吉打州_Kedah

吉打州（马来语： Kedah）位于 马来西亚（马来半岛 ）西北部的马、泰边境，面积 9425平方公里，人口约177万。2003年 的种族比例是：马来人（1,336,352）, 华人（252,987）, 印度人 （122,911）, 非公民（35,293）和其他 （27,532）。

吉打州的首府是亚罗士打（ Alor Setar）亦是州政府办公之处及皇族居住地。其他的主要市镇有 双溪大年（Sungai Petani）和 居林（Kulim）。位于岸外的 浮罗交怡岛（Langkawi也译为 兰卡威）是吉打州的一个有名的旅游胜地。

除此之外，吉打州盛产稻米，是马来西亚 的"鱼米之乡"。 马来西亚的第一任首相 敦姑阿都拉曼与第四任首相敦 马哈迪医生 全都来自此州。

吉打还是一个以农业为主的州属，它处处呈现出怡人的乡村风貌。在不同的稻米开始萌芽时，整个景色是绿油油的一片； 收成的季节时，则是呈金黄色的一片；收成后，则转变成棕色及褐色调。在这一片片波浪式的稻米之下，看来还隐藏着许多宝物， 因为吉打曾经是蕴育古代文明摇篮的重镇， 随着许多历史古镇逐渐在本州被发掘后， 其地位亦日显重要了。

★历史=文献记载显示， 在第五世纪时，定期航行於东西商业路线的商人， 会停靠在瓜拉母港口。 他们是以吉打最高的山脉，日莱山峰， 为航行目标。 在 BUJANG 谷一带所发现的古代庙宇废墟。 显示出这里曾经存有"兴都及佛教文明"，而且， 这里也很可能是本区域和印度商人最早接触的一个地点。 随着更多的古文物陆续出土， 这个王朝的重要性还有待研究及评估。

於第七世纪及八世纪之间，吉打还付奉金给苏门答腊 SRIVIJAYA 王朝。自从该王朝没落之后， 吉打又成为 暹罗（泰国 的旧称）的臣属地，一直维持到十五世纪马六甲王朝兴起。 将本区域建立为回教王国。 在十七世纪时，吉打不断的面对葡萄牙人及亚齐人的攻击， 最后於 1821 年时，它又落入暹罗的手中。 1909 年，接罗将吉打的主权转交给英国。 日本殖民结束后， 它成为"马来亚联邦"的州属之一。接着於 1948 年和其他州属共同组成"马来亚联邦"。 第二次世界大战，吉打（和 吉兰丹）是 马来亚最早被 日本侵占的州属。当时，日本把吉打交于暹罗管辖，吉打被改名为Syburi。战后，吉打又重归英国，并在 马来西亚脱离英国殖民独立后，成为马来西亚的一州。

★经济=吉打及其邻近的玻璃市，是马来西亚的"米饭碗" 州属， 供应全国一半的稻米需求。大部分的吉打属于乡下地区。州首府亚罗士打则发展得很好，能够跟上国家的发展步伐。 如今， 州内拥有好几个工业园区及新商业中心， 积极的将吉打推向 21 世纪。 随着兰卡威(Pulau Langkawi)已经被发展成为国际性的旅游景点后， 旅游业亦是一个主要的收入来源。

Alor Setar's Hot Spot

Alor Setar, known as Alor Star between 2004 and 2008, is the state capital of Kedah, Malaysia, and Kota Setar District's Administrative Center and the royal seat of the Kedah state since the establishment of this city. The city, which has an urban population of approximately more than 300,000, is one of the region’s oldest cities. It is located 93 kilometers north of Butterworth, Penang and 45 km south of the Thai-Malaysia border. As a transportation hub in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia, many places can be easily reached from Alor Setar, such as Phuket, Kota Bahru, Langkawi and etc., either by air, rail, road or sea.
It is also the birth place of a few famous personalities in Malaysia, including two former Prime Ministers, YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia's first Prime Minister, and Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, Malaysia's fourth Prime Minister. Alor Setar was granted city status on 21 December 2003.

Pekan Rabu (Wednesday Market)
Pekan Rabu is located near the government offices in Alor Setar. Although the name literally means “Wednesday Market”, this bustling market is open all week long, thanks to popular demand. Its services extend from morning till night, and you can find many stalls here selling a variety of items from delicious tidbits to beautiful handicraft.
This is a popular spot amongst tourists and locals and is a source of pride for Kedahans. Altogether, there are 347 stalls and the complex has become an important landmark in Kedah.

Menara Alor Setar (Alor Setar Tower)
Located in the heart of Alor Setar, this tower, standing at 165.5 metres tall is a prominent and modern landmark that signifies the rapid development in the state of Kedah. It functions as both a telecommunications tower and a tourist attraction. The Tower's platform allows visitors to enjoy a breathtaking view, that stretches from Gunung Jerai (formerly known as Kedah Peak) to the Strait of Malacca. From the tower, you will see vast expanses of paddy fields which lies outside of Alor Setar - an amazing view especially during harvest time.

