To get to the tomb, the tourists have to climb stairs that are so high more than 200 meters and as many as 700 more steps. But, it doesn’t stop there, and tourists will be surprised because the tomb size is so long that it reaches more than 8 meters. While the tombstone measuring 1.5 meters, is white with ancient Arabic carvings.
The number of visitors who have come to the tomb of Syekh Mahmud since 1990 has made the residents of Pananggahan Village take the initiative to establish small businesses such as trading. This is done to help meet daily needs.
Pananggahan village is unique since most of the population are Protestant Christians, and only six people have embraced Islam. However, even so, the village looks peaceful, and even non-Muslim communities participate in developing the tourist attraction of Syekh Mahmud’s tomb.
The infrastructure facilities are located at Syekh Mahmud’s tomb, from the gate, parking lots, ticket purchases booth, community leaders’ houses, prayer rooms, trading locations, public bathrooms, ablution places, and stairs to the tomb. Circumstances around the tomb are still reasonably simple.
The government expects the community and tourists to make this tourist attraction more advanced with adequate facilities. This is because Sheikh Mahmud was the first person to spread Islam in the archipelago and was a friend of the Prophet. Hence, it is a high hope that his grave can become a national and world religious tourist destination.
Note: translated by editor from www.duniasantri.co/ziarah-makam-syekh-mahmud-sahabat-nabi-di-nusantara