Tugu means monument, which is usually built as a symbol of an area conceptualising characteristics of that region.

It was built line connecting the southern sea, the Yogyakarta palace and Mount Merapi.

In 1889, the Dutch colonial government renovated the monument with a square shape.

The top of the monument was built as conical instead of previous round shape, with a small ball at the tip.

The ornamental yellow painting was done including the ball at the tip.