15 Top Things to do in Banda Aceh & Lhoknga
- Grab a board and go surfing Surfing in Lhoknga Lhoknga is the main spot if you are looking to surf Aceh.
- Go Kite Surfing
- Visit the Kapal Tsunami
- Visit the Aceh Tsunami Museum
- Watch the Sunset at Lhoknga Surfing Beach
- Visit the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque
- See the Boat on the House – the Lampulo Boat
- Explore the Nature
More items
Contents
- 0.1 What happened in the city of Banda Aceh?
- 0.2 Is Banda Aceh an island?
- 0.3 What is Aceh province?
- 0.4 Where 2004 tsunami hit hardest?
- 1 How many tourists died in 2004 tsunami?
- 2 How many people died in Aceh?
- 3 What beach did the 2004 tsunami hit?
- 4 What does Aceh stand for?
- 5 How long did the Aceh tsunami last?
What is Aceh known for?
Indonesia is proud to have Aceh as its westernmost province. Aceh is as known as Serambi Mekkah or the Veranda of Mecca because it was said as the first gateway for Islam in the archipelago. Islamic influence is reflected in the daily life of its people, as well as its architectures. Image by http://www.indonesia-tourism.com Gapang Beach never failed to attract both local and foreign tourists with white sands and crystal clear water. This beach is located 10 kilometers away from the heart of Sabang city, Aceh. It is precisely situated in Kelurahan Iboih, Kecamatan Sukakarya District.
- To reach this place, you have to an uphill track along the lush forest.
- Along the way, you can find many long-tailed monkeys.
- At the Gapang beach, you can just chill out or go snorkeling and diving as this has become one of Aceh’s favorite spot for such water sports.
- There are diving centers that provide equipment, training programs, and diving guides such as Monster Divers and Dolphin Lumba Diving Center.
For your information, Gapang Beach opens every day but on Fridays at 2 PM, to honor Muslims who perform Friday prayers.2 | Learn a bit of Saman Dance Saman Dance is getting popular in the global community. It has also been recognized as a world heritage by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). But, do you know that this art performance comes from Kecamatan Gayo Lues, Aceh? In Gayo Lues, Saman Dance has been rooted in the society. Mi Aceh is noodles dish that served with pickled onions, emping (melinjo nut crackers), and cucumber slices. It usually also features additional dishes, like shrimp, squid, or beef. Mi Aceh is usually cooked in three ways: fried, sautéed, and boiled. Whenever you go to Aceh, you should stop by at Banda Aceh and visit Mie Razali on Jalan Panglima Polem No.83-85, Peunayong, Kuta Alam.
What happened in the city of Banda Aceh?
In December 2004 the Indian Ocean tsunami, triggered by a massive undersea earthquake west of Sumatra, destroyed or heavily damaged much of the city and killed tens of thousands of people. The population of Banda Aceh is mostly Acehnese, together with South Asians, Arabs, Chinese, and others.
Is Banda Aceh an island?
| Banda Aceh | |
|---|---|
| City | |
| City of Banda Aceh Kota Banda Aceh | |
| Other transcription(s) | |
| • Jawoë | كوتا بند اچيه |
| From top left : Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, Aceh Tsunami Museum, Seulawah 001 Monument, 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami Monument, Gunongan Historical Park, Kerkhof Peucut | |
| Flag Coat of arms | |
| Nickname(s): Kota Serambi Mekkah (the Chamber of Mecca ) | |
| Motto: Saboeh Pakat Tabangun Banda | |
| Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap | |
| Location within Aceh | |
| Banda Aceh Location in Sumatra, Indonesia and the Bay of Bengal Show map of Sumatra Show map of Indonesia Show map of Bay of Bengal Show all | |
| Coordinates: 5°33′0″N 95°19′3″E / 5.55000°N 95.31750°E Coordinates : 5°33′0″N 95°19′3″E / 5.55000°N 95.31750°E | |
| Country | Indonesia |
| Region | Sumatra |
| Province | Aceh |
| Founded | April 22, 1205 ; 817 years ago |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Aminullah Usman |
| • Vice Mayor | Zainal Arifin |
| Area | |
| • City | 61.36 km 2 (23.69 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 2,935.36 km 2 (1,133.35 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 0–10 m (0–32.9 ft) |
| Population (mid 2021 estimate) | |
| • City | 255,029 |
| • Density | 4,200/km 2 (11,000/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 513,698 |
| • Metro density | 180/km 2 (450/sq mi) |
| Demonyms | Acehnese Warga Aceh ( id ) Kawom Aceh ( ace ) |
| Demographics | |
| • Ethnic groups | Acehnese |
| • Religion | Islam 97.09% Buddhism 1.13% Christianity 0.70% Catholic 0.19% Hinduism 0.02% Others 0.85% |
| • Languages | Indonesian (official) Acehnese (regional) |
| Time zone | UTC+7 ( Indonesia Western Time ) |
| Postal code | 23000 |
| Area code | (+62) 651 |
| Vehicle registration | BL XXX AX BL XXX JX |
| HDI | 0.871 ( Very High ) |
| Website | bandaacehkota.go.id |
Banda Aceh is the capital and largest city in the province of Aceh, Indonesia,
What is Aceh province?
