Meunasah Cut – a small gampong in the coastal zone of Kecamatan Lhoknga, Kabupaten Aceh Besar
Meunasah Cut is an Indonesian gampong (administratively classified village) belonging to Kecamatan Lhoknga in Kabupaten Aceh Besar, Aceh Province, Indonesia. Geographically, it is located in the northwestern part of Sumatra, within the coastal strip extending southwest of Banda Aceh, at coordinates 5.498463° North latitude, 95.238088° East longitude. According to data published in the 2019 edition by the BPS (Badan Pusat Statistik, the Indonesian Central Statistics Bureau) for Kecamatan Lhoknga, Meunasah Cut has a total area of merely 13 hectares, of which 2 hectares are under agricultural (non-rice field) cultivation and 11 hectares are designated for non-agricultural use. According to population data from the same source, in 2019 the gampong had 75 males and 68 females, totaling 143 inhabitants. Regarding the regency as a whole, Kabupaten Aceh Besar is one of Indonesia's westernmost regencies, with its administrative seat in the city of Jantho in the Seulawah mountain range following reconstruction after the 2004 tsunami; the regency is the birthplace of the national heroine Cut Nyak Dhien, who came from Lampadang.
General overview
Meunasah Cut is a small, rural gampong with limited independent and detailed descriptive sources available. Its name derives from the Acehnese word "meunasah," which refers to a local community gathering place and one of the fundamental institutions of Islamic religious life; the suffix "Cut" is also Acehnese and means "small" in the common sense. Within Kecamatan Lhoknga territory, numerous gampongs with similar name structures exist — including Meunasah Balee, Meunasah Blang, Meunasah Baro, and Meunasah Cut — organized into different administrative units (mukim). The neighboring Meunasah Balee gampong has the Indian Ocean marking its southern boundary, and among its eastern neighbors is Meunasah Cut and Meunasah Blang. This location confirms that Meunasah Cut occupies an interior position close to the kecamatan's coastal zone. In the context of Kecamatan Lhoknga as a whole, the district — in contrast to the more urbanized Banda Aceh — predominantly comprises communities engaged in agriculture and fishing, where smaller gampongs possess agricultural land and modest non-agrarian infrastructure.
Real estate and investment
Public real estate market data specific to Meunasah Cut at the gampong level is currently unavailable. Regarding the broader Kabupaten Aceh Besar and Kecamatan Lhoknga, however, it is worth noting that the regional real estate market is closely linked to the economic dynamism of the provincial capital, Banda Aceh. Lhoknga is situated approximately 15 kilometers from Banda Aceh, the provincial capital, which represents a non-negligible proximity in terms of local property values. Aceh Province is the only region in the country where local-level sharia law (qanun) also applies in lifestyle regulation, which also affects real estate market practices: in the local market, sharia-compliant real estate financing conducted according to Islamic legal principles and free of interest is prevalent. Under Indonesian general legislation, foreign individuals cannot acquire full ownership (Hak Milik) of Indonesian real estate; they have access to Hak Pakai (usage rights) or long-term rental structures, which form a uniform framework valid throughout the country. Moderate investor interest has been observed toward the coastal areas around Lhoknga — driven by tourist activity — particularly in accommodation development, though this primarily affects areas in direct proximity to beaches rather than small, internally situated gampongs such as Meunasah Cut.
Safety and security
No independent, verifiable statistical data is available regarding public safety in Meunasah Cut. Considering Kabupaten Aceh Besar as a whole, it can be generally stated that the regency is organically integrated within the framework established by Aceh Province in terms of police and military administration. Aceh Province exhibits stricter moral regulation than most other Indonesian provinces due to the strong social presence of Islam and its associated norms; this creates higher societal expectations in daily public order against characteristically less orderly behavior. In small, rural communities — such as Meunasah Cut — the assessment of public safety is based on the closeness of personal and community relationships, but a substantiated, generalizable evaluation supported by sources cannot be provided under present circumstances. Travelers and real estate interested parties are advised to inquire with the relevant authorities of Kabupaten Aceh Besar regarding the current security situation.
Tourist attractions
No sources provide information about named tourist attractions within Meunasah Cut territory. Within Kecamatan Lhoknga as a whole, however, several well-known natural and leisure destinations are located. Lampuuk Beach, situated within Kecamatan Lhoknga territory, is one of Aceh's known natural tourism destinations. The beach faces the Indian Ocean, featuring white sandy shores and turquoise sea; its coastline extends approximately five kilometers. While Lampuuk Beach is associated with swimming, banana boat recreation, and grilled fish gastronomy, Lhoknga Beach is known for its golf course, surfing opportunities, and fishing. Five surfing points are recognized at Lhoknga Beach: Left Hander Point, Cemara Right Point, Peak Point, Suri Point, and Outside Right Hander Suri Point — the last named after a local surfer who lost his life in the 2004 tsunami. Lhoknga is situated merely 15 kilometers from Banda Aceh, the provincial capital, making the kecamatan as a whole — and indirectly Meunasah Cut's immediate vicinity — relatively easily accessible from the province's most important transportation hub. Beyond Lampuuk Beach, Kecamatan Lhoknga's offerings include Momong Beach, Pucok Krueng, and Sea Side Beach Park.
Summary
Meunasah Cut is a small-area, sparsely populated gampong in Kecamatan Lhoknga, part of Kabupaten Aceh Besar in Aceh Province. Its independent local historical and statistical sources are severely limited: based on available data, 143 inhabitants lived on its 13-hectare territory in 2019. The gampong's regional context is defined by economic connections resulting from proximity to Banda Aceh, local regulation according to Islamic law, and the tourist appeal of the neighboring coastal zone — particularly Lampuuk Beach and Lhoknga Beach. Anyone seeking more detailed, current information regarding land use, real estate market, or public safety in Meunasah Cut is advised to consult the latest statistical publications issued by the relevant authorities of Kecamatan Lhoknga or Kabupaten Aceh Besar.
