Greetings everyone, may luck and success always accompany us all... may we all be healthy and happy always...
This time, let me share the results of my cell phone shots with the object of one of the communications center buildings at that time which was built in 1903 and is now a historical heritage site in my village, namely Banda Aceh.
Citing Aceh tourism/travel records, one of the historical Dutch heritage objects in BANDA ACEH, a city rich in history, has many relics from the Dutch colonial period that are worth visiting. One of the most interesting is the Dutch Heritage Telephone Central which is located in the center of Kutaraja city, now known as Banda Aceh.
Built in 1903, this building was the first telephone exchange in Indonesia. With typical European architecture, this two-story building still stands firmly among the thick trembesi trees. This octagonal structure stands out with its white paint and distinctive colonial style. The first floor is made entirely of concrete, while the second floor is semi-permanent. Large doors, walls and windows add a majestic impression to this building.
Located at the base of Jalan Teuku Umar, this building is very easy to access. At the top of the building, near the window ventilation, the number 1903 is written, which indicates the year this building was founded during the leadership of Sultan Muhammad Daudsyah (1874-1903).
This telephone exchange was built in the Keraton area or Royal Palace of Aceh Darussalam when the Dutch occupied the Koetaraja area. At that time, this building was known as the Koetaradja Telephone Office. The telephone became the main communication tool for the Dutch Military Governor to give orders and receive strategic information during the war with Acehnese fighters.
Currently, this building has been made a cultural heritage and is one of the historical tourist sites in Banda Aceh. Even though this building is mostly closed and visitors can only see it from the outside, its beauty and historical value still make it worth visiting. From outside, you can capture moments against the backdrop of this historic building.
At that time, the telephone network covered various cities such as Ulee Lheu, Sabang, Meulaboh, and several cities in North Sumatra such as Medan and Berastagi. After the Netherlands, Japan also used this telephone exchange for military communications. After Indonesian independence, this building was used as a telephone office for Kodam I Iskandar Muda.
Now, this building is under the supervision of the Cultural Heritage Conservation Center. If you are passing through Jalan Teuku Umar from Simpang Jam, take the time to stop and enjoy the traces of history left by the Dutch.
Visiting the Dutch Heritage Telephone Central in Banda Aceh is not only a tourist trip, but also a journey through history full of stories and legacies from the past. (ASG)
I hope that the photos can be of benefit to all of you, that objects or sites left over from the past need to be preserved and cared for as witnesses of history that we can preserve for future generations... thank you very much.