| Aceh | |
|---|---|
| Province with special status | |
| Province of Aceh | |
| Other transcription(s) | |
| • Acehnese | Nanggroë Acèh |
| Flag Seal | |
| Nickname(s): Serambi Mekah ( Indonesian ) “Porch of Mecca ” | |
| Motto(s): Pancacita ( Kawi ) “Five Ideals” | |
| Anthem: Aceh Mulia ( Indonesian ) “Glorious Aceh” | |
| Aceh in Indonesia | |
| show OpenStreetMap | |
| Coordinates: 05°33′25″N 95°19′34″E / 5.55694°N 95.32611°E Coordinates : 05°33′25″N 95°19′34″E / 5.55694°N 95.32611°E | |
| Province status | 7 December 1956 |
| Capital and largest city | Banda Aceh |
| Government | |
| • Type | Special autonomous province |
| • Acting Governor | Achmad Marzuki |
| • Legislative | People’s Representative Council of Aceh |
| Area | |
| • Total | 58,376.81 km 2 (22,539.41 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 11th |
| Elevation | 125 m (410 ft) |
| Highest elevation ( Mount Leuser ) | 3,466 m (11,371 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (mid 2021 official estimate) | |
| • Total | 5,333,733 |
| • Rank | 14th |
| • Density | 91/km 2 (240/sq mi) |
| • Rank | 20th |
| Demonym | Acehnese |
| Demographics | |
| • Ethnic groups |
|
| • Religion |
|
| • Languages |
|
| Time zone | UTC+7 ( Indonesia Western Time ) |
| GRP per capita | US$2,239.49 |
| GRP rank | 19th (2018) |
| HDI (2021) | 0.722 ( High ) |
| HDI rank | 11th (2021) |
| Website | acehprov,go,id |
Aceh ( AH -chay ), officially the Aceh Province ( Acehnese : Nanggroë Acèh ; Indonesian : Provinsi Aceh ) is the westernmost province of Indonesia,
Where 2004 tsunami hit hardest?
Sri Lanka – The island country of Sri Lanka, located about 1,700 km (1,100 mi) from Sumatra, was ravaged by the tsunami around 2 hours after the earthquake. The tsunami first struck the eastern coastline and subsequently refracted around the southern point of Sri Lanka (Dondra Head).
- The refracted tsunami waves then inundated the southwestern part of Sri Lanka after some of its energy was reflected from impact with the Maldives.
- In Sri Lanka, the civilian casualties were second only to those in Indonesia, with approximately 35,000 killed.
- The eastern shores of Sri Lanka were the hardest hit since it faced the epicentre of the earthquake, while the southwestern shores were hit later, but the death toll was just as severe.
The southwestern shores are a hotspot for tourists and fishing. The degradation of the natural environment in Sri Lanka contributed to the high death tolls. Approximately 90,000 buildings and many wooden houses were destroyed. The tsunami arrived on the island as a small brown-orange-colored flood.
Moments later, the ocean floor was exposed as much as 1 km (0.62 mi) in places, which was followed by massive second and third waves. Amateur video recorded at the city of Galle showed a large deluge flooding the city, carrying debris and sweeping away people while in the coastal resort town of Beruwala, the tsunami appeared as a huge brown-orange colored bore which reached the first level of a hotel, causing destruction and taking people unaware.
Other videos recorded showed that the tsunami appeared like a flood raging inland. The construction of seawalls and breakwaters reduced the power of waves at some locations. The largest run-up measured was at 12.5 m (41 ft) with inundation distance of 390–1,500 m (1,280–4,920 ft) in Yala,
- In Hambantota, run-ups measured 11 m (36 ft) with the greatest inundation distance of 2 km (1.2 mi).
- Run-up measurements along the Sri Lankan coasts are at 2.4–4.11 m (7 ft 10 in – 13 ft 6 in).
