Kedah

Alor Setar Tower

Located in the heart of Alor Star, the 165.5 meters tall tower is the 19th tallest telecommunication tower in the world. It’s a prominent and modern landmark that signifies the rapid development in the state of Kedah.

Apart from serving the role of a telecommunication tower, it also caters as a tourist destination for the town. The tower also houses a restaurants and a souvenir shop. The tower is an observatory tower to look for the crescent moon to mark the beginning of Muslim months. The observation deck is at a height of 88 meters from the base of the structure.

Bujang Valley

Archeology Museum Bujang Valley (Museum Arkeologi Lembah Bujang) that sits on Batu Pahat Hill was officially opened by His Royal Highness, The Sultan of Kedah 23rd January 1980. This museum is the first archeology museum built in Malaysia, under the Museum and Antiquity Department.

Bujang Valley was the oldest centre of international and entrepot trade for Malaysia. The numerous artefacts uncovered in the Bujang Valley -celedon, porcelain, stoneware, clay, pottery, fragments of glass, beads and Persian ceramics – are some proofs that support the observation.

Datai Bay

Datai Bay is situated at the north-west corner of Langkawi island and has the most exclusive golf resort on the island – the Datai Bay Golf Resort. Another exclusive establishment here is the Datai Langkawi Resort, luxurious, elite and indulgent.

There are several jungle trails that take you down to the peaceful Datai Bay beach. There is also a crocodile farm on the way to Datai Bay where you can watch the crocodiles as part of entertaining shows in the mornings and afternoons.

Dayang Bunting Lake

The island, which is about 20 kilometres from Kuah town, is modestly populated on one side and virtually unihabited on the other where the lake is situated.
Legend of Tasik Dayang Bunting – The favorite bathing pool of a celestial princess named Mambang Sari was said to be Tasik Dayang Bunting (lake of the pregnant maiden). A prince, Mat Teja, fell madly in love with her and tricked her into marrying him.

Sadly, their child died from a mysterious illness at the age of seven days. Distraught, the grieving Mambang Sari left the child’s body in the lake and returned to her heavenly abode. Today, some believe barren women who bathe in this lake will be endowed with a child. Many have claimed to be successful.

Kilim River Cruise

Spread over an area of 100sq. km, Kilim Nature Park features a beautiful mix of well protected green mangrove forests, isolated white beaches and blue lagoons. Along the trail, passing through calm winding river, you will be exposed to the wonders of the park’s marine ecosystem, flora and fauna and its natural habitats.

Some tour operators will stop at a special spot along the river where they feed the eagles, found in great numbers here. These include the white-bellied fish eagle, brahminy kite and the gigantic sea eagles. Kilim River is also a great place for some birdwatching during the migratory seasons in September and March.

After feeding the eagles, the boats will move downstream and soon the Andaman Sea, located in the northern coast, comes into view as they exit the Kilim River through The Hole in the Wall. This is a famous passage so named after a narrow opening between formidable walls of limestone cliffs that connect the river to the open sea.

This narrow gap provides a sheltered area for a thriving fish farm and yachts mooring venture. The farm adopts a very hands-on approach, encouraging visitors to hand feed the multitude of marine life such as groupers, bat fish, blue spotted stingrays, lobsters, mantis prawns and snappers. Visitors can choose their own lunch or dinner directly from the 50-odd cages and have it cooked the way they like at the floating restaurant.

Langkawi
Off the coast of Kedah is a cluster of 99 islands with the best of many worlds; beautiful beaches, world-class infrastructure, mangroves rich in flora and fauna, ultra-cheap duty-free shopping and fascinating legends. Langkawi has a lingering legend woven into its history. Ask anyone in Langkawi about the tragic legend of a beautiful young lady named Mahsuri, and you’ll hear a tale of love, jealousy and a curse that was placed upon the island by the her for seven generations.

Today, the seventh generation of Langkawi’s inhabitants has long come and gone, but people here still believe that the prosperity and blessings the islands enjoy today and the passing of the curse is not a pure coincidence. The mysticism of this legend can be felt in many parts of this island, especially at Makam Mahsuri (Mahsuri’s Mausoleum) where the famous legendary figure is said to be buried.

Langkawi is not only geared towards tourism. Many of the islanders are farmers, fishermen and entrepreneurs. Experience the beautiful countryside and the peaceful landscape of paddy fields by renting a car and taking a leisurely drive around the island. Some of Langkawi’s most rustic and memorable views are along the road that circles the island.

You’ll pass small villages with wooden houses framed by palm trees, and children pedalling their old bicycles on errands. Aside from experiencing the local lifestyle, there is no shortage of things to do in Langkawi. Head up the thrilling new cable car to the summit of Mount Mat Cincang – Langkawi’s second highest mountain – for an unrivalled view of the entire main island and beyond.

You can also visit the Field of Burnt Rice, the Hot Springs, Telaga Tujuh (The Seven Wells) and the Beach of Black Sand. Boat tours are organised to Tasik Dayang Bunting, (Lake of the Pregnant Maiden), Gua Cerita (Cave of Stories) and the Gua Langsir (Curtain Cave).

And if you’re more outdoorsy, why not go trekking through the pristine rainforest that blankets most of Langkawi, or go on a boat tour of the mangroves, go diving, or play a round of golf at some of the 5-star resorts. Langkawi also has an underwater world, containing an underground tunnel that runs though a giant aquarium, that has gotten rave reviews.

Beautiful scenery, great adventures, five-star conveniences and an international airport make Langkawi a great place for a holiday.

