Meunasah Lam Girek – a small gampong in Kecamatan Lhoknga, on the western coast of Kabupaten Aceh Besar
Meunasah Lam Girek is a gampong (village-level administrative unit) in Kecamatan Lhoknga, Kabupaten Aceh Besar, Aceh province, Indonesia. Based on its coordinates (5.5126° N, 95.2319° E), it is located in the coastal area of the kabupaten, southwest of Banda Aceh, at the northernmost tip of Sumatra. Lhoknga itself is a kecamatan (district) within Kabupaten Aceh Besar in Aceh province. A total of 28 gampongs are administratively subordinate to the kecamatan. In the case of Meunasah Lam Girek, verifiable statistical sources at the village level are limited; therefore, the following description is partly based on district-level and kabupaten-level data, which is noted accordingly.
General overview
According to the BPS (Indonesian Central Statistics Agency) 2019 publication on Kecamatan Lhoknga, the gampong listed under the name "Lamgirek" had a population of 180 people, comprising 98 males and 82 females. According to the land area data in the same source, Lamgirek spans a total of 680 hectares, of which 50 hectares are non-rice agricultural land, 146 hectares are rice fields, and 484 hectares are non-agricultural use. This large proportion typically includes hilly, forested, or undeveloped areas, which correlates with the mixed, coastal and hilly landscape of Kecamatan Lhoknga. The gampong functions as the basic unit of the Acehnese local administrative system and has its own keuchik (village chief). Kecamatan Lhoknga comprises a total of 28 villages, including Meunasah Lam Girek, within the administrative division of the kabupaten. Regarding the broader kabupaten-level context: Kabupaten Aceh Besar is a kabupaten within Aceh province, which had a population of 439,048 as of mid-2024; it is also Indonesia's westernmost kabupaten, with its seat relocated to Jantho, a city in the Seulawah mountain range, after Banda Aceh became a separate kotamadya (municipality). The kabupaten is the birthplace of Cut Nyak Dhien, an Indonesian national hero who originated from Lampadang. Meunasah Lam Girek itself ranks among the less visited, smaller villages of the kecamatan: it is not known as a standalone international tourist destination, but rather understood within the broader unit of Kecamatan Lhoknga.
Real estate and investment
No verifiable, formally cited dataset is available regarding Meunasah Lam Girek as an independent real estate market segment. The following reflects the general real estate market situation in Kabupaten Aceh Besar and indicates the context of the broader region. According to data from the FazWaz.id real estate portal, the median selling price of properties in Kabupaten Aceh Besar is approximately 196,928 USD, while the median price per square meter is approximately 1,288 USD. This value reflects a relatively higher level compared to other kabupatens in Aceh province, owing in part to its proximity to Banda Aceh and the administrative weight of the province. Kecamatan Lhoknga belongs to the areas of the kabupaten that attract investor interest due to their proximity to the provincial capital (Banda Aceh); however, in the case of Meunasah Lam Girek, the small population and limited infrastructure suggest low intensity of property transactions. Under the general framework of Indonesian land law, foreign individuals cannot acquire direct ownership rights (Hak Milik) in Indonesia: for them, the primary legal options are long-term lease (Hak Sewa), right of use (Hak Pakai), or building rights (Hak Guna Bangunan). In Aceh province, local-level syariah-based regulations (qanun) also apply, which have implications for certain aspects of property transactions; therefore, it is advisable to prepare any transaction with the involvement of a local legal expert.
Safety and security
No publicly accessible, formally cited criminal statistics or police database is available at the Meunasah Lam Girek level. Generally speaking, Aceh province operates under a syariah-based legal system (Syariat Islam), which prescribes certain norms in the everyday conduct of those residing there—in terms of dress and public appearance. This legal system constitutes the particular framework for local administration and law enforcement throughout the province, including in Kabupaten Aceh Besar. Small villages across Aceh typically have low crime rates, but factual claims regarding Meunasah Lam Girek cannot be made without sources. Travelers should take into account the province's distinctive legal and cultural norms, which differ from the Indonesian average.
Tourist attractions
In the immediate vicinity of Meunasah Lam Girek, within the territory of Kecamatan Lhoknga, the most well-known natural attractions are coastal destinations. Within Kecamatan Lhoknga, several visited places are known from a tourist perspective, including Lampuuk Beach, Momong Beach, Pucok Krueng, Sea Side Beach Park, and a golf course. Lhoknga Beach is approximately 16 kilometers from Banda Aceh and approximately 28 kilometers from Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport (Blang Bintang). Five surfing spots exist at Pantai Lhoknga: Left Hander Point, Cemara Right Point, Peak Point, Suri Point, and Out Side Right Hander Suri Point, the latter named after a local surfer who died in the 2004 tsunami. Pantai Lampuuk is located just 15 kilometers from Banda Aceh city center. Near the beach are a local golf course and the Andalas cement factory, which are defining elements of the area's visual landscape. From Meunasah Lam Girek, these attractions are accessible by road in a short time. In the nearby city of Banda Aceh, further historical sites can be found, such as the Masjid Raya Baiturrahman mosque and the Aceh Tsunami Museum, which commemorates the 2004 tsunami.
Summary
Meunasah Lam Girek is a small gampong with, according to 2019 data, a population of close to 180 people, and is one of the 28 villages in Kecamatan Lhoknga. The key characteristics of the kabupaten—the total population of 439,048, its geographical status as Indonesia's westernmost kabupaten, and its syariah-based local legal system—all define the broader context of Meunasah Lam Girek. As a standalone tourist destination, the gampong is not known; however, the natural and cultural values associated with the coastal section of Kecamatan Lhoknga—primarily Pantai Lhoknga and Pantai Lampuuk—constitute the real attractions of the broader region. Information on the real estate market situation and public safety is provided by kabupaten-level context, as village-level data is not publicly available.
