Gajo Road Construction from 1904 to 1913 was the building of the 103 kilometre mountain road from Bireuen to Takengon at the Laut Tawar lake, started by Colonel Van Daalen.
Narrative
There were no roads in Atjeh for connection west and east coast. The proud chain south to north Sumatra kept island in two strips narrow and broad divided needing community only few places. Traffic wakes traffic. Applying to Atjeh, road connection east-west will bring Atjeher into motion and teach him to seek from paternal regions building or garden ground elsewhere, labour and trade elsewhere. Traffic weakens adat and Atjeh adat may on important points well weaker. Dwarsweg Sigli-Meulaboh eventual will come and now existing Gajo-weg, beginning at Bireuen and ending at Takengon at Tawar lake where connects to paths northwards, westwards and towards south direction Blang Kedjeren (Gajo Loeös) and Koeta Tjane (Alas-landen) important connection much more important for gewest as soon as paths built to roads.
Gajo-weg with which Overste Van Daalen in 1904 had beginning has history wherein much heerendienst and money occurs. She can rest because for present time question more important which economic utility had. Tendency of construction was first military, but intention at same time road would be connection for general traffic. There is heerendienst spent, the in Atjeh known wegenfonds had to sacrifice, Country treasury had to support completion. So road became ready 1913, length 103 kilometer, but hardening for large transport still had to be continued.
Between Bireuen and Takengon excellent piece labour Atjeh owes everyone can reach more than 1200 meter high Takengon as rest- and recovery place unusual significance with auto. At Bireuen Chinese hire autos for trip, can also ride trucks smaller amount. At KM 10 long bridge over Peusangan river, thereafter climbs. Hill terrain alang-alang most, now and then traveler squeezed between mountain walls or view limited dense forest. At KM 30 still view over northern plain left as farmland now seen as sea dark green fading distance losing at pale merging sea air. Soon high plateaus 400-700m places without human dwellings arrayed shy silence. Only certain long distances shed few houses personnel daily maintaining road. At KM 46 halt 767m Blang Rakal, bivouac zinc-roofed sheds shining far loneliness. Bivouac soon fully abandoned still officer with brigade (20 man) formerly three brigades. Men always ready service usual number patrol days monthly; patrol explores surroundings tries catch evildoers collects tax settlements surrounding. Men Blang Rakal greet visit.
Continue: type conifer not tjemara but very high well-formed pines glory landscape, some places forest slender shapes fine ornamental green. Boschwezen research chances resin and turpentine winning pinus Merkusii forests Gajoe-landen (Mededeelingen No.10). Research led judgment government turpentine enterprise very profitable.
Few km further stands tremendous piece nature performs: deep extensive ravine where Enang Enang narrow stony course follows. Along winding descends road length one kilometre 100m deepest point 600 above sea to climb before 5 km further height 930m.
Blangs flat gently sloping rough grass growth grim look without friendliness unexpected few huts people without comfort about 30 leprous Gajo’ers expelled kampongs, never doctor visits healing.
At KM 73 first top fully visible south road lies Boer ni Geureudong and volcano Boer ni Telong short Geureudong (Gredong) and Telong 2900M 2600M high. Soon Lampahan resting place inland travelers government put couple sheds temporary bivouac patrols to collect overdue tax ensure little cleaning kampongs or trace few evildoers highland mountain slopes hide forests helped well-disposed population kampongs admire fear. Patrolling will few months ago proven bring those few man for man in our hands killed on flight or killed in fight.
At Lampahan cool warm drink at coffee farmer Chinese slowly surely becomes rich through coffee house small trade. Carts and harnessed draft animals Atjehers help serve transport between Bireuen and Gajo-land. Trip heen terug Bireuen-Takengon 105km not less than 15 days travel night and day stay stop places. Time here no money.
Further landscape changes little influences nearness mountains. Pine forests remain more beautiful than blangs before Lampahan, but heavy wood now also appears. Traces rice fields KM 84 even few poor Gajo-houses abandoned inhabitants fled elephants recurring. Mountain slopes north south closer plain road narrowed KM 88 even elongated swamp full reeds. Once more mighty forest mountain wall ravine and at height 1485m KM 95 opens landscape view lake surroundings 260m lower. After tens km over high plain where general impression open barren desolation little water lake area beneficent though see not much else than light grey water surface unmoved between dark border mountain. With slow descent builders avoided steep slope everywhere now between garden plots Gajos through settlement family Veenhuizen Takengon arriving past well situated dwelling assistant-resident Gajo and Alas-landen to halt middle place under lököp royal tree indigenous Gajo-land heavy stem dense crown tree held honor people. Under such lököp heads offered submission Van Daalen.
Broersma notes road important factor economic development and health resort potential.
See Also
Source
Atjeh als land voor handel en bedrijf, by Dr. R. Broersma, Gebrs. Cohen, Utrecht, 1925, pp. 64-69.