Gunongan, Unique Architecture of Aceh

This architecture is called Gunongan. Gunongan comes from the term ‘Gunung‘ or mountain in English. Gunongan more or less can be translated as ‘ mountain like’. Gunongan was built by Sultan Iskandar Muda, the king of Aceh kingdom, in 1608. Gunongan was made as the king’s devotion to his beloved wife, Princess Phang.

Gunongan, Unique Architechture of Aceh

It was told that Princess Phang’s hometown was a mountainous area. Princess missed the view very much. The fact was, the palace and the surrounds did not have any mountains. Finally King/Sultan Iskandar Muda built an artificial mountain, which looked similar to that in her hometown. So that the Princess could play on it.

According to story told, apparently Princess Phang loved it very much, and she always spent dawn, enjoying sunset on Gunongan.