Located in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, Prasasti Garden Museum presents tour of death. It seems creepy, but this is the magnetism of the place formerly known as Kebon Jahe Kober Cemetery.

This museum is built by Dutch Colonial Government in 1795 in 5.5 hectare area. This place is the oldest modern cemetery in the world. Jakarta Provincial Government decided to transform the cemetery as a museum in July 9, 1977. With the development of the city, the area reduced to 1.3 hectare. Also, all bodies were moved to other places.

But, the visitors can still tombs with famous names, such as Olivia Marianne Raffles, the wife of Governor General Thomas Stamford Raffles; Soe Hoek Gie, the 60s student activist; Dr HF Roll, the founder of Stovia medical school.

There are also 30 Japanese soldier tombs in the southeast of the museum.  Dozens of soldiers from Shibata, Japan, died on the war against Allied Forces in Ciantung River, Bogor, West Java.

The visitors can also see a monument with a skull. Built in April 1722, the monument marked the betrayal of Pieter Erberveld to Netherlands. He suspected to lead the conspiracy against Netherlands. He was sentenced to death by dragging him with a horse.

The museum also has the replica of horse drawn hearse. A social status can be seen by the amount of the horse carrying the hearse. Most of the statues in the Museum are made from natural stone, marble, or bronze. The museum has clement weather as it is surrounded by dense trees. This museum is open from Tuesday-Sunday at 09.00-15.00. The entrance ticket is 1,000 – 2,000 IDR.

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