How to get there

Situated in East Jakarta, one of the easiest ways to reach the park via public transportation is by bus. The Transjakarta bus route 7D, TMII-Cawang UKI, stops right at the gates of the park.

Passengers can take the bus from its first stop, the interchange bus stop Cawang UKI, which is situated right in front of the Indonesian Christian University (UKI) in East Jakarta.

TMII is open every day from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m., however, museums and architectural displays and some other destinations close at 4 pm.

Entry price to TMII is Rp 15,000 (US$ 1) per person plus vehicle entry fee, which is Rp 15,000 for a car, Rp 10,000 for a motorbike and Rp 1,000 for a bike.

The fee does not cover the cost of renting transportation inside the premises or entrance to the various museums and amusement parks located inside.

A complete price list can be viewed on its official website.

What to wear

With a lot of ground to cover and a mostly outdoors, it's best to wear casual clothes and comfortable shoes, such as jeans, t-shirt and a pair of sneakers. Don't forget to pack an umbrella in case it rains.

Read also: Jakpost guide to Ragunan Zoo

What to do

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah spans 1.5 square kilometers and is basically a condensed version of the country, giving a glimpse into the cultural heritage in the form of architectural displays of traditional houses, as well as costumes, flora and fauna. 

In the center of the park is the Archipelago Lake, which hosts man-made islands in the shape of Indonesia's own major islands as would be seen on a map.

Around the lake are the clusters of anjungan (platforms), displaying traditional houses representing each province in the country, such as a Minangkabau house from West Sumatra, Toraja's Tongkonan from South Sulawesi and the signature carvings of traditional Balinese architecture.

The expansive area can be explored by foot, on a motorbike, by car or the various modes of transportation available to take you around the park. You can rent a bike or purchase a pass for the mini shuttle bus inside the complex. To get a bird's eye view, visitors can ride on the aeromovel, or sky lift.

TMII is also home to numerous museums, as well as flora and fauna gardens. In reflection of Indonesia's officially recognized religions, there is also a place of worship to representing each of the country’s religions; a mosque, Protestant and Catholic churches, a Hindu temple, a Buddhist temple, or vihara, and a Confucian temple - all of which hold regular services.

After absorbing enough educational information on Indonesia, visitors can also relax and let loose at one of the amusement parks inside the complex. Head on over to SnowBay Waterpark for a swim or take the kids to Istana Anak Anak Indonesia (Indonesian Children's Palace). Exciting rides can be found at Taman Legenda Keong Emas (Legendary Golden Snail Park) or watch a movie in Indonesia's first IMAX cinema at Keong Mas (Golden Snail), which as its name implies is shaped like a snail.

In the late afternoon hours, after 4p.m. joggers from nearby residences take advantage of the vast complex as an exercise ground.

Where to eat

Although a miniature of Indonesia, TMII is not a culinary destination to try various cuisines from across the country. However, several regional platforms do host mini food stalls that feature cuisine from their respective regions.

In South Sulawesi, for example, there are stalls selling local dishes, such as coto Makassar (Makassar beef soup), jalangkote (fried pastry) and es pisang ijo (shaved ice with banana wrapped in green dough).

For a bite to eat, visitors can easily find many food shops around the lakeside, as well as eateries scattered across the park grounds.

Tips

- Pack sunscreen and a hat for sun protection.

- Spare a whole day to explore the entire park. (mut)

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