Lapangan Banteng or Banteng Square is located on Jl. Lapangan Banteng Selatan, Jakarta Pusat/Central Jakarta. Bateng Square was built at the time of Lieutenant Governor General Daendels, when the capital moved from Old Town to the Weltevreden area in the early 19th century and named as the Waterlooplein or Lions Square. The square was called Lion Square because it is said in the middle of the square, stands a statue of the lion, which became a symbol of courage. The lion is a symbol representing the activities in it, namely as a place of military activities of the Dutch troops.

At the arrival of the Japanese in Batavia, Waterlooplein was used as a defense center of the Dutch army. Such a fact is evident by the very existence of a defensive bunker under Waterlooplein that connects directly to the Palace of the Governor General of the Dutch East Indies (today the Finance Ministry building).

When Jakarta fell to the Japanese, Waterlooplein was renamed into the Lion Square. Japan’s military used the Lion Square as a military training field and other events. However, after Indonesia’s independence on August 17, 1945, President Soekarno changef its name to into Banteng Square.

Banteng Square is divided into three sections: Banteng Square that serves as a sport place where there are athletic tracks and football fields, and then the location of West Irian Liberation Monument, and Banteng Square Garden.

Banteng Square Garden is often used as a place of annual Flora and Fauna exhibition, held by Jakarta government. But if it is not used for the exhibition, the park is quite comfortable to use to enjoy views of the garden after you exercise.

How to get here (see the route map):

From Gondangdia /Cikini go to platform 1 and  take Red Line or Blue Line heading to Jakarta Kota and stop at Juanda. Take a 15-minute walk to the southeast.

From Tanah Abang go to platform 3 and take the Yellow Line heading to Depok/Nambo/Bogor and stop at Manggarai. Go to platform 3/5 and  take Red Line or Blue Line heading to Jakarta Kota and stop at Juanda. Take a 15-minute walk to the southeast.

From Sudirman go to platform 2 and take the Yellow Line heading to Depok/Nambo/Bogor and stop at Manggarai. Go to platform 3/5 and  take Red Line or Blue Line heading to Jakarta Kota and stop at Juanda. Take a 15-minute walk to the southeast.

For a map illustration, click here, or see the map below.

http://www.beritajakarta.com/2008/id/berita_detail.asp?nNewsId=35917

http://metro.news.viva.co.id/news/read/127638-mengingat_sejarah_di_waterloo_plein

http://www.tempo.co/read/news/2012/06/14/214410637/Lapangan-Banteng-Jadi-Pusat-Flora-dan-Fauna