Indonesia has many unique features that really stood out that made Indonesia very unique. But Indonesia is very broad and consists of many large and small islands. So it will be very busy and not cheap if you want to browse all interesting places in Indonesia. Here are very unique and famous places in Indonesia (some well-known internationally) where each place represents the hallmark of Indonesia so you do not have to go all over the place in Indonesia to explore the characteristics and uniqueness of Indonesia.
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah / TMII (Indonesia Miniature Park), Java
In this place a lot of bridge-pavilion found that each represents every culture in Indonesia (Javanese, Balinese, Malay, Dayak, Papuan, Buginese, Tionghoan, Mollucan etc). Therefore TMII represents the hallmark of Indonesia as a country that has a very diverse culture and has highest number of tribes in the world, composed of 740 tribes / ethnic groups.
Bali, Sunda Lesser Islands
Bali is known to have a distinctive and unique culture and of course, already very famous in the world because of its cultural strengths. Therefore Bali represents the hallmark Indonesia as a country with a culture that is very thick and strong including customs, manners, etc..
Mega City of Jakarta, Java
Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia’s economy. Jakarta and its surrounding area is one of the largest mega city in the world where this is most of the activities of the Indonesian economy running. Therefore Jakarta represents a typical Indonesia as a country with large economies (Indonesia is a member of the G20). Since Jakarta is also the most populous city in Indonesia, Jakarta will also represents the hallmark of Indonesia as a country with very large population and enter 5 large countries with the most number of population in the world.
Bunaken, Sulawesi
Bunaken is known to have rich and beautiful underwater gardens. Therefore Bunaken represents the hallmark of Indonesia as the largest maritime country in the world with an area of the ocean is 93,000 square kilometers.
Raja Ampat, Papua
Raja Ampat have views of a small islands that is extraordinary beautiful. Raja Ampat diving is also a very beautiful place and became one of the 10 best places for diving in the world. Therefore Raja Ampat represents the hallmark of Indonesia as the largest archipelagic country in the world.
Lombok, Sunda Lesser Islands
Lombok is very famous for its white sand beaches are very beautiful and unspoiled. Therefore Lombok represents the hallmark of Indonesia as the country with the longest coastline in the world with a length of about 81,000 kilometers or about 25% of the coastline around the world.
Puncak Jaya Wijaya (Cartenz Pyramid), Papua
Puncak Jaya Wijaya is located on Mount Jaya Wijaya Wijaya and has the highest point in Indonesia even the highest in Oceania (including Australia). The mountain is very famous because it is one on top of the mountain where there is snow, although located in a tropical country. Therefore, Puncak Jaya Wijaya represents the hallmark of Indonesia as a country that has a lot of mountains and also has the largest volcanic activity worldwide with more than 400 volcanoes and 130 of which include active volcanoes.
Javanese and Balinese Rice Terraces, Java and Sunda Lesser Islands
Terraced rice fields exist throughout Indonesia, but Bali terraces got international spotlight because many foreigners who visit Bali. Rice terraces in Bali represent a hallmark of Indonesia as a country that has a very large agricultural sector.
Bukit Kasih (Hill of love), Sulawesi
Although still not popular, but this place has a uniqueness that is very different. On the hill was built five houses of worship representing religion in Indonesia namely Masjid / Mosque (Islam), Gereja Kristen / Christian Church (Christian), Gereja Katolik / Catholic Church (Catholic), Wihara / Temple (Buddhist), and Pura / Temple (Hindu), there is still no Klenteng / Temple (Konghucu) as it may at times place was built, Religion Confucianism is still not officially recognized by the state. Therefore, Bukit Kasih represents a typical Indonesia as a very religious country (there are six religions officially recognized) and has good inter-religious tolerance.
The Tropical Forests of Borneo, Borneo
The tropical forests of Borneo are known as a place that is very important because you could say this place is the lungs of Indonesia even the world. This forest is home to many flora and fauna. In these forests are also mostly found abundant natural resources that may also cause one of the provinces in the island’s most prosperous provinces in Indonesia. Therefore Borneo tropical forests represent a typical Indonesia as a country with extremely abundant natural resources and have a very large biodiversity (the second largest in the world).
Rural Jogja-Bali, Java and Sunda Lesser Islands
Rural areas in Indonesia are known to have a cool atmosphere, calm, harmonious, caring and beautiful. Villages that most visited by many tourists is in Yogyakarta / Jogja and Bali because both places have good tourism. Therefore, rural areas in Yogyakarta and Bali represent the hallmark of Indonesia as a state of harmonious, peaceful, and mutual cooperation. Especially for jogja, you can find many ancient temples are widely spread (some of the largest is the Borobudur Temple and Prambanan Temple) and the historical relics that prove that Indonesian culture is very strong and usually some cultural practices are still often found in rural areas in Indonesia including Yogyakarta and Bali.
Padang, Sumatra
Indonesia has a lot of delicious food such as Javanese food, Tionghoan food, Indo-Dutch food and so on. One of the well known throughout Indonesia is the Padang (Minang) food with the place of origin in Padang, West Sumatra. Although originating from Sumatra, but these foods are spread all over Indonesia, so it is very familiar in all cultures in Indonesia. Type of this food was found in places called ‘restoran Padang’. One of Padang food of rendang even crowned as the most delicious food in the world by several references. Therefore, Padang represents Indonesia as a country with variety of delicious culinary.
Moluccas Islands, the Moluccas
Maluku / Moluccas Islands has particularly uniqueness of the Indo-European is quite prominent than other regions in Indonesia. Therefore this region included in the mestizo area. Actually, the focus is not on culture but on the history of trade. Formerly this island was a very famous place all over the world because these islands produce a very valuable trade commodity at the time. The commodity is spices so that the Moluccas dubbed as ‘spice islands’. So this islands became a trade center and was inhabited by Europeans. Therefore, the Moluccas represents Indonesia as the large commodity-producing countries (not only spices) and besides that Indonesia is a country with a very prominent trading history even today. This is also supported with Indonesia’s strategic location which is located on two continents (Asia and Australia / Oceania) and located between two oceans (Indian and Pacific) and please notes that one of the areas in Sumatra, Indonesia (along with Malaysia and Singapore) that is Strait of Malacca is the world’s busiest trade routes.
In addition, Moluccas islands is a vast archipelago consists of islands that are relatively smaller than other major islands in Indonesia so it looks like a cluster of islands that spread out, unlike other areas in Indonesia which has a large island as the main island . It is very prominent maritime culture here. So Maluku also represent Indonesia as the world’s largest archipelago country with strong maritime culture. This is consistent with the history of the Austronesian maritime experts that have a history of a very broad migration that is from the east in Madagascar, Africa to the west in Chile, America and from the north in Taiwan, Asia to the south in New Zealand, Oceania.