JP/Ricky Yudhistira

The image of cemeteries as eerie places seems to have faded in Jakarta as several cemeteries have become popular as photo op spots. These cemeteries attract people taking photos and selfies with gravestones and other facilities or features as backdrops. Here are five cemeteries that have become the latest photo spots across the capital:

Petamburan Cemetery, Central Jakarta

Despite being in the spotlight for illegal levies uncovered by Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama recently, Petamburan Cemetery is still a nice spot for photo ops. The cemetery is home to the 9-meter, Art Deco-style marble tomb of legendary Chinese-Indonesian businessman Khouw Oen Giok, which is reportedly the largest mausoleum in Southeast Asia.

Several reports dating from the era commented on the astronomical cost of the mausoleum, which was around US$250,000 back then, possibly more expensive than the burial memorial of America’s first billionaire, John D. Rockefeller.

The cemetery also houses a number of Jewish graves that date back to the 1940s and a Japanese urn dispensary building.

Kalibata Heroes Cemetery, South Jakarta

The cemetery was built during Sukarno’s administration in order to honor those who died in the Indonesian national revolution during the 1940s as well as other national heroes, military personnel and high-ranking state officials. Around 10,000 graves are accommodated in the roughly 25-hectare site.

Besides national heroes and military personnel, several Japanese soldiers who stayed in Indonesia to fight alongside the national fighters are also laid to rest there. Several Japanese prime ministers and members of the emperor’s family have been to honor these deceased Japanese soldiers. The grave of Hasri Ainun Habibie who died in 2010 is among the most popular grave for visitors, who usually take pictures at the grave.

Ereveld Menteng Pulo, South Jakarta

This cemetery was built to honor those who died during the Japanese occupation era and the two Dutch military offensives during the Indonesian national revolution during the 1940s.

Around 4,300 people of different religions are buried here, which leads to a variety of shapes of gravestones.

The most notable person buried here is General Spoor, the commander who led the Dutch East Indies forces on two police actions during the revolution.

Ironically, he inaugurated this cemetery to honor fallen soldiers in the war just two years prior to his controversial death in 1949.

Besides the graves of fallen soldiers, the cemetery houses the Simultan church, which holds around 700 urns containing the ashes of dead prisoners of war.

Bung Hatta’s grave in Tanah Kusir Cemetery, South Jakarta

According to a book of Mohammad Hatta’s collected writings titled Bung Hatta Menjawab (Bung Hatta Answers), the first vice-president of Indonesia refused to be buried in a heroes cemetery because “I [Hatta] was just an ordinary citizen.” When Hatta died, he was buried in the public cemetery TPU Tanah Kusir in South Jakarta.

In honor of his contribution to Indonesia’s declaration of independence, second Indonesian president, Soeharto, turned Hatta’s grave into a memorial site.

Hatta is buried inside a Balinese-style building alongside his wife, Rahmi Rachim. Visitors can also enjoy and take pictures and selfies in a garden outside the grave building.

A lounge room is also available for visitors to the memorial site.

Ereveld Ancol, North Jakarta

Ereveld Ancol sits silently only meters from the northern shoreline of Jakarta, in contrast to the festivities on nearby beaches and Ancol Dreamland Park in North Jakarta.

The cemetery was created as a resting place for around 2,000 people who were killed in action or executed during the Japanese occupation in the 1940s.

One notable person who is buried here is Dr. Achmad Mochtar, the first director of the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology.

Besides the view of neatly arranged gravestones, visitors can also enjoy and take pictures of several features, such as a pavilion and trees with a poem to honor the deceased. This location is open for the public daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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