- Waves measured on the east coast ranged from 4.5–9 m (15–30 ft) at Pottuvill to Batticaloa at 2.6–5 m (8 ft 6 in – 16 ft 5 in) in the north-east around Trincomalee and 4–5 m (13–16 ft) in the west coast from Moratuwa to Ambalangoda.
Sri Lanka tsunami height survey:
- 9 m (30 ft) at Koggala
- 6 m (20 ft) at Galle port
- 4.8 m (16 ft) around the Galle coast
- 8.7 m (29 ft) at Nonagama
- 4.9 m (16 ft) at Weligama
- 4 m (13 ft) at Dodundawa
- 4.7 m (15 ft) at Ambalangoda
- 4.7 m (15 ft) at Hikkaduwa Fishery Harbour
- 10 m (33 ft) at Kahawa
- 4.8 m (16 ft) at North Beach of Beruwala
- 6 m (20 ft) at Paiyagala
A regular passenger train operating between Maradana and Matara was derailed and overturned by the tsunami and claimed at least 1,700 lives, the largest single rail disaster death toll in history.
How many tourists died in 2004 tsunami?
(Reuters) – December 26 marks 15 years since a 9.1 magnitude quake off the coast of Indonesia’s Aceh province triggered a tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and nine other countries. When the quake opened a faultline deep beneath the Indian Ocean, it triggered a wave as high as 17.4 meters (57 feet), wiping some communities off the map in seconds.
- Northern Aceh province bore the brunt of the disaster, where a total of 128,858 people were killed, according to statistics compiled by the government and aid agencies.
- Day by day, the death toll rose, as bodies littered the streets, waiting to be collected, and others continued to wash ashore, decaying among piles of debris.
Hospitals and morgues struggled to cope with injured and bewildered victims and bloated corpses. Over 570,000 people were displaced and 179,000 buildings and homes destroyed in Indonesia as the wave swallowed large parts of the coastline. Massive reconstruction aid in Banda Aceh has since rebuilt a new city on top of the ruins.
Sri Lanka was the next worst-affected country with a death toll of about 40,000, while in Thailand almost 5,400 people were killed including many foreign tourists. In India, nearly 42,000 people, or close to 10,000 families, were rendered homeless by the waves that struck islands off the eastern coast.
More than 3,500 people were killed and nearly 9,000 died on the mainland, mostly in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The tsunami garnered an enormous international response, with an estimated $13.6 billion in official aid and private donations pledged for the recovery.
How many people died in Aceh?
On December 26 2004, waves triggered by a massive earthquake slammed into the coastlines of countries ringing the Indian Ocean. The death toll was enormous. Worldwide, it is estimated that about 230,000 people died that day. Aceh province, on the northern end of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, was hit hardest.
There, more than 160,000 people – nearly 5% of the local population – were killed. In the worst hit areas, survivors lost their homes and livelihoods and saw their communities reduced to rubble. Over the months that followed, governments, religious organisations, NGOs and individual people delivered substantial support for humanitarian assistance and rebuilding.
Multi-year reconstruction projects began and Indonesia committed to building back better. Much of what has been learned from that disaster is relevant when considering how the world will recover from the coronavirus pandemic. In the immediate aftermath of an event like the 2004 tsunami, the path forward is not clear.
So how have those from affected regions fared since the day the waves crashed ashore? Over the last 16 years, we have followed people and their families who were living along the coasts of Aceh and Northern Sumatra, the two most northerly provinces in Sumatra, as part of the Study of the Tsunami Aftermath and Recovery (STAR).
Experiences of the disaster and its aftermath, and the meaning people take from them, have varied. One young man we spoke to lost his wife, child, and 27 other family members in the disaster, but has since remarried. He says that the time since the tsunami has taught him that life sometimes brings happiness and sometimes not, but that affection is critically important. 
A flattened village, Banda Aceh, December 28 2004.
What beach did the 2004 tsunami hit?
Map showing the provinces of Thailand affected Thailand was one of the countries that was hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Due to proximity of the Andaman coasts of Thailand situated just about 500 km east of the earthquake epicentre, the tsunami took just 2 hours to reach and strike the western coastline of the country.
The Thai government reported 4,812 confirmed deaths, 8,457 injuries, and 4,499 missing after the country was hit by a tsunami caused by the Indian Ocean earthquake on 26 December 2004. The first location where the tsunami was noticed was on the Similan Islands, a famous diving site located about 70 km from Phang Nga town in Pha Nga province or 13 km from central Khao Lak.
