Gunung Putih – a small Sumatran village in Teluk Dalam District, Simeulue Regency
Gunung Putih is a small settlement in Aceh Province, Indonesia, specifically in the Kabupaten Simeulue region, within the Kecamatan Teluk Dalam administrative district. Geographically, it belongs to Sumatra Island and, based on its coordinates (2.6903734° N, 96.1341431° E), is located near the Indian Ocean on Simeulue Island. This source material does not contain direct, settlement-level data about Gunung Putih; therefore, the following sections rely on available provincial-level (Aceh) information and broader regional context, which are clearly indicated in all cases.
General overview
The name Gunung Putih means "white mountain" in Indonesian, which may allude to a natural feature near the settlement, though no verified source confirms this. Kecamatan Teluk Dalam is part of Kabupaten Simeulue, a relatively isolated island regency within Aceh Province. Simeulue Island is located in the Indian Ocean, west of mainland Aceh, which affects both the accessibility and development level of the area. Regarding Aceh Province as a whole – according to 2025 data from the Indonesian Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) – the province has a population of approximately 5.7 million and is one of Indonesia's regions with special autonomy status, deeply rooted in Islamic religious culture. The province applies Sunni Islamic values and Sharia law at the local level, which strongly shapes daily life and local customs. Gunung Putih, as one of the villages in Teluk Dalam District, is presumably an agricultural, small-population community, though direct statistical sources for this are not available.
Real estate and investment
No real estate market data for Gunung Putih is available in verified sources. From a broader regional context: Simeulue is a relatively underdeveloped island regency where infrastructure development and economic activity typically lag behind those of mainland Aceh areas, particularly compared to the provincial capital, Banda Aceh. Regarding Aceh Province as a whole, following the devastation of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami – whose epicenter was near the province's coast and claimed approximately 170,000 lives – reconstruction investments did stimulate the local real estate market, though development primarily concentrated in larger cities. Indonesian land ownership regulations generally do not permit direct land acquisition by foreign nationals; for them, long-term rental arrangements (Hak Sewa) or other legal titles typically apply. For those considering investment in Simeulue and the Gunung Putih area, it is advisable to familiarize oneself with current local authority guidelines and the relevant regulations of the Indonesian Badan Pertanahan Nasional (BPN).
Safety and security
No settlement-level crime statistics are available for Gunung Putih's public safety situation. Aceh Province generally has a historically unique security background among Indonesian regions: the decades-long armed conflict between the Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM) separatist movement and the Indonesian government ended in 2005 with a peace agreement signed in Helsinki, which was facilitated in part by the 2004 tsunami catastrophe. Since then, the province's political situation has stabilized. Due to Simeulue Island's isolated, rural character, the area is generally characterized by low crime levels, though direct verified data on this is not available. Local application of Aceh Sharia law plays a role in regulating public order, which applies to Simeulue as it does to other parts of the province. It can be noted generally that rural, small-population villages throughout Indonesia are typically characterized by strong community bonds, which affects local public safety, though this is merely a general regional observation rather than a Gunung Putih-specific finding.
Tourist attractions
Verified source material contains no named tourist attractions directly linked to Gunung Putih. Simeulue Island is regionally known for its natural assets – particularly its coastlines and coral reefs suitable for diving – however, reliable sources are not available for specific place names or distances from Gunung Putih. Regarding Aceh Province as a whole, Taman Nasional Gunung Leuser (Gunung Leuser National Park) is one of the province's most well-known protected areas, located in Aceh Tenggara and Aceh Jaya regencies along the Bukit Barisan mountain range – however, this is at considerable distance from Simeulue, on mainland territory. A monument and museum related to the 2004 tsunami in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, is likewise a known attraction, but is not relevant to Gunung Putih's immediate surroundings. Those interested in local natural attractions are advised to inquire with the Kecamatan Teluk Dalam local government or the Kabupaten Simeulue tourism office for the most current and accurate information.
Summary
Gunung Putih is a small, relatively underdocumented settlement in Aceh Province's Kabupaten Simeulue region, within Kecamatan Teluk Dalam District, on the western periphery of Sumatra Island. Based on available provincial-level data, Aceh is one of Indonesia's regions with special status, strongly preserving its Islamic traditions, and its development path has been shaped both by the 2004 tsunami catastrophe and the subsequent peace agreement. For Gunung Putih, available specific information is limited; for more detailed local knowledge, it is advisable to consult authorities at the kabupaten or kecamatan level, as well as local sources.
