Where to go

Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia

Kedah Darul Aman mean Kedah, Abode of Peace. True to her name, Kedah is a land of peace and tranquillity. It is also the 'Rice Bowl of Malaysia' the largest producer of rice in Malaysia. Discover nature's paradise in this state - from the spectacular beauty of the Langkawi islands, white sandy beaches to green forest parks and virgin rainforest on highlands.  Its a great relaxing vacation destination for nature lovers and the family. 

The Visit Kedah Year 2008 and 2009

Area and Location

Paddy fields in Kedah

LOCAL FACTS

THE SULTANATE OF KEDAH is the oldest in Malaysia and one of the oldest continuous line of monarchy in the world.

MALAYSIA'S PRIME MINISTERS FROM KEDAH

FIRST PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA - Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah; Fondly known as "The Father of Malaysia"
 

The Longest Serving Prime Minister of Malaysia - Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

Kuala Kedah

Ramadan Food Stalls, kedah

KEDAH

Land area - 9,426 sq. kilometres with over 100 islands.

Shares a border with the states of Perlis, Penang (Pulau Pinang) and Perak and its northern and north-eastern boundary is the Malaysia-Thai border. 11 administrative districts with it own district centres in Kedah. Alor Star is the state capital with a population of about 250,000.

Free map of Kedah Malaysia

Around Kedah

Sights in Kedah

   Travel to Kedah Darul Aman (or simply Kedah), a land rich in history and natural beauty. It is an excellent destination for nature lovers, the eco-tourists and history enthusiasts.

       Kedah is located in the northern part of peninsular Malaysia and is often referred to as the ‘Rice Bowl of Malaysia’. As you travel round Kedah, you will see stretches of paddy fields (padi in Malay) and lush green rainforests on highland. Virtually two third of the state is still forested with some opened to the public as forest recreational parks. Undulating hills at the forest edge are covered with rubber, oil palm and fruit plantations.  Kedah offers a mix of kampongs, fishing villages, small urban centres and many nature parks.

      Be sure to savour the array of tropical fruits in Kedah. The area around Baling and Changloon in Kedah are famed for local fruits: durians, rambutans, langsat, dukong, cempedak, nangka and even pomelos. Sample Kedah food that is made from rice or spiced with aromatic herbs and hot chillies. Our Kedah recipes here...

     Over 100 magnificent tropical islands are scattered off the west coast of the state. Some, like the Langkawi islands (or Pulau Langkawi)- isle of myths and legends, is one of Asia’s best tropical island destination - a paradise for sun, sea and nature lovers. The beauty of the islands are as spell-binding as the legends that surrounds them Don't leave langkawi without exploring her mangrove forests and her rainforests.

     The prominence of Kedah as a maritime Kingdom dates back as early as the 1st Century AD. History enthusiast should not miss a visit to the Bujang Valley, the Ancient wonders of Kedah, where historical evidence of the place gives an insight to the state's rich historical heritage - the Kingdom of Kedah, which was once part of the fabled Kingdom of Langkasuka. Learn about the rich history of the state in Alor Star/ Alor Setar, the capital. The Royal Museum in Alor Star chronicles the history of the Kedah Sultanate - the oldest sultanate in the world! The Kedah sultanate is the 2nd continuous line of monarchy in the world, second to Japan.

More on where to go and what to do:

Towns and villages in Kedah

Alor Star - Capital of Kedah, historical enclave, heritage buildings, museums, palaces, etc.

Sungai Petani - major town, water theme park near Cinta Sayang, pasar malam, etc

Bujang Valley historical site, Merbok (near Sungai Petani)

Small towns in Kedah

Pulau Langkawi - 99 exotic and mystical tropical islands

Tropical Forest Parks - On Langkawi and all over Kedah

Food and recipes

Legends of Mainland Kedah

Puteri Lindungan Bulan is a famous Kedah folktale that recounts a historical event that happened at Kampung Siputeh, located in Padang Sera, Kubang Pasu District. It tells of how the Raja of Aceh was cheated of a Kedah Princess of ‘white blood.......

