Samudera Pasai Monument, Neglected Traces of the Glory of the Islamic Empire |

ayijufridar (76)Traveler 🇮🇩in Traveling Steem • 6 days ago

The Samudera Pasai Monument and Museum in Beuringen Village, Samudera District, North Aceh Regency, is a popular destination for visitors on holidays and weekends.

These two destinations are located in a series with the Tomb of Sultan Malikussaleh, which can be reached on foot from the Samudera Pasai Monument and Museum. About 2 kilometers down the coast lies the Tomb of Sultanah Nahrasiyah.

Therefore, when visiting, you should allocate sufficient time to visit all four destinations: the Samudera Pasai Monument, the Samudera Pasai Museum, the Tomb of Malikussaleh, and the Tomb of Sultanah Nahrasiyah. All are historic sites set in the glory of the Samudera Pasai Islamic Kingdom.

The cream-colored building sits on 7.7 hectares of land and looks majestically overlooking the Strait of Malacca. Construction began in 2012 and was completed around 2017, using a multi-year budget of IDR 49.1 billion allocated by the state budget. The corruption cases surrounding this magnificent building are more prominent than its history. Several figures involved have been convicted, and the case even reached the Supreme Court in 2023.

The Samudera Pasai Monument, built next to the Samudera Pasai Museum, was built to commemorate the glory of the Samudera Pasai Kingdom (1267–1524 AD), known as the first Islamic kingdom in Indonesia. It also serves as a historical preservation effort and serves as a tourist destination.

Unfortunately, this noble goal has been marred by corruption in its construction. Ironically, the Samudera Pasai Monument now lies neglected, unmaintained, and in poor condition.

A local vendor stated that the Samudera Pasai Monument and Museum are still frequently visited by residents, including during the Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijri holiday. "Generally, residents stop by when passing through Geudong (the capital of Samudera District)," he said.

The Malikussaleh Monument is only about 2.7 kilometers from Keude Geudong, passing through several villages. The road is in fairly good condition, although a bit narrow when several vehicles pass.

However, upon entering the Malikussaleh Monument and Museum complex, visitors will encounter a bumpy, unpaved road. This condition is in stark contrast to the impressive Samudera Pasai Museum and Monument.

Nanik Sudartik, a former Samudera Pasai Museum Ambassador, explained that visitors usually visit the museum, monument, and Sultan Malikussaleh's Tomb at the same time. "Usually, if they have time, they also visit the Tomb of Sultanah Nahrasiyah," said the alumna of Sultanah Nahrasiyah State Islamic University.

A Geudong community leader, Asyari, mentioned that the Samudera Pasai Monument is also often used as a location for pre-wedding photoshoots. "If it's seriously developed, the building could become a mainstay destination, attracting more visitors," he said.

The condition of the Samudera Pasai Monument, which looks majestic from the outside, is actually the opposite once you enter. Many spaces and corners are unused, and some walls are cracked. Even more concerning, several rooms are piled with trash and the stench of urine, indicating traces of open urination.

The Malikussaleh Sultanate, much noted by world explorers in the past, is completely absent from the Samudera Pasai Monument. The tens of billions of rupiah spent seem wasted, outweighed by the benefits experienced.

History is never truly lost; it simply waits to be acknowledged. Unfortunately, at the Samudera Pasai Monument, that wait feels too long and fraught with uncertainty.