EAP mid-test Project

Gunongan, A Beautiful Historical Place You Need To Visit When Vacationing In Aceh

Aceh has many kind of tourism destination; historical tourism such as Tsunami museum and Gunongan, cultural tourism such as Rumoh Aceh and Taman Sari, culinary tourism such as Sate Matang and Ayam Penyet Pak Ulis , etc. If you are a kind of people who loves history and a proof of love, you really need to visit Gunongan in Aceh, Gunongan is also well-known as Putro Phang Park, it is located in Banda Aceh city and ease to access. This place has a great beautiful love story with it, it could inspire you in your love life, many people compare this place’s history with Taj Mahal in India which has a similar history.

The building which made of limestone is a gift from the Sultan Iskandar Muda to his beloved wife Princess Phang. There is a saga why did Sultan Iskandar Muda give a gift to the Princess. Let us see the history behind it.

In 1613 and 1615 through invasion of Aceh with 20.000 troops, Sultan Iskandar Muda succeed to conquer the Kingdom of Johor and the Kingdom Pahang in the Malay Northern Peninsula. As was the tradition at that time, the kingdom who lost the war must surrender the booty, tribute and annual taxes. Besides, it was also had to submit the royal princess to be carried off as a sign of submission. The Princess was usually married by the king with the aim to strengthen the brotherhood of the kingdom conquered. So the conquerer kingdom became larger and more powerful.

The conquest of the Kingdom of Johor and the Kingdom Pahang in the Malay Peninsula greatly affect Iskandar Muda. The Princess of Pahang who was very pretty inside out and polished make the Sultan Iskandar Muda fell in love and made her as empress. However, because the Sultan busy taking care of the government. Princess Phang often feel lonely. She was often recalled his hometown, Pahang palace, which was surrounded by hills. For his great love, Sultan Iskandar Muda built a very beautiful park for Princess Phang. The park was also equipped with Gunongan which is a miniature of hill. 

Well, it is clear now. Gunongan is made to cure homesickness of Princess Phang to her hometown which consists of hills in Pahang. And this Gunongan only a small portion of the park, this park is big enough i think.

Of course princess phang was very happy with the gift that given by her beloved husband, what a romantic story... at the first there was a bathing place for princess phang but it is does not exist anymore, there is only a rounded white stone source of the water came which is named as lesung. When i visited this place recently i tried to pass through the gate of gunongan which is very small that made me to bow down my head, it made me to imagine that princess phang was tiny and slim.

By : Syahrul Ihsan

(500 words not including “By : Syahrul Ihsan” )