Log in Sign up
Back to Discover
🗺️

Kedah

geography Maturity 11-13 war conflict
This article covers sensitive topics: war_conflict. Parents can manage visibility in Parental Controls.

Kedah is a place in Malaysia.

Kampung Sungai Meriam 2.jpg
Kampung Sungai Meriam 2.jpg
It has flat land for rice. There are also many islands.
Candi Batu Pahat of Bujang Valley.jpg
Candi Batu Pahat of Bujang Valley.jpg
It is a very old place. Do you want to see it?

39 words

Kedah is a state in Malaysia.

Kampung Sungai Meriam 2.jpg
Kampung Sungai Meriam 2.jpg
It has a lot of flat land. This land is good for growing rice.

Some parts of Kedah have tall mountains. The highest point is Mount Bintang.

Candi Batu Pahat of Bujang Valley.jpg
Candi Batu Pahat of Bujang Valley.jpg
The state also has many islands.

Kedah is a very old place. People lived there a long time ago. They built temples in the Bujang Valley.

The state has a capital called Alor Setar. Many different people live there. They speak many ways to talk.

It is a beautiful place to see. You can see green fields and blue water.

103 words

Kedah is a state in northwestern Malaysia.

Kampung Sungai Meriam 2.jpg
Kampung Sungai Meriam 2.jpg
Most of the land is flat. This flat land is used to grow rice. People have farmed rice here for many centuries.

Some parts of the state are mountainous. The highest point is Mount Bintang.

Candi Batu Pahat of Bujang Valley.jpg
Candi Batu Pahat of Bujang Valley.jpg
You can also find limestone hills there. Kedah also includes the Langkawi islands.

Kedah is a very old place. People lived in the Bujang Valley a long time ago. They built temples and used iron there. This makes it one of the oldest settlements in Southeast Asia.

The capital city is Alor Setar. Other big towns include Sungai Petani and Kulim. Many different groups of people live in Kedah. Most people are Malay. There are also Chinese, Indian, and Siamese people.

Masjid Zahir.jpg
Masjid Zahir.jpg
The state has a Sultan. He is the ruler of the state. He is also the head of Islam there.

155 words

Kedah is a state in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia.

Kampung Sungai Meriam 2.jpg
Kampung Sungai Meriam 2.jpg
It is the eighth largest state in the country by land area. The state has a mainland part and also includes the Langkawi islands. To the north, Kedah borders the state of Perlis. It also shares a border with Thailand, near the Songkhla and Yala provinces. To the south and southwest, it sits next to Perak and Penang. The capital city is Alor Setar, where the royal seat is located in a suburb called Anak Bukit.
Masjid Zahir.jpg
Masjid Zahir.jpg

The land in Kedah has many different shapes and feels. Much of the state is part of the Kedah–Perlis Plain. This area is relatively flat and has good soil for farming. Because of this, most of the plains are used to grow rice.

Kampung Sungai Meriam 2.jpg
Kampung Sungai Meriam 2.jpg
However, the northeast and southeast parts are very different. These areas are quite mountainous, especially in districts like Sik and Baling. The highest point is Mount Bintang, which is found in the Bintang Range. You might also see limestone hills, which are called mogotes, in some parts of the state.

Kedah has a history that goes back a very long time. Archaeologists found evidence of a settlement in the Bujang Valley. This area was near the Merbok and Muda rivers. Some evidence suggests people lived there as early as 110 AD.

Candi Batu Pahat of Bujang Valley.jpg
Candi Batu Pahat of Bujang Valley.jpg
They built temples, jetties, and sites for making iron. This makes ancient Kedah one of the oldest settlements in Southeast Asia. In the past, it was known by many names. The ancient Tamils called it Kadaram, and Arab writers used names like Qilah or Kalah.

Many different groups of people live in Kedah today. Most people are Kedahan Malays, but there are also Chinese, Indian, and Siamese communities. Some people, called the Sam Sam, are Malay Muslim but speak a Siamese language. There are also Orang Asli groups, such as the Kensiu and Kintaq, living in the Baling district. The state is ruled by a Sultan. The Sultan is a hereditary ruler who holds his office for life. The current Sultan is Sallehuddin, who has been the ruler since September 2017.

PROPHET MUHAMMAD (8413709571).jpg
PROPHET MUHAMMAD (8413709571).jpg

Kedah is a place where old traditions meet modern life. The state is divided into 12 administrative districts, such as Kulim and Langkawi. Some areas, like the Kulim Hi-Tech Industrial Park, have special local governments. The state also has many important departments to help people. These include groups for forestry, agriculture, and even a state museum board. Whether you are looking at the rice fields or the high mountains, Kedah shows how much a landscape can change.

