Pepera Monument in Merauke Regency, Papua Province

When it is about Merauke Regency tourism, people have a different opinion for sure. That means some people would think about local cultures while others may think about beautiful natural attractions. Is that all? Well, the region has other interesting tourist sites, including monuments! One of them resides in Mandala Street of Karang Indah Village, which is called Pepera Monument. It becomes a symbol of an important decision made the locals in joining the national army instead of following the Dutch in the past. Aside from being a historical symbol, the monument also becomes a nice place to spend a family recreation these days for both locals and tourists (outsiders).

The Nuance
Once arriving at Pepera Monument, tourists see a comfy grassy landscape right away. The monument has several attractive features that may astonish visitors, as well! For instance, it comes with a ceramic pathway that connects the entrance to the foundation of the monument. It has neat symmetrical red-white poles, as well. Not to mention garden lightings are also seen there. As for the monument, the size is small and it features an inscription and national flag background. Next, some buildings also surround the location, creating a homey or comfy ambiance to the site.

Exploring Pepera Monument
In a nutshell, tourists have different reasons for visiting Pepera Monument, especially to learn philosophy. As mentioned before, the monument has become a symbol of loyalty. It represents Papua people’s loyalty to the national army. In the past, people of Papua had to make a decision either to join Indonesia or the Dutch (invaders), after all. Well, tourists can get further information regarding the history from the keepers or local guide, later.

Next, after learning the philosophy and history, tourists can do other things in Pepera Monument. For example, visitors can enjoy photography. That means they can simply take photos of the monument or other beautiful objects located in that area. In fact, during the most crowded time, the site becomes merrier due to the presence of more people. Thus, it becomes a better place to take photos, as well.

Aside from photography, the next common thing to do in Pepera Monument is definitely relaxation. Tourists only need to sit on the grassy landscape and enjoy the nuance with their families. The best time to do the activity is in the morning and afternoon, though. The purpose is to avoid the heat of the sun. It is because the site doesn’t feature any facilities and shady areas. Thus, tourists must find the right time to visit the site later.

Nearby Attractions

• Pintu Air Transito
• Taman Mandala
• Taman Makam Pahlawan Trikora
• Lingkaran Brawijaya

How to Get There
For those who come from Jakarta City or outside Papua Province, it is recommended to take an airplane and head to Merauke Regency directly. The purpose is indeed to get a more comfortable and faster trip, as compared to sea transportation. For the information, a flight from Soekarno – Hatta International Airport (Jakarta) to Merauke would take around 6 hours and 45 minutes.

After arriving at Mopah Airport (Merauke Regency), their next destination is Karang Indah Village where the monument is located. They can get there by a land transportation service, actually. The best route to take is Raya Mandala Street and the distance is 5.4 km. Thus, this trip would take around 11 minutes or less.

Where to Stay

• Asmat Hotel
• Swiss Belhotel