Banda Aceh: The Grand Mosque and the Tsunami Museum

2 DAYS 2 places by WaTrips

The Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, which survived the 2004 tsunami, and the Aceh Tsunami Museum.

Banda Aceh, on the northern tip of Sumatra, was devastated by the 2004 tsunami and has been rebuilt with remarkable spirit. The black-domed Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, which stood while the city around it was destroyed, is its heart, and its courtyard is calm at prayer times. The Aceh Tsunami Museum tells the story of that day and the recovery. Aceh follows Islamic law: dress modestly, and women should cover their heads at the mosque.

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Baiturrahman Grand Mosque

The Baiturrahman Grand Mosque is the main mosque of Banda Aceh, first built in the 17th century by the Sultanate of Aceh. The Dutch burned it in 1873 and rebuilt it in 1881 to calm the people. It has black domes, white walls and tall minarets, with a large courtyard of reflecting pools and umbrellas. It survived the 2004 tsunami and sheltered many people.

Best weather: Jun – Aug Heavy rain: Nov – Dec

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Aceh Tsunami Museum

The Aceh Tsunami Museum in Banda Aceh remembers the Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004, which killed over 160,000 people in Aceh. Opened in 2009, it was designed by Ridwan Kamil and also serves as an escape building. Visitors enter through a dark, narrow passage with water running down the walls, then a tall chamber lists the names of victims.

Best weather: Jun – Aug Heavy rain: Nov – Dec

Seasons from 20 years of NASA POWER climate data.

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