Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
until the heart-wrenching devastation of
the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami. he wave
(see box, p.220) changed everything,
taking more than 70,000 lives in Banda
Aceh alone, while bringing an end to the
violence. When the waters receded, a
massive influx of NGOs and an
unprecedented amount of international
aid money helped put the city back on its
feet, and successful peace talks in 2005
brought much-needed stability. Now, a
decade since the calamity, the doors to
both city and province are wide open to
intrepid explorers.
stunning central mosque (Sat-hurs
7-11am & 1.30-4pm; donation) is
widely held by locals as evidence of divine
intervention, and has become a symbol of
Acehnese resilience. Italian-designed and
Dutch-built in 1881, the mosque blends
Mughal and colonial styles, and has
expanded over the last century to include
seven black, teardrop domes that cap an
ornate, whitewashed facade. he adjacent
square is a great spot for people-watching,
particularly during the Friday prayers.
Women should don a headscarf before
entering the grounds.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
Although most travellers breeze
through Banda Aceh to catch the ferry
to Pulau Weh, there are numerous
attractions around town and some pretty
beaches nearby.
Tsunami Museum
Opened in 2009, Banda Aceh's
controversial, ship-shaped Tsunami
Museum (Sat-hurs 9am-noon &
2-4.30pm, Fri 9-11.30am & 2.30-
4.30pm; free) is the result of US$6.7
million from the Aceh Reconstruction
Fund. Its four rambling storeys feature
collections of photos and clay models, as
well as an electronic simulation of the
Mesjid Raya Baiturrahman
he most prominent survivor of the 2004
earthquake and tsunami, Banda Aceh's
4
Lampulo (3km)
BANDA ACEH
ACCOMMODATION
Medan
Prapat
Siwah
3
2
1
BII
Bank
EATING & DRINKING
Bunda
Mie Razali
Rasa Baru Utama
2
1
3
Labi
Labi
Stop
Pasar
Aceh
Mesjid Raya
Baiturrahman
Taman
Sari
N
Proclamasi
Monument
Tsunami
Museum
Kerkhof
0
200
metres
Gunongan
Lhoknga & Lampu'uk (14km)
 
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