Alor Setar Tower

Alor Setar Stadium

Alor Setar have many sport facilities that can be used by all citizens. The facilities included Stadium Darulaman.The stadium was located in Jalan Stadium and Lebuhraya Darul Aman in Alor Setar. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium was built in 1967. It has a capacity of 32,387 seats after the expansion in 1997. It is the official stadium for Malaysian Super League's club Kedah FA and Malaysian Premier League's club Kuala Muda NAZA FC.
Other facilities are Stadium Sultan Abdul Halim, Pusat Akuatik Alor Setar, Kompleks Belia & Sukan.Kedah also hosted a Sukma Games in 2006

SHOPPING MALL IN ALOR SETAR

Souq Al-Bukhary

Souq Al-Bukhary is one of the most recently built malls in Alor Setar, Kedah. Souq Al-Bukhary employs Islamic motifs in its design with elements borrowed from Mughal as well as Moorish architectural styles. Souq Al-Bukhary consists of a three-story air conditioned mall with Giant Hypermarket.

Alor Star Mall

The mall is located near the North-South Expressway EXIT South Alor Setar. It is one of the newest malls in Alor Setar which has another Pacific Store. Alor Star Mall's Pacific Store offers a wide range of clothing for men, women and children.

Star Parade

Star Parade is the major shopping complex in Alor Setar. It has Malaysia's very own Pacific Departmental Store. The mall offers a wide variety of shops.

City Plaza Alor Setar

Sitting together with Holiday Villa Hotel, the complex offers entertainment, shopping and food. It has restaurants, bowling alleys, arcade center, Cineplex and shops that sell clothes, shoes, mobile phones and souvenirs.

Other malls in Alor Setar were included Tesco Mergong, and Billion. There are also incoming malls such as AEON Alor Star City in Starcity, second Tesco in Stargate and Parkson Grand (Plaza Tunku Yaakob redevelopment).

Lembah Bujang

The Bujang Valley or Lembah Bujang is a sprawling historical complex and has an area of approximately 224 square km. Situated near Merbok, Kedah, between Gunung Jerai in the north and Muda River in the south, it is the richest archaeological area in Malaysia.
These archaeological remains indicate that there may have been a Hindu-Buddhist polity here. The name itself is roughly translated into "Dragon Valley". The area consists of ruins that may date more than 1,500 years old. More than fifty ancient tomb temples, called candi (pronounce "chandi"), have also been unearthed. The most impressive and well-preserved of these is located in Pengkalan Bujang, Merbok. The Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum is also located here.

How to get there:

Map of the location of Lembah Bujang

the candi

Langkawi Island

Check this out, these is some of the popular places in Pulau Langkawi and these places is a must been visit places once you were in Lamgkawi.

this is an iconic statues of Pulau Langkawi.

Gua Langsair (Cave of the Banshees)
is believed to be a haven for vampires.

Telaga Tujuh
are the seven wells believed to be the favourite haunts of mountain fairies who frequently bathed there in the absence of human beings.
The Telaga Tujuh or Seven Falls is one of the “Must See, if not you will cry and regret” attraction of Langkawi, Malaysia. Of course we dare say this because we have been here so many times and it still remains our top 5 recommended things to do in Langkawi.
Any body we meet or who asks us, “What is there to do in Langkawi” we will tell them to visit the Seven Falls.
As the name suggests it is a Waterfall with Seven Drops. It is very high and the best view of the whole Seven Falls is if you are riding the cable car.

The Telaga Tujuh

The view from the Telaga Tujuh

Tasik Dayang Bunting
What would an island near Langkawi be without a legend. In this case we have even more than one.
Dayang Bunting is closely associated with the romantic exploitery of Mambang Sari, a beautiful female genie and Mat Teja, a male genie. Mambang Sari used to frequent the island accompanied by her maids. Their favourite spot was Pasir Teluk Air Tahun and Teluk Lawak. One day Mat Teja saw Mambang Sari and was struck by her beauty. He fell in love with her and used to follow her wherever she went. Once while on a lookout for her, he met Tok Diang an old man from the village. Mat Teja told him of his love for Mambang Sari but just did not know how to reveal this secret. He feared that his love might not be reciprocated.
Tok Diang asked Mat Teja to get the tears of a mermaid from the sea and to wipe them on his face the next time he met Mambang Sari. He did just that and when Mambang Sari saw him she fell in love with him. They often met at various places to enjoy the beauty and serenity of these spots. They became more intimate and as a result Mambang Sari became pregnant.
She chose to retire at Tasik Dayang Beranak to give birth. Unfortunately the child died after seven days. Saddened by the death Mambang Sari took the child's body and threw it into the lake, Tasik Dayang Beranak. The lake later came to be known as Tasik Dayang Bunting.
Some people believe the water of the lake possesses some mystical power of helping barren women to bear children.

Others interesting place of Langkawi is:

Langkawi Sky Bridge

Makam Mahsuri