Library building (Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology University, Kedah, Malaysia) (night view).jpg
Library building (Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology University, Kedah, Malaysia) (night view).jpg

462 words

Kedah is a state located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. It is known by the honorific name Darul Aman, which means "The Safe Abode" in Arabic. The state is the eighth largest in Malaysia by land area. It also ranks as the eighth most populated state in the country. Kedah consists of a mainland portion and the Langkawi islands.

The geography of Kedah features diverse landscapes. Much of the state is covered by the Kedah–Perlis Plain. This area is relatively flat and contains alluvial soil. This type of soil is very good for farming. For centuries, most of these plains have been used to grow rice.

Kampung Sungai Meriam 2.jpg
Kampung Sungai Meriam 2.jpg
In contrast, the northeastern and southeastern parts are mountainous. These regions include the districts of Padang Terap, Sik, Baling, Kulim, and Bandar Baharu. The Bintang Range forms part of the boundary here. Mount Bintang is the highest point in the state. Some areas also feature karstic terrain. This includes limestone hills known as mogotes.

Kedah has a very long and complex history. Archaeological evidence in the Bujang Valley suggests ancient settlements existed as early as 110 AD.

Candi Batu Pahat of Bujang Valley.jpg
Candi Batu Pahat of Bujang Valley.jpg
Researchers found remains of temples, jetties, and iron smelting sites there. These discoveries suggest that ancient Kedah was a major maritime trading route. It likely connected with South Indian Tamil kingdoms. Because of this, Kedah may be one of the oldest settlements in Southeast Asia. The state was known by many names in ancient literature. The Tamils called it Kadaram. Arab writers used names like Qilah or Kalah. Buddhist monks also recorded a kingdom called Ka-Cha in this region.

Throughout history, many different powers influenced the area. In the seventh and eighth centuries, Kedah was under the loose control of Srivijaya. The Chola kings from South India invaded and occupied Kedah in 1025. Later, the Kedah Sultanate was established. According to the Kedah Annals, a Hindu king named Merong Mahawangsa founded the state. The transition to an Islamic sultanate is recorded in different ways. Some texts say King Phra Ong Mahawangsa converted in 1136. Other accounts suggest the conversion happened around 1474. In the 17th century, Kedah faced attacks from the Portuguese and Aceh. Later, the state was under Siamese control as Syburi. It was eventually transferred to British rule in 1909 through the Anglo-Siamese Treaty.

The political structure of modern Kedah includes a constitutional monarchy. The Sultan of Kedah is the hereditary ruler. He holds his office for life and serves as the head of Islam. The current Sultan is Sallehuddin, who began his reign on September 12, 2017.

PROPHET MUHAMMAD (8413709571).jpg
PROPHET MUHAMMAD (8413709571).jpg
The executive power is shared with the State Executive Council. This council is led by the Menteri Besar. The Menteri Besar is the head of the state government. The Kedah State Legislative Assembly makes laws specifically for the state. Members of this assembly are elected every five years.

Demographically, Kedah is a heterogeneous state. The majority of the population are native Kedahan Malays. There are also significant Chinese, Indian, Siamese, and Semang minorities. A specific group known as the Sam Sam people exists as well. They are culturally Malay Muslim but still speak a Siamese language. You can find these communities in places like Changlun and Jitra. The Orang Asli include the Kensiu and Kintaq people. These groups are mainly located in the Baling district.

mrsmmerbok.jpg
mrsmmerbok.jpg

Modern Kedah is organized into 12 administrative districts. These include Kota Setar, which is the capital, and Langkawi.

Library building (Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology University, Kedah, Malaysia) (night view).jpg
Library building (Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology University, Kedah, Malaysia) (night view).jpg
The district of Kulim is notable for its Hi-Tech Industrial Park. This area has its own special local government. The state also manages many important departments. These include the State Forestry Department and the State Agriculture Department. These systems help manage the land and the people of Kedah.

648 words
🖼️ Images & Media (14)
Allah_Selamatkan_Sultan_Mahkota_instrumental.ogg
File:Candi Batu Pahat of Bujang Valley.jpg
Candi Batu Pahat of Bujang Valley.jpg
File:Flag of Kedah (1821 - 1912).svg
Flag of Kedah (1821 - 1912).svg
File:Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year in Kedah, 2001-2024.png
Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year...
File:Kampung Sungai Meriam 2.jpg
Kampung Sungai Meriam 2.jpg
File:PROPHET MUHAMMAD (8413709571).jpg
PROPHET MUHAMMAD (8413709571).jpg
File:DUN Kedah 2023.svg
DUN Kedah 2023.svg
File:Library building (Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology University, Kedah, Malaysia) (night view).jpg
Library building (Asian Institute of...
File:mrsmmerbok.jpg
mrsmmerbok.jpg
File:Smjkchiomin.jpg
Smjkchiomin.jpg
File:Masjid Zahir.jpg
Masjid Zahir.jpg
File:Bukit Kayu Hitam check point.jpg
Bukit Kayu Hitam check point.jpg

+ 2 more

Up Next
🗺️
Kelantan
Geography
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.