Banda Aceh Tour Package

Banda Aceh, formerly known as Kuta Raja, is the capital and largest city in the province of Aceh, Indonesia. It is located on the island of Sumatra and has an elevation of 35 meters. The city covers an area of 64 square kilometres and had a population of 219,070 people, according to the 2000 census. Banda Aceh is located on the northwestern tip of Indonesia at the mouth of the Aceh River. Located at the northern tip of Sumatra, the rich historical province of Aceh is believed to be where Islam was first established. If the name Banda Aceh rings a bell with you, it is probably because Aceh was the epicentre of the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, which rocked the city to its core on December 26, 2004, leaving hundreds of thousands of people dead, lost, or homeless. Just past midnight on 26 December 2004, a 9.3 magnitude earthquake struck the west coast of Sumatra, followed closely by a catastrophic tsunami. Banda Aceh was the closest major city to the epicenter & bore the brunt of the damage & destruction. The first tsunami reached the shores of Banda Aceh just 20 minutes after the earthquake. Residents were taken completely by surprise, as surging waves over 30m travelled 4km inland. The houses & buildings that managed to survive the earthquake were now either completely destroyed or swept away by the tsunami. Once devastated and barren, Aceh has since developed into a safe, peaceful destination and is eager to share its rich history, charming villages and lush rainforests and mountains with the rest of the world.