Raja Bersiong - Raja Ong Maha Perita Deria alias Raja Bersiong (fifth Raja of Kedah) was a legendary cruel ruler . He had a fondness for blood and grew fangs, so he came to be called ‘Raja Bersiong’ or Fang King (bersiung means ‘fangs or tusk like canine teeth’ in Malay). Other stories say that he was nicknamed ‘bersiong’ because he would threaten to tear his enemy with his teeth. His subjects revolted because of his cruelty. While escaping, the Raja suffered pain from his fangs, so he pulled it out and threw it. The place his fang was thrown is thought to be in the Baling District (baling means ‘throw’ in Malay).

....more legend at our Langkawi page.

Towns and villages in Kedah

Archaeological sites  .  Bujang Valley

In touch with Nature

Alor Star (Alor Setar) and Sungai Petani

Langkawi - Pulau Langkawi

Where to go in Langkawi

Our travel guides to Kedah

Recommended places to stay in Kedah:

Langkawi Hotels

Alor Star Hotels

Airlines and tours

Hotels in Malaysia

hotel search

Budget hostels

From a Hindu Kingdom to the Kedah Sultanate. Learn about the rich culture and history of Kedah

History of Kedah

Bujang Valley (Lembah Bujang) Kedah

flag of Kedah

Most international flights to Malaysia lands in Kuala Lumpur, KLIA. From there you can get a connecting flight to Alor Star, Kedah or to Penang (adjacent state). You can also travel by bus to the city bus terminal to catch an express coach to Kedah. Trains are also available from KL Sentral.

    From Thailand, you can fly to KLIA then to Kedah. Most Thais and Kedahans cross the Malaysian-Thai border daily at Bukit Kayu Hitam, of take the train across. There are daily coaches that takes you from Hat Yai, Thailand to Alor Star,Kedah. Details on travelling from Thailand to Kedah

By Air   Kedah has two airports: Langkawi International Airport on Langkawi island and Sultan Abdul Halim (Alor Star) Airport, a domestic airport, near Alor Star. Fly to these two places if you want to go to the northern part of Kedah. The nearest airport to central and south Kedah is the Penang International Airport (State of Pulau Pinang or Penang). 

     Air Asia, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Firefly (from April 2007) and Thai International are some of the airlines that  fly to Langkawi or Penang. If you fly to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), you can also get a connecting flight on Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia to Alor Star, Penang or Langkawi island.

FireFly will fly to Alor Setar from Singapore from Oct 25, 2009

By Road     The north-south expressway (toll motorway/ plus expressway)cuts through the State to the Thai-Malaysian border at Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah. Note that the Malaysia-Thai border opens at 6am Malaysia and closes at 12 midnight Malaysia (11pm Thai). (Read details on - how to travel from Thailand to Malaysia)    The system of trunk roads links you to all parts of the state - to the villages and forest parks at the fringe of the virgin jungle.

Transnasional

Plusliner

By Train     Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) or the Malayan Railways  takes you through the state of Kedah. You can stop at Sungai Petani or Alor Star. However you have only 2 train services (twice a day only) going up north.

By Sea    Daily ferry from Satun, South Thailand takes you to Langkawi Island. There are also daily ferries from Kuala Perlis (Perlis), Kuala Kedah (Kedah) and Pennag island (Pulau Pinang). Langkawi is also a great destination for private yachts.  Check details of ferry or yacht marinas at our Langkawi page

More On Malaysia Transport:

Road Maps of Malaysia    From Thailand to Kedah   From Singapore to Malaysia

Tourist Information Centres

Main Office: Kompleks Pelancongan Negeri Kedah, Seksyen 20, Jalan Raja, Alor Setar, Kedah

- Langkawi International Airport, Langkawi

- Langkawi Tourist Information Centre, Jalan Persiaran Putra, Kuah, Langkawi

- Bukit Kayu Hitam Tourist Information Centre, Bukit Kayu Hitam