Aceh Museum

This Museum gives a good overall view of the history and culture in Aceh. The library contains 10000 books. A traditional Acehnese house is the center piece of the museum. It was built in 1914 by the Dutch Governor Van Swart. Another of the many interesting exhibits is the”Cakra Donya”. A 1 m tall and 1 m wide bell made in year 1400 and presented to Aceh as a gift from Chinese Emperor. An inscription on the bell says ” Sing Fang Niat Toeng Juut Kat Tjo ” which translates into the curious “Sultan Sing Fang, which had been completed in the 12′th moth, the 5′th year”. It used to hang in big tree and functioned as a way to call locals to the palace for important information. It was also used once on Iskandar Muda’s ship “Cakra Donya” in a battle with Portuguse in Melacca. The Dutch later ordered the bell to be taken down as they worried the tree would break. As the bell had a reputation to be a home of ghosts, Chinesse laborers where used. They had however to intoxicate themselves with arrak in order to dare take it down! After the bell had been taken down to the ground Banda Aceh had severe flood. The Dutch governor H.N.A. Swart was asked to put it up again, but refused. Next year there was a new flood and a new request. This time the governor had a small building made and the bell hung up. Banda Aceh was saved !

Aceh Museum is situated in Sultan Alaidin Mahmud Syah street, it is a best place to knows much about Aceh cultural history. Inside the museum exhibits antique things as ceramics, weapons, and many cultural equipment like custom clothes, jewelry, khaligraphy (Islamic ornament), kitchen equips, etc.

The most interesting collection is a big bell called “Lonceng Cakra Donya”, a gift from China Grand-Duke (Ming Emperor, in the 15th century) for Sultan Aceh that was delivered by a Chinese Moslem, Admiral Cheng Ho in 1414, we could read an inscription on the bell : “Sing Fang Niat Toeng Juut Kat”. In this complex there is also ‘Rumoh Aceh’ House that was built by Dutch Governor Van Swart in 1941 in a typical aceh’s house architecture. In the western of Museum or northern of Aceh House of Custom there is grave yard complex of Aceh Sultans

Attractions Historic sites Museums Banda Aceh, Museums, tourism