The sea around these islands when the tsunami struck was reported to have strong currents and divers underwater felt as though they were in a washing machine. Some flooding also occurred inland, though no casualties were reported. The popular tourist resort of Phuket was badly hit.250 people were reported dead, including tourists.
- The tsunami struck the west coast of Phuket island, flooding and causing damage to almost all the major beaches such as Patong, Karon, Kamala, and Kata beach.
- The smaller but increasingly popular resort area of Khao Lak some 80 km north of Phuket was hit far worse with 3,950 confirmed deaths, however, the death toll in Khao Lak may have exceeded 4,500.
The severity of the situation in Khao Lak is probably explained by the fact, that unlike the high-rise hotels of Phuket, the village of Khao Lak only had low built bungalows instead of high-rise concrete hotels. Khao Lak also has an extensive area of flatland only a few meters above the sea level, on which most bungalows were situated.
Khao Lak experienced the highest run-up of any tsunami wave height of any location outside Sumatra. Due to the topography of the seabed, coastline and reefs offshore, the tsunami waves piled on top of themselves and in doing so, create the infamous ‘disappearing sea effect’ which enticed many tourists to their deaths.
This effect is also known as the tsunami drawback. Bhumi Jensen, grandson of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej was among those killed in Khao Lak. Just north of the Khao Lak area, the village of Ban Nam Khem was the worst affected in terms of devastation to the local population, with around a quarter of its population of 4,200 lost to the tsunami and 80 percent of homes destroyed.
What is Aceh in English?
Aceh in British English (ˈaːtʃeɪ ) an autonomous region of N Indonesia, in N Sumatra ; mountainous with rain forests; scene of separatist conflict since the late 1990s; coastal areas suffered badly in the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004.
How tall was the Aceh tsunami?
Banda Aceh was one of the severely affected city’s most during the 2004 IOT, where wave heights on the coast were about 20 m to the west and about 15 m to the east. The tsunami inundation in Banda Aceh reached 3 to 4.5 km into the mainland, causing almost 50% of the city to be devastated.
What does Aceh stand for?
ACEH
| Acronym | Definition |
|---|---|
| ACEH | Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Homolog |
| ACEH | Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic Harmony (Holland, MI) |
| ACEH | Atlantic Coast Entertainment Holdings Inc. (stock symbol) |
| ACEH | Acid Cholesteryl Ester Hydrolase |
How long did the Aceh tsunami last?
The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 lasted for seven hours and reached out across the Indian Ocean, devastating coastal areas of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, and Thailand, and as far away as East Africa.
What are the best places to visit in Banda Aceh?
Alue Naga Beach 23. Sheikh Syiah Kuala Graveyard 24. Baitul Musyahadah Mosque 25. Al Makmur Grand Mosque 26. Remains of Koetaradja 27. Lhok Mata Ie 28. Fort Indrapatra 29. Soeharto Hill 30. Ujung Pancu Beach What are the top attractions to visit in Banda Aceh?
What to do in Rumah Aceh?
Rumah Aceh – Rumah Aceh is actually part of Museum Negeri Banda Aceh and sits in the grounds of the museum. Rumah Aceh features a house on stilts which shows you how people would have lived in the days of old. This is actually the most interesting attraction at the museum so make sure not to miss it. 
Rumah Aceh Tenggara. Photo by Rilies via Wikimedia Commons
What are the tourist places to visit in Aceh?
Discover top things to do in Banda Aceh, and best sightseeing when you are on vacation in Banda Aceh, Aceh, Indonesia. Banda Aceh is a capital of Aceh province, Indonesia, located in the northernmost of Sumatra Island. this city holds a lot of historical and cultural values that based on Islamic Sharia Law.
- However, the Hindu culture still had influence on Banda Aceh traditional ceremonies.
- Banda Aceh has interesting tourist objects.
- For the culture and historical tourist attractions you can visit namely Aceh State Museum, Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, Gunongan, Kerkhof Peucut and many other.
- Banda Aceh has also marine tourist destinations such as Ulee Lheue Beach, Ceureumen Beach and Alue Naga Beach.
the marine tourism activities that you can do in that beaches are swimming, fishing and wind surfing. Banda Aceh had fully recovered from tsunami and earthquake disaster on late December 2004 and brought many international aid such as Red Cross and NGO to helped many victims and recovered Aceh from the disaster.
And at this time Aceh is recognized worldwide and inviting many tourist to come. There are many memorial tsunami heritage that still well preserved till now. The tsunami historical object in Banda Aceh that you can visit are Tsunami Museum, Stranded Floating Electricity Vessel PLTD Apung, Boat of Roof, Aceh Thank to The World Monument, Baiturrahim Mosque, Tsunami Mass Burial and many other.
