Malang in East Java is a charming city to visit and easily accessible from Bali, Jakarta and Surabaya.

In front of the magnificent Tugu Hotel Malang, and the City Hall, stands the majestic Tugu Monument, landmark of Malang, and symbol of independent Indonesia, in a big colourful garden with a fountain and a pool. Old trembesi trees abound.

The Dutch built the city of Malang and the garden was the former garden of the notorious Governor of East Indies, Jan Pietersen Zoen Coen. It covers 11.923 square metres.

The Mayor planned to build an Independence Monument and construction began on Independence Day, 17 August 1946. The monument was signed by President Sukarno and AG Suroto, head of the Committee of Monument Construction. When it was 95% complete, the Dutch destroyed it on 23 December 1948. They were not willing to give up their colony.

On 9 July 1950 a new committee was formed to rebuild the monument and it was finished on 20 May 1953 and opened by President Sukarno, Indonesia’s first President. It is known as Alun Alun Bunder (Bunder = round shape) or Alun Alun Tugu or Taman Tugu.

Monument Tugu is shaped like a sharpened bamboo, the weapon used by Indonesian freedom fighters against the Dutch to gain independence. The chain stands for unity in Indonesia’s fight for freedom. The sets of stairs have 4 and 5 corners  – 45, the year Indonesia gained Independence, 1945.

The monument is in the middle of a lotus fish pond – white and red symbolise the courage and purity of the heroes. There is an  Indonesian map and the face of Bung Karno and Bung Hatta reading the Independence proclamation text.