Cot Seulamat – a small Sumatran village in Samatiga district, Aceh Barat Regency
Cot Seulamat is an Indonesian village (desa) that belongs to the Samatiga district (kecamatan) within Aceh Barat Regency (kabupaten) in Aceh Province on Sumatra Island. Based on its coordinates (4.2482213° N, 96.0335114° E), it is located on Sumatra's western coastal strip. The seat of Aceh Barat Regency is the nearby city of Meulaboh. Settlement-level statistical data for the village is currently unavailable; therefore, the description below relies on available regency-level data and generally verifiable information pertaining to Aceh Province, with this noted throughout.
General overview
Cot Seulamat belongs to Samatiga kecamatan, an administrative unit of Aceh Barat Regency. Considering the region as a whole, Aceh Barat covers an area of 2,927.95 km² according to current post-expansion figures and had approximately 207,690 residents as of mid-2024. The regency lies on Sumatra Island's western and southern coastal strip and was formerly much larger in area, though it has been subdivided into several independent administrative units through successive boundary adjustments. Cot Seulamat itself is a small rural community with characteristically agricultural character, situated in an environment dominated by rice fields, plantations, and natural landscape typical of rural West Acehnese areas. For Aceh Province as a whole, forests, river valleys, and hilly terrain constitute much of the territory, and rural villages typically maintain close communal and religious ties shaped by Acehnese local culture and Islamic traditions. Settlements in Samatiga district generally derive their livelihood from agriculture, small-scale trade, and fishing, though specific data for this particular village is not available.
Real estate and investment
No published, settlement-level data exists for Cot Seulamat's real estate market; therefore, the following sections describe the broader context of Aceh Barat Regency and Aceh Province. Aceh Barat is a relatively small, rural-character regency whose real estate market cannot be compared in size and activity to Indonesian development centers such as Bali or Java. In rural Acehnese areas, property prices are generally significantly lower than the national average, and transactions predominantly occur between domestic buyers. Under Indonesian law, foreign nationals are generally prohibited from acquiring full property ownership rights (Hak Milik); for them, long-term lease arrangements (Hak Sewa) or, under certain conditions, Hak Pakai title are primarily applicable, with the legal framework governed by Indonesian land law. From an investment perspective, Aceh Barat's development potential is influenced by the province's infrastructure development, the presence of natural resources (agriculture, forestry), and the long-term effects of reconstruction efforts following the 2004 tsunami. In smaller villages like Cot Seulamat, properties primarily serve local, self-sufficiency, or agricultural purposes, and market transaction intensity is low even by regional standards.
Safety and security
No separate statistics or sources specific to Cot Seulamat's public safety are available. Generally speaking, Aceh Province underwent significant stabilization following the end of decades-long armed conflict and the 2005 peace agreement, and today the province's security is generally assessed by international bodies and travel advisors as substantially improved compared to earlier periods. Rural Acehnese communities, including villages in Aceh Barat, typically maintain social order based on close community oversight. Appropriate caution and respect for local customs are recommended for all visitors, particularly given that Aceh is the only Indonesian province to widely implement Sharia-based local regulations (qanun), which govern both daily life and public conduct. No criminal data or specific security incidents pertaining to the village can be cited, as no verifiable sources exist for this.
Tourist attractions
No identifiable tourist attractions specifically connected to Cot Seulamat village are found in available sources. Within the broader Aceh Barat Regency area, however, several known locations identify Meulaboh city as a regional center, which is the birthplace of Teuku Umar, an Indonesian national hero. The name of Teuku Umar is borne by both Universitas Teuku Umar, a state higher education institution operating there, and the Komando Resor Militer 012/Teuku Umar military unit. From a physical geography perspective, Aceh Barat Regency lies on Sumatra Island's western coast, where the region was historically characterized by a 250-kilometer coastal stretch extending from the foothills of Geurutee Mountain to the Krueng Seumayam River during the period prior to administrative boundary divisions. The Meulaboh region serves as a starting point for those interested in rural natural environments, coastal landscapes, and local Acehnese culture, though verified data regarding specific attractions directly associated with Cot Seulamat is not available.
Summary
Cot Seulamat is a small Acehnese rural community in Samatiga district within Aceh Barat Regency on Sumatra Island's western coast. Available public sources primarily extend only to the regency level, so detailed, independent data on the village itself are not known. Based on general characteristics of the Aceh Barat Regency region, it can be described as a rural, agriculturally-oriented environment influenced by Acehnese culture, natural landscape, and stabilization following the 2005 peace settlement. For those wishing to become acquainted with the rural Aceh around Meulaboh, Cot Seulamat, as part of Samatiga district, fits into this broader regional picture.
