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Together with Perlis, Perak, and Kelantan, this northwest
state shares a common border with Thailand in the north. Known as the "Rice Bowl of
Malaysia", the Kedah-Perlis rice plains produce more than half of the country's home
grown rice supply. It is a land of unique natural beauty, surrounded by much greenery. The
terrain of Kedah is considered 'flat' with "kampungs" (villages) scattered over
"padi" (rice) fields. One will be able to feast their eyes on lush green padi
fields enhanced by traditional Malay houses, coconut palms, local fruit trees, and rolling
hills. The people of Kedah are generally padi planters with most living in kampungs next
to their fields. As one of the oldest states in Malaysia, Kedah has a population of
approximately 1 million people, which is made up of various races. Kedah is very much a
Malay state although traces of Thai or Achinese ancestry can still be seen. It has
different business hours than most of the other states. Banks and government offices are
closed on Friday. Saturday is a half-day and Sunday is a working day. Although Kedah is
Malaysia's "rice bowl", the state is currently undertaking new fields, mainly
industrial and tourism. Industrial estates have sprung up in Alor Setar, Kuala Kedah, and
Sungai Petani while the government has started developing and promoting tourist
facilities.
Modern Kedah begins with the Hindu-Buddhist era in the
5th Century. Even the current royal family's past can be traced to that century. Other
findings also show that Kedah was the cradle of Hindu-Buddhist civilization in the
Peninsula and one of the first places to come into contact with Indian traders. These
archeological findings show that the state was once a prosperous center for trade.
However, the history of Kedah is marked by successive periods of foreign influence due to
its vulnerable position - it was located on one of the main transit routes across the
Peninsula on the great east-west trade route. It first came under the influence of the
Sriwijaya Empire of Sumatra during the 7th and 8th Century. Later, it fell under the
influence of the Thais until the 15th Century when the rise of Melaka led to the
Islamization of the area. The Portuguese later attacked Kedah in the 17th Century. The
British held power in the 18th Century and the Siamese again in the 19th Century. Kedah
remained under the Siamese control until early 20th Century when they were passed to the
British. It finally became part of the Federation of Malaya in 1948.
Getting there
By Road : The
north-south expressway has made it easy for any traveler to drive up to Kedah. Roads are
accessible from major towns and cities in the Peninsula. It is a 7-8 hour drive from Kuala
Lumpur. From major towns, such as Kuala Lumpur and Penang, air-conditioned express buses
are also available. They service almost all towns in Kedah.
From Alor Setar, the capital city of Kedah, one can even
take the bus up to the border of Thailand.
By Rail : The
Malaysian railway (KTM) services major towns in Kedah.
By Air : The
airport is located approximately 11km north of Alor Setar. Malaysia Airlines flies daily
to and from Alor Setar from Kuala Lumpur via either Penang or Kota Bharu.
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