Banda Aceh, Capital city at northern Sumatra, Indonesia
Banda Aceh is a coastal city in northern Sumatra, Indonesia, stretching along the Aceh River down to the shore of the Andaman Sea. The streets run from forested hills in the south down to low-lying neighborhoods near the water, where fishing boats moor beside modern harbor facilities.
The city reached its peak in the 17th century under Sultan Iskandar Muda, when his sultanate controlled the waters of the Strait of Malacca and competed with the Portuguese for trade routes. It later declined in influence but underwent extensive rebuilding after the 2004 tsunami, which reshaped the entire structure of the city.
The Baiturrahman Grand Mosque with its black domes stands at the heart of the city and draws worshippers from across the province. The call to prayer echoes five times daily through the streets, while residents follow the Islamic calendar and religious traditions in their everyday routines.
Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport connects the city with destinations across Indonesia and Malaysia and sits roughly half an hour's drive from the center. Motorized becaks and motorcycle taxis move through the streets and offer an easy way to travel between different neighborhoods.
A stranded fishing boat now rests on the roof of a house several kilometers inland and serves as a reminder of the force of the 2004 tsunami. Visitors find this boat in a residential neighborhood, where it has been preserved as a quiet memorial to the event.
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