THERE ARE SO MANY INTERESTING PLACES BANDA ACEH, THE HEART OF PROVINCE
The capital city of NAD is Banda Aceh which was established on April 22, 1205 by Sultan Alaidin Johansyah, located 17 km from Sulthan Iskandar Muda Airport, it takes about 20 minutes to get there by taxi.On the way to Banda Aceh downtown, we could see the office of Aceh Governor and TAMAN RATU SYAFIATUDDIN which furnished with many kinds of traditional Houses representing the architecture of typical house of different aceh regions, was located just next to governor office.
BAITURRACHMAN MOSQUE
Baiturrahman is a great mosque located at the heart of Banda Aceh, The mosque with a very fascinating architecture five dome in black color and four minarets in white color now standing on a green landscape elegantly as a landmark of the Province.
GUNONGAN AND TAMAN PUTROE PHANG
Gunongan had erected by Sultan Iskandar Muda (1607 - 36) as a private playground and bathing place for this wife Putro Phang (From Malaysia). This whimsical architectural fantasy had access to the sultan's palace through the traditional 'Pintu Aceh', used by royalty only. This building likely functioned as an important recreational peace located in the Taman Sari Park for the Queen and other royal family members to climb. It is quite enjoyable to visit this place during the late afternoon or sunset.
LONCENG CAKRA DONYA (NEGERI ACEH MUSEUM)
Negeri Aceh Museum is situated in Sultan Alaidin Mahmud Syah street, it is a best place to knows much about Aceh cultural history. Inside the museum exhibits antique things as ceramics, weapons, and many cultural equipment like custom clothes, jewelry, khaligraphy (Islamic ornament), kitchen equips, etc.The most interesting collection is a big bell called "Lonceng Cakra Donya", a gift from China Grand-Duke (Ming Emperor, in the 15th century) for Sultan Aceh that was delivered by a Chinese Moslem, Admiral Cheng Ho in 1414, we could read an inscription on the bell : "Sing Fang Niat Toeng Juut Kat".In this complex there is also 'Rumoh Aceh' House that was built by Dutch Governor Van Swart in 1941 in a typical aceh's house architecture. In the western of Museum or northern of Aceh House of Custom there is grave yard complex of Aceh Sultans.
KERKHOF AN ANCIENT DUTCH GRAVEYARDS
KERKHOFF or WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY or known by local peoples as PEUCUT KERKHOFF, a place where more than 2,000 Dutch soldiers who died in an Aceh War were been buried in this graveyards, located just at a reverse side of Gunonganin Teuku Umar Street but the entrance gate was in front of south eastern corner of Blang Padang. At the walls of the Kerkhoff entrance gate you could see the names list of the persons whose been buried which also written where and when they died
