The main mosque of Banda Aceh was first built in 1612. That structure was destroyed by fire from a Dutch siege in 1873. After taking Aceh, to ease the ire of the local population, the Dutch built a new mosque, evoking a Moghul design, since the architect was based in India. The original structure had just a single dome. Later governors expanded it to three domes, then five, and finally the current seven.
The front entrance to Baiturrahman Grand Mosque as men arrive for Friday noon prayers.
The mosque sits in a large grassy enclosure, with a tall free-standing minaret near the eastern entrance. You may enter the grounds if you're properly dressed, but the mosque itself is only open to Muslims.