Stadiums Built Over Ancient Ruins and Historic Landmarks

23. Gelora Bung Karno Stadium – Jakarta, Indonesia

Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta stands as a centerpiece of Indonesian sport and national unity. Built in the early 1960s under President Sukarno as a symbol of post-colonial progress, it is one of the largest stadiums in Southeast Asia. But beneath its modern significance lies a far more ancient connection to the Tarumanagara Kingdom, a Hindu-Buddhist realm that thrived between the 4th and 7th centuries. Though the exact footprint of the kingdom’s capital remains debated, numerous inscriptions, temple ruins, and stone carvings dedicated to Hindu deities like Vishnu and Shiva have been unearthed in nearby districts of Jakarta. Some historians believe the stadium area itself may have once held religious or ceremonial structures, based on old maps and oral traditions passed down through generations. Though formal excavation on the stadium grounds has yet to be conducted, the site’s proximity to these ancient finds suggests a deep historical resonance. Today, as fans celebrate athletic achievements under bright stadium lights, the land quietly holds the memory of forgotten temples and kingdoms that once ruled the region.Built Over: Land linked to the ancient Tarumanagara Kingdom.