going early is the best way to get close to the monument.
Is there parking near the monument?
Yes, there is a paid parking garage nearby.
Can you get a view of the monument from above?
Yes. Go to the second floor inside Bundaran HI MRT station or the bus stop, where the view of the monument is good.