Langkawi Cable Car

A cable car ride that takes you to Langkawi’s second highest peak, where the view of the surrounding islands is spectacular!
On a clear day, you can see parts of Thailand towards the north and Indonesia towards the south-west. The cable car ride up the hill takes about 20 minutes and is highly exhilarating.

At the top, there are two stations as well as a viewing bridge that let you take in all of Langkawi. As a bonus, your ride will take you over jungle waterfalls and a thick carpet of virgin rainforest. It’s a very educational and thrilling experience for the whole family.

Langkawi Mangroves

Set in a craggy, almost magical setting of limestone outcroppings rising sharply out of the calm Andaman Sea, the mangrove forest here is really an intricate network of streams and hidden coves that are home to hundreds of endemic jungle species of wildlife.

Among the most exciting of these are the Brahminy Kites and huge Sea Eagles who nest in the crags overhead. One of the best ways to discover this usually inaccessible mangrove world is to join the regular small boat tours available. The highlight of any tour to the mangroves is the feeding of the eagles. Your boatman will throw food into the water near your boat and wait for these huge birds to circle overhead and swoop in for their ‘lunch’.

Mangrove tours can include jungle trekking, cave exploration, village visits, high tide swims and guided exploration of mangrove flora and fauna. Decide on what itinerary best suits you before you book.

Explore kilometres of tidal forests, rugged limestone cliffs, secluded caves and unique flora. Pure Nature!

Mahathir’s Birth Place

Rumah Kelahiran Mahathir which provides an insight into the younger days of the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia, from his school days to his success as a doctor.

He was born in Alor Star on Dec 20, 1925 at No 18 Lorong Kilang Ais, off Jalan Pegawai. His home has seen been designated a historical building and was restored by the National Archives in 1992.

Pekan Rabu

Pekan Rabu is now open not just on Wednesday, but every day. Its well known among the local population and tourists from outside Kedah. From is humble beginning weekly market operating from an attap roofed shack, it has since expanded into a multistory arcade selling a wide range of from traditional delicacies like dodol durian to mengkuang mats and apparel.

Various types of commercial activities are conducted in Pekan Rabu, ranging from local products to international commence. Opening hours are from 8.00 am to 9.00 pm daily and stalls remain open even on public holidays and festivals.

One of the famous places to get the Malay traditional foods in Kedah such as serunding, dodol and kuah rojak or garam belacan. The business complex is not only the pride of Malay entreprenuers in Kedah but also the pride of all Malay’s in Kedah.

Pulau Beras Basah

A good way to see this island and also Pulau Singa Besar and Pulau Dayang Bunting is with an “island hopping” boat tour.

Pulau Payar Marine Park

The sprinkling of jade green islands that makes up Pulau Payar lies just 30km south-east of Langkawi. It’s just a 1-hour boat ride out to the best marine park on Malaysia’s West Coast, making it an ideal choice for a day outing.

This well-preserved, uninhabited marine park extends over a number of islands, with Pulau Payar being the largest. Your base out here is the floating platform moored off Pulau Payar. But the real attraction of this platform lies below sea level.

Step into the underwater observation chamber to view the marine life surrounding a reef. Want to get even closer to the swirl of fishes that make these corals their home? Grab a mask, a snorkel and fins and join the spectacle!

Are you into scuba diving? The best diving is along the reef system that skirts the south, east and west of Pulau Payar. Please check with your dive operator what the visibility is like during that time. It can vary from time to time.

There is no accommodation in Pulau Payar as it is a marine park, but that’s not really an issue since Langkawi, with all its fine resorts and restaurants, is just a quick boat-ride away.

The Paddy Museum

It is the first paddy museum in Malaysia, and the fourth to be opened in the world after Japan, Germany and the Philippines.

The unique architecture of the Paddy Museum represents bushels of harvested rice stalks. Rice motifs are repeated throughout the building, on
staircase banisters, the museum gates and the fence surrounding it.

The museum showcases the paddy cultivation process in Malaysia and displays all kinds of tools and equipment which have been used in the trade over the years. Through beautiful murals, the art work of 60 artists from North Korea, the history of paddy cultivation in Malaysia is revealed.

It honours the history, culture and significance of paddy farming in Kedah and is dedicated to the hardworking and simple paddy farmers, whose blood, sweat and toil have contributed to the objective of achieving self sufficiency in the rice industry.

Tree Top Walk

The 950m-long Tree Top Walk in the Sedim River Recreation Park is the longest canopy walk in the world. The Tree Top Walk Sedim River was built within the low land of dipterocarp compartment 15 of Gunung Inas Forest Reserve.

The spectacular view you get when you stroll through the jungle canopy is the main draw for visitors from far and wide to this quiet, all-natural corner of Kedah.
Strolling high above the ground of this primeval rainforest affords visitors an unexpected and exciting perspective.

Call it a ‘monkey’s eye view’. Visitors will enjoy the fabulous sight of rushing streams and truly fascinating flora and fauna – all from 50m up!

Ulu Legong Hot Spring

Baling is situated at southern of Kedah is a popular spot for those who want to enjoy the hot mineral waters. Located 22km from Baling, a nice hot dip is recommended when the temperature decrease at night.

Apart from those seeking relaxation, people with ailments and skin problems go there to seek therapeutic treatment by immersing themselves in the five hot spring pools which has high sulphur content with water temperature at between 30C and 60C.

Zahir Mosque

The design was inspired by the vision of the late Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Abidin II. Masjid Zahir is located in central Alor Star, and is the official mosque for the state as well as the main mosque for the local Muslims.

Its main hall (prayer hall), measuring 3,844 sq ft, is surrounded by wide verandahs with four mezzanine areas, each topped by a dome. The main dome is situated in the north-east of the building. The five large domes symbolise the five Islamic principles.