Cot Raya – a settlement in Kabupaten Aceh Besar, Aceh Province
Cot Raya is a small settlement (in Indonesian: desa or kampung) belonging to Kecamatan Kuta Baro in Kabupaten Aceh Besar, Aceh Province, on the island of Sumatra. Based on its coordinates (5.5522° N, 95.4011° E), it is located to the southeast of Jantho, the regency capital, in the vicinity of Banda Aceh. Kabupaten Aceh Besar is known as Indonesia's westernmost regency, and in mid-2024, the regency's total population was 439,048. As no independent statistical sources specific to Cot Raya are currently available, the description below relies primarily on the broader regency and Kuta Baro district context.
General overview
Cot Raya belongs to Kecamatan Kuta Baro, which is situated within the interior of Kabupaten Aceh Besar. The regency itself represents a significant administrative and cultural zone within Aceh Province: the regency capital is Jantho, located in the Seulawah mountain range, after the former capital, Banda Aceh, became an independent kotamadya in the late 1970s. Aceh Besar consists predominantly of agricultural and small-town areas; in lower-lying parts, rice fields, small plantations, and rural settlements alternate with one another, while interior areas are characterized by hills and mountains. Cot Raya itself – based on available data – is a smaller, relatively quiet rural community, not among the settlements particularly known to the regency for tourism or industry. The settlements of Kuta Baro district generally maintain closer connections with the nearby Banda Aceh urban agglomeration, as the capital's administrative boundary runs in direct proximity. This geographical proximity influences the area's residential and economic function.
Real estate and investment
Independent, settlement-level data on Cot Raya's real estate market are not available. The broader Kabupaten Aceh Besar – and particularly its areas close to Banda Aceh – has, however, gradually become integrated into the province's economic network over recent decades. The post-2004 tsunami reconstruction process, financed in part by international aid, fundamentally transformed the province's infrastructure and real estate market. In areas within Banda Aceh's sphere of influence – including Kuta Baro district – modestly priced, rural-character real estate typically prevails, and real estate activity focuses primarily on local buyers. According to Indonesia's general land ownership regulations, foreign nationals cannot acquire full ownership rights (Hak Milik) over property; usage rights (Hak Pakai) or long-term rental structures are generally the available options for them. From an investment perspective, the region's appeal may stem primarily from its proximity to Banda Aceh, as the provincial capital functions as an economic and educational gravitational point for surrounding areas.
Safety and security
No settlement-level statistics on public safety in Cot Raya are available; therefore, the following remarks concern the general situation in broader Aceh Province. Aceh Province possesses a unique administrative status within Indonesia, which is also reflected in the application of local regulations based on Islamic law (sharia); this influences public order and social norms in certain respects. Following its long conflict period – the decades of the Aceh Freedom Movement (GAM) – the province stabilized after the 2005 peace agreement, and currently the interior areas of Aceh Province generally experience relatively orderly security conditions. In rural, smaller communities – such as Cot Raya is likely to be – the rate of violent crime is typically low, though only general remarks can be made about the broader region. Observance of local norms – particularly regarding dress and behavioral customs – is generally recommended for visitors to Aceh Province.
Tourist attractions
No named tourist attractions specific to Cot Raya village appear in available sources. The broader Kabupaten Aceh Besar, however, is home to numerous sites known from verifiable sources. Cut Nyak Dhien, one of Indonesia's national heroines, was born on the regency's territory in Lampadang; her memory is preserved in several locations throughout the province. The Seulawah mountain range, at the base of which the regency capital Jantho is situated, represents a natural attraction in the region. Banda Aceh – whose agglomeration boundary extends to Kuta Baro district – is home to numerous historical and cultural sites, including memorial sites documenting the 2004 tsunami and the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, both of which are symbolically significant attractions in the province. Based on Cot Raya's location, these sites are accessible with relatively short travel, though reliable sources providing precise distances and travel times are not cited here.
Summary
Cot Raya is a smaller rural settlement in Kecamatan Kuta Baro of Kabupaten Aceh Besar, in the western part of Aceh Province. Based on available information, the village is not among the region's particularly well-known sites from tourism or investment perspectives; however, its geographical proximity to Banda Aceh creates a form of indirect economic and infrastructural connection. The broader Kabupaten Aceh Besar is regarded as Indonesia's westernmost regency, with nearly 440,000 residents in 2024. Those seeking more detailed local knowledge about Cot Raya are advised to consult the municipal sources of Kecamatan Kuta Baro and the official data of Kabupaten Aceh Besar.
