Aceh Travel Guide

Indonesia

Visit Sabang Island, the northwest most island of Indonesia where the Kilometer Zero is started. You can reach this island by airplane or ferry from Banda Aceh, the capital of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam where this island resides.
Iboih Beach - Sabang - Aceh - Indonesia
Beautiful View From Rubiah Island - Sabang - Aceh Rubiah IslandBanda Aceh, Indonesia Rubiah Island is a small island just of the coast of the famous Pulau Weh island north of Banda Aceh. Around this small 26 hectare island is beautiful underwater paradise. If you descend from the island into the water it is like you are stepping into a a big aquarium with so many colorful fishes and coral. This island is perfect for those who want to go diving or snorkeling. If you are not comfortable going underwater you can hire a glass bottom boat and enjoy it as well. There are also may tropical fishes like gigantic clams, angel fishes, school of parrot fishes, lion fishes, and many others making this underwater world even more fascinating.
Space of Hope (Bridge of Hope) Hallway toward the chimney to bring visitors to the Bridge of Hope (the space of hope). Called a bridge of hope because through this bridge visitors can see the 54 flags of the 54 countries who helped Aceh after the tsunami, the same number of flags premises number of stones arranged in the edge of the pond. In each flag and a stone inscribed with the word 'Peace' with the language of each country as a reflection of war and peace in Aceh before the tsunami conflict. With the earthquake and tsunami, the world saw firsthand the situation in Aceh, the Aceh peace support and help, as well as contributing to the building (reconstructed) of Aceh after the disaster occurred.
Baiturrahman Grand Mosque The original Masjid Raya ("Grand Mosque") was built in 1612 during the reign of Iskandar Muda, Sultan of Aceh. Some say the original mosque was built even earlier in 1292 by Sultan Alaidin Mahmudsyah. The original royal mosque features a multi-tiered thatched roof, a typicalAcehnese architecture. During the First Aceh Expedition, the mosque became a center of armed resistance to the Dutch and therefore it was destroyed razed to the ground on 6 Januari 1874 by the East Indies Governor General van Swieten. In March 1877, the Dutch offered to rebuild the mosque to the local rulers. Construction only began in 1879. The first stone was laid by Tengku Qadhi Malikul Adil who became the first Imam. Construction was completed on 27 December 1881 during the rulership of Muhammad Daud Syah, the last sultan of Aceh. Initially, many Acehnese refused to pray at Baiturrahman, because it was built by the Dutch with ambitions to conquer Aceh, however today it is the pride of Banda Aceh. At first, the Baiturrahman Mosque featured one dome and one minaret. More domes and minarets were added in 1935, 1958 and 1982. Today the mosque has seven domes and eight minarets, including one that is claimed to be the highest minaret in Banda Aceh. Baiturrahman Grand Mosque survived the 2004 earthquake and tsunami but suffered minor damages such as wall cracks. The earthquake had slightly tilted and cracked the 35 meter minaret by the main gate. During the disaster, The mosque served as a temporary shelter for displaced persons and only reopened for prayers after two weeks.

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