Kedah

Kedah is a state in northwestern Malaysia, stretching from the Thai border along the Strait of Malacca and including the Langkawi archipelago. Known as the Rice Bowl of Malaysia for its expansive paddy fields, it pairs a relaxed rural mainland with coastal towns, forested highlands and island resorts, with Alor Setar as its capital.

The state has one of the longest recorded histories in Malaysia. The Bujang Valley near Merbok preserves Hindu-Buddhist temple remains and artefacts from a trading civilisation that flourished more than a millennium ago, while Alor Setar's Zahir Mosque, Balai Besar and Balai Nobat reflect centuries of Malay royal tradition.

Alor Setar is the administrative and cultural centre, known for the Zahir Mosque and Alor Setar Tower, while Sungai Petani is Kedah's largest urban area and Kulim is a growing industrial corridor close to Penang. Gunung Jerai rises above the paddy plains with cool viewpoints and forest trails, and Langkawi draws visitors with its cable car, Sky Bridge, beaches and UNESCO-listed geopark.

The economy rests on rice farming, fisheries, plantations and manufacturing, with Kulim Hi-Tech Park as a key industrial zone. Local food highlights Kedah's rice culture through dishes such as laksa Kedah, nasi lemak and kuih karas, and events such as the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition bring international business traffic.

For travellers, Kedah offers a quieter alternative to Malaysia's larger cities, with easy connections from Penang and Thailand, plus Langkawi as a duty-free island getaway. Business visitors arrive for agro-industry, manufacturing, conferences and exhibitions, while leisure travellers come for beaches, history, nature and local food.