Banda Aceh

Aceh

Aceh or Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) is a very west Province in Republic of Indonesia and located on the top of Sumatera Island, located between Hindia Ocean and Malacca Strait. The location is very strategic as entrance door to Archipelago and some countries in Asia. The provincial capital is Banca Aceh and also largest city of Aceh. Later its name was changed into Banda Aceh, where the first part of its name comes from the Persian "Bandar" and means “port” or “haven”. It is also proudly referred to as the “port to Meccah”, as Islam first arrived in Aceh and spread throughout Southeast Asia.

Aceh is where Islam was first established in Southeast Asia. In the early seventeenth century the Sultanate of Aceh was the most wealthy, powerful and cultivated state in the Malacca Straits. Aceh was the closest point of land to the epicenter of the massive 26 December 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, which triggered a Tsunami that devastated much of the western coast of the region, including Banda Aceh. With the help of International community and the strong spirit of the locals, Aceh was able to "built back better". Most Aceh regions are covered with forest, rich with economic commodities of oil and gas and other agriculture products.

Geographically, Aceh is located on 2°-6° north latitude and 95°-98° east longitude. Temperatures are approximately between 22-30 degrees Celsius. The rainfall differs from area to area, but averages 1.000-4.000mm per year. The relative humidity is 70-90% in lowlands. The year can be divided in two major seasons, dry season from February to August and wet season from September to January. However, the difference between seasons is not as big as in other parts of Indonesia. The change of season is also normally extra wet. The area width : 55.390 km2, including some islands along West and South coast. In the middle to the West be spread out a group of Bukit Barusan that still covered with heavy forest, and the top of the mountainous are Geureudong (2.595 m), Peut Sago (2.780 m), Burni Telong (2.566 m), Ucop Molu (3.187 m), Abong-abong (3.015 m), Leuser (3.466 m), Seulawah Agam (1.782 m), Seulawah Inong (866 m),

The native atnic groups in Aceh is : Acehnese, Gayonese, Alasnese, Aneuk Jamee, Melayu Tamiang, Kluet, Lekon, Devayan, Sigulai, Singkil, Pakpak, Haloban and Nias, including their local language, that spread out in 23 Regencies and Cities.

Aceh has many tourist objects, ranging coastal attractions such as Lhok Nga beach which beautifully with exquisite white sandy hills of the surrounding landscape, presenting the major tourist sites that are not less than Bali, to the mountain attractions. Aceh has a freshwater lake in the mountains of the sea at an altitude of 1100 m above sea level. The length of the lake reaches 26 km with a width of 5 km, and depth 50 m. Laut Tawar Lake is located in the Takengon, Central Aceh. You also can visit the Hot Springs Pool is located at Simpang Balik, approximately 14 km from Takengon. This pond is often visited by local and foreign wisatwan, local residents themselves believe that the pool of hot water can cure some types of skin diseases. To get to the location can use private vehicles or could use car rental services in Aceh.

In addition to natural attractions, there are also historical attractions such as Tjut Nyak Dien Traditional House, a national hero woman from Aceh. The traditional house is located in the district Matangkuli, Pirak village. Sightseeing is another history Tsunami Museum (the museum built to commemorate the tragedy of the storm Tsunami in December 2004), Meseum Aceh, bell Cakra Donya (which was a gift from the king granting China in 1414 AD), Gunongan (one legacy Iskandar Muda Ottoman empire used as a tool / recreational Royal family members at that time. Gunongan is a symbol of the mountain which is part of the Acehnese Sultanate Palace Park). For spiritual tourism, the visitor also can visit Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, which is one of the most magnificent mosque in Southeast Asia. Not only this mosque which is a historic mosque in Aceh, there are many other historic mosques. Tomb Syah Kuala (disseminator Islam at Century 17, whose real name is Syech Abdurrauf bin Ali Al Fansuri As-Singkili). He is very persistent in spreading the religion of Islam and run the Shari’a in Aceh so that the soil is believed to be the Fair Malikul Kadhi level with the Supreme Court in the Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam. Some of most beautiful Aceh tourism and historical sites and beaches have been damaged by the massive earthquake and Dec 2004 Tsunami but peoples there take care of their beautifull places.