Tugu Pahlawan (Heroes Monument)
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SurabayaGuide was updated:
Founded nearly eight centuries ago, Indonesia’s second-largest city has seen empires come and go. The founders of the Hindu Majapahit Empire arrived in the late 13th century and remained until the 17th, to be followed by Muslim rulers of Mataram, then the colonialists of the Dutch East India Company. In recent decades, Surabaya has grown into a cosmopolitan seaport and conurbation where 21st-century hotels, apartment towers, and shopping malls stand next to historic mosques and palaces.
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Much of Surabaya’s heritage has been swept away by fast-paced modernisation, and the city was also heavily damaged in the aftermath of World War II during the struggle for independence, earning its title the 'Hero City' of Indonesia. As a result, it has rather few major visitor attractions but boasts a couple of distinct neighbourhoods, each with its own distinct flair, including the Arab Quarter and Chinatown. Surabaya is also home to Masjid Nasional Al Akbar, one of Southeast Asia's most imposing modern mosques.
