Kedah

• Area: 9,426 sq. kilometres
• Language:
• Best Season: January to March is the best time to go to Kedah, as it is relatively dry during this period. You can also go in August or September at the time of Lumut festival.
• Weather: Kedah has tropical Monsoon Climate, with temperature varying between 21°C and 32°C. It is generally dry and warm from January to March, and wet from April to December. Humidity is high throughout the

Places to See Around

Langkawi Sky Bridge Alor Setar Tower Telaga Harbour Park The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club Sungai Kilim Nature Park Lagenda Langkawi Dalam Taman Underwater World Al-Hana Mosque Gunung Mat Cincang Sunset Cruise Crocodile Farm CHOGM Park Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls Bird Paradise Mahsuri's Tomb Langkawi Crystaal Pekan Rabu Complex

Kedah Info

Main Office: Kompleks Pelancongan Negeri Kedah, Seksyen 20, Jalan Raja, Alor Setar, Kedah; Tel: 04-731 2322Fax: 04-734 0322

- Langkawi International Airport, Langkawi; Tel: 04-955 7155

- Langkawi Tourist Information Centre, Jalan Persiaran Putra, Kuah, Langkawi; Tel: 04-966 7789 / 9416  

- Bukit Kayu Hitam Tourist Information Centre, Bukit Kayu Hitam; Tel: 04-922 2078

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.

From a Hindu Kingdom to the Kedah Sultanate. Learn about the rich culture and history of Kedah Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah (Sultan of Kedah) began his reign as Malaysia’s 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong this morning, creating history as the first ruler to reassume the role.

Kedah is the site of the oldest civilization of Peninsular Malaysia. The Bujang Valley has remains of a Hindu-Buddhist kingdom that dates back to the 4th century AD. In the 7th and 8th centuries, Kedah was under the domination of Srivijaya, and was later under Thailand, until the rise of the Malay sultanate of Malacca in the 15th century. The establishment of Islam in Kedah is due to Malacca's influence.

In the 17th century, Kedah was attacked by the Portuguese after their conquest of Melaka, and by Aceh. By the end of the 18th century the Thailand threat arose once more. Fearing renewed domination by its northern neighbors, Kedah appealed to the British for assistance. As inducements to a commitment, Kedah ceded first Penang (1796) and then the adjoining strip of coastal land (1800) to the British. Nonetheless, Kedah fell to the Thais in 1821. Thailand transferred their sovereignty to the British in 1909. With the exception of the period of occupation by the Japanese during World War II, Kedah remained under British influence until independence. Kedah was a reluctant addition to the Federation of Malayasiain 1948.

Kedah can be reached by road, rail and sea. The North-South Expressway transverse the State of Kedah, thus enabling just a 5-hour ride from Kuala Lumpur to Alor Setar. Similarly the national railroad track also passes through the state with various stops along the way.

Malaysia Airlines, the national carrier flies several times a day from Kuala Lumpur to Alor Setar and Langkawi. There's also weekly direct flight from Osaka, Japan to Langkawi.

High-speed ferries operate from Kuala Kedah to Langkawi throughout the day. There are also regular ferry services from Penang as well as Saturn, Southern Thailand.