Seroja Monument in Belu Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province

What do tourists know about Belu Regency? Well, the most recognizable one is the presence of beautiful beaches, no? It is true, but people should not forget other unique attractions including a famous monument called Seroja. This one is located in Naitimu Village and belongs to West Tasifeto Sub-District. Have no worries. Tourists can simply take Kupang – Atambua Street to get to the monument. With its historical value and unique appearance, the monument is worth a visit indeed. Tourists usually take selfie in front of it!

The Nuance
In terms of nuance, the environment is considered peaceful despite the fact that the monument is located in the midst of the street. The size of the monument is small and it features an army man statue built on it. The statue makes a pose of a soldier lifting his rifle with his right hand, actually. This pose symbolizes the victory of the Indonesian Army during the war against Communists back then. Near to the monument, tourists may also find several local eateries and even a park where they can relax! Many villagers are also seen there.

Exploring Seroja Monument
The most common thing to do in Seroja Monument is none other than photography. That means tourists drop by and get near to the monument in order to take a picture in front of the monument. It can be either taking selfies or group photos! What they need is a good camera and nice weather to capture the best pictures. Also, it is important to look pay attention to the traffic before getting near to the monument. Even though the traffic low, tourists should not be careless when crossing the street, no?

The next reason to visit Seroja Monument is definitely to learn its history about Indonesia. Have no worries. Tourists can either ask it from the locals or a tour guide. These people may tell the information thoroughly, for sure. It is said the monument was built in 1990 and the inauguration was in the same year several months later. For the information, it was inaugurated by Ignasius Sumantri (the governor of Belu Regency at the time).

In terms of motive, the construction of Seroja Monument was inspired by the victory of the National Army against Fretelin (the communists). At the time, a joint Seroja military operation was done by the Indonesian Army, Navy, and Air Force in order to get rid of enemies. Fortunately, it was quite successful! The purpose was to take over Timor Timor from Fretelin’s control. No wonder, today, the monument has become a symbol of such successful operation as well as another site for tourists to visit during a vacation in Belu Regency.

Nearby Attraction

• Tukunu Public Fishing Pond
• Maria Cave
• Mandeu Forest
• Pancasila Monument

How to Get There
For those coming from Kupang City, they only need to take Nasional Trans Timor Street and head to Tasifeto Sub-District. The last thing to do is to visit Naitimu Village where the monument resides. The whole trip may take around 5 hours and 53 minutes, as the distance is 256 km.

Where to Stay

• King Star Hotel
• Alam Subur Hotel
• Klaben Hotel
• Intan Hotel