How to get to Banda Aceh To get to Banda Aceh, there are daily flight from Kuala Lumpur Malaysia served by Air Asia Sdn, Bhd to Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport in Blang Bintang, Aceh Besar which is located approximately 17 kilometers from the center of Banda Aceh.
There are also other international flight served by Malindo and Fire Fly from Penang Malaysia. If you are from Jakarta or Medan, there are domestic flights served by Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, Batik Air and Lion Air with 2 hours 50 minutes flying from Jakarta and 1 hour 5 minutes from Medan to Banda Aceh Airport.
Transport in Banda Aceh If you need a transport to go for sightseeing in Banda Aceh city or need a pick up and drop off transport from Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport Banda Aceh to many destinations in Aceh such as Ulee Lheue Ferry Port, Lhoknga Surf Beach, Takengon, Singkil or Ketambe, we are Safari Wisata International Company provide you a transport both rental car and pick-up – drop off.
You may check below the transportation service you may need with the cost list: Half Day & One Day Trips If you only transit or stop over for a while in Banda Aceh and willing to visit some interesting places in Banda Aceh, we provide a day tour or trip according to your need. Please check the trips we offer to you below.
You may contact us for inquiries or booking to WhatApp +6285360139141 or Email : [email protected], Banda Aceh Tour Packages Besides the day trips, we also offer the tour packages to explore the beauty of Banda Aceh. Please check out the itinerary below: As the main gateway to many enchanting tourist destinations in Aceh, Banda Aceh has many points of interest and things to do.
What are the tsunami historical objects in Banda Aceh?
Discover top things to do in Banda Aceh, and best sightseeing when you are on vacation in Banda Aceh, Aceh, Indonesia. Banda Aceh is a capital of Aceh province, Indonesia, located in the northernmost of Sumatra Island. this city holds a lot of historical and cultural values that based on Islamic Sharia Law.
However, the Hindu culture still had influence on Banda Aceh traditional ceremonies. Banda Aceh has interesting tourist objects. For the culture and historical tourist attractions you can visit namely Aceh State Museum, Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, Gunongan, Kerkhof Peucut and many other. Banda Aceh has also marine tourist destinations such as Ulee Lheue Beach, Ceureumen Beach and Alue Naga Beach.
the marine tourism activities that you can do in that beaches are swimming, fishing and wind surfing. Banda Aceh had fully recovered from tsunami and earthquake disaster on late December 2004 and brought many international aid such as Red Cross and NGO to helped many victims and recovered Aceh from the disaster.
And at this time Aceh is recognized worldwide and inviting many tourist to come. There are many memorial tsunami heritage that still well preserved till now. The tsunami historical object in Banda Aceh that you can visit are Tsunami Museum, Stranded Floating Electricity Vessel PLTD Apung, Boat of Roof, Aceh Thank to The World Monument, Baiturrahim Mosque, Tsunami Mass Burial and many other.
How to get to Banda Aceh To get to Banda Aceh, there are daily flight from Kuala Lumpur Malaysia served by Air Asia Sdn, Bhd to Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport in Blang Bintang, Aceh Besar which is located approximately 17 kilometers from the center of Banda Aceh.
There are also other international flight served by Malindo and Fire Fly from Penang Malaysia. If you are from Jakarta or Medan, there are domestic flights served by Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, Batik Air and Lion Air with 2 hours 50 minutes flying from Jakarta and 1 hour 5 minutes from Medan to Banda Aceh Airport.
Transport in Banda Aceh If you need a transport to go for sightseeing in Banda Aceh city or need a pick up and drop off transport from Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport Banda Aceh to many destinations in Aceh such as Ulee Lheue Ferry Port, Lhoknga Surf Beach, Takengon, Singkil or Ketambe, we are Safari Wisata International Company provide you a transport both rental car and pick-up – drop off.
- You may check below the transportation service you may need with the cost list: Half Day & One Day Trips If you only transit or stop over for a while in Banda Aceh and willing to visit some interesting places in Banda Aceh, we provide a day tour or trip according to your need.
- Please check the trips we offer to you below.
You may contact us for inquiries or booking to WhatApp +6285360139141 or Email : [email protected], Banda Aceh Tour Packages Besides the day trips, we also offer the tour packages to explore the beauty of Banda Aceh. Please check out the itinerary below: As the main gateway to many enchanting tourist destinations in Aceh, Banda Aceh has many points of interest and things to do.
