folktale
The Tale of Krueng Daroy
VZ
By VIRA ZAITUNI
16 September 2026
Characters
Sultan Iskandar Muda: The great and wise ruler of the Aceh Darussalam Kingdom, known for his bravery and deep devotion to his wife. He was willing to achieve the impossible just to see her smile again.
âPutroe Phang (Princess Kamaliah): The beloved queen from the Pahang Kingdom. She was gentle, beautiful, noble-hearted, yet carried a deep, painful homesickness for her beloved homeland.
Setting
The magnificent Darud Donya Palace complex at the heart of the Aceh Darussalam Kingdom, during the 17th century (the golden era of the Sultanate). A majestic royal backdrop filled with emotional longing and love.
Conflict
After relocating to Aceh following the Pahang campaign, Princess Putroe Phang suffered from severe homesickness, deeply missing the lush green hills, winding rivers, and familiar scenery of her native homeland. Her profound grief made her quiet, melancholy, and ill. Witnessing his beloved queen lose her joy broke Sultan Iskandar Mudaâs heart. He faced a immense challenge: to find a legendary way to cure her sorrow and recreate the atmosphere of Pahang right inside the royal grounds of Aceh.
Ending
Driven by boundless devotion, Sultan Iskandar Muda ordered his architects and people to construct a dedicated man-made river, diverting fresh crystal water from Mata Ie straight into the royal palace grounds. This artificial waterway was named Krueng Daroy. To complement the river, he also built the Gunongan (recreating the winding hills of Pahang) and Pinto Khop as a private sanctuary for the queen. Seeing this extraordinary gift, Putroe Phangâs sorrow faded away and her joy returned. Today, Krueng Daroy endures not just as an architectural marvel, but as an everlasting monument to true love and devotion.
Reflection
"Krueng Daroy: The River of Devotion
âIn the 17th century, during the golden age of the Aceh Darussalam Kingdom, Sultan Iskandar Muda ruled with absolute wisdom and power. Yet, within the grand walls of the Darud Donya Palace, his beloved queen, Putroe Phang, was overcome with profound grief. She deeply missed her homeland of Pahangâits rolling green hills and crystal-clear streams.
âDistressed by his queenâs sorrow, Sultan Iskandar Muda set out to accomplish the unthinkable. He ordered the construction of a man-made river directly through the palace grounds, paired with artificial hills to recreate the landscapes of her youth. Thus, Krueng Daroy was bornâan extraordinary engineering marvel that carried not just fresh waters, but the immortal legacy of a kingâs unconditional love for his queen."