Must-see attractions in Kedah

  • Aerial view of Seven Wells waterfall.

    Telaga Tujuh

    Pulau Langkawi

    The series of freshwater rock pools at Telaga Tujuh, located at the top of a waterfall inland from Pantai Kok, makes a refreshing alternative to splashing…

  • Kilim Karst Geoforest Park

    Pulau Langkawi

    The jetty near Tanjung Rhu is the main departure point for boat trips into the extensive mangrove forests with stunning limestone formations that edge…

  • Panorama Langkawi

    Pulau Langkawi

    The highlight of this family-friendly amusement park is SkyCab, a cable car that whisks visitors to the top of Gunung Machinchang (713m). For an extra RM6…

  • Tanjung Rhu

    Pulau Langkawi

    On the north coast, Tanjung Rhu is one of Langkawi’s wider and better beaches, fronted by magnificent limestone stacks that bend the ocean into a pleasant…

  • Teluk Datai

    Pulau Langkawi

    On the far northwestern corner of Pulau Langkawi, the beaches at Teluk Datai are arguably some of the island’s most beautiful and secluded, but are really…

  • Muzium Padi

    Kedah

    Muzium Padi is all about Kedah’s main crop: rice. It’s located 10km northwest of Alor Setar amid green rice paddies; a taxi costs RM25. The complex, which…

  • Pantai Pasir Tengkorak

    Pulau Langkawi

    This beautiful, secluded public beach, with its soft white sand, clear water, shady trees and jungle backdrop, is popular with locals on weekends; during…

  • Pantai Cenang

    Pulau Langkawi

    The busiest and most developed beach is the 2km-long strip of sand at Pantai Cenang. The beach is gorgeous: white sand, teal water and green palms. There…

  • Kota Kuala Kedah

    Kedah

    This fort, completed in 1780, is opposite Kuala Kedah town on the far bank of Sungai Kedah, a 10-minute taxi ride from the ferry terminal. It was once…

  • Masjid Zahir

    Kedah

    The Kedah state mosque instantly impresses with its richly decorated arches and five broad domes, which represent the pillars of Islam. Built in 1912,…

  • Gunung Raya

    Pulau Langkawi

    The tallest mountain on Pulau Langkawi (881m) can be reached by a snaking, paved road through the jungle. It’s a spectacular drive to the top with views…

  • Durian Perangin

    Pulau Langkawi

    The swimming pools here are a 10-minute walk up paved steps through the forest, with pagoda-like shaded seating areas along the way. The water is always…

  • Menara Alor Setar

    Kedah

    If the Petronas Towers in KL isn't enough for you, the second-tallest tower in the country is Menara Alor Setar, which at 165.5m is by far the tallest…

  • Kota Mahsuri

    Pulau Langkawi

    The story of Mahsuri, a Malay princess who was unjustly accused of adultery and put a curse on Langkawi in revenge, is commemorated at this historical…

  • Mahathir’s Birthplace

    Kedah

    Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s seventh and longest-serving prime minister, was born the youngest of nine children in Alor Setar in 1925. Rumah Kelahiran…

  • Wat Nikrodharam

    Kedah

    Although Alor Setar has weathered periods of Thai rule over the years, its main Buddhist community is Chinese in heritage. Thus the presence of this cross…

  • Balai Nobat

    Kedah

    Built in 1906, this is a striking octagonal tower topped by an onion-shaped dome. It’s the repository of the nobat (royal orchestra), principally composed…

  • Pantai Pasir Hitam

    Pulau Langkawi

    West of Tanjung Rhu is Langkawi’s much touted but ultimately disappointing ‘black-sand beach’. It isn’t technically a black-sand beach, but mineral oxides…

  • Muzium Diraja Kedah

    Kedah

    Now a museum, these connected structures with creaking wooden floorboards formerly served as the royal palace for the sultan and other members of the…

  • Galeri Sultan Abdul Halim

    Kedah

    The former High Court, erected in 1922, is today a museum dedicated to Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, twice Malaysia’s head of state, the Yang Di Pertuan…

  • Pantai Tengah

    Pulau Langkawi

    Head south and Langkawi gets a little more polished; the road loops around a rocky headland, taking you to upscale Pantai Tengah. It’s a slightly smaller,…

  • Pantai Kok

    Pulau Langkawi

    Located in the western part of Pulau Langkawi, 12km north of Pantai Cenang, Pantai Kok fronts a beautiful bay surrounded by limestone mountains and jungle…

  • Underwater World

    Pulau Langkawi

    With an imposing facade that makes it something of a landmark on the main Cenang strip, this aquarium features 500 species of marine and freshwater…

  • Balai Besar

    Kedah

    This open-sided structure was built in 1896 and is still used by the sultan of Kedah for royal and state ceremonies, though it is not open to the public…

  • Temurun Waterfall

    Pulau Langkawi

    A brief walk from the main road up to Teluk Datai, the falls here – the island’s tallest – are worth a look, though beware of food-stealing monkeys. The…

  • Laman Padi

    Pulau Langkawi

    This complex comprises rice paddies populated by water buffalo and ducks. Call in advance to arrange a tour to learn about, and even have a hand in,…

  • Clock Tower

    Kedah

    This clock tower was erected in the early 1900s so that the muezzin at the neighbouring mosque would know when to call the faithful to prayer.

  • Galeria Perdana

    Pulau Langkawi

    Established by prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was born in Kedah and is credited with transforming the fortunes of Langkawi by granting it duty…

  • Muzium Negeri

    Kedah

    The State Museum is 2km north of the main square. The collection includes early Chinese porcelain, information on the archaeological finds at the former…

  • State Art Gallery

    Kedah

    Closed for renovation when we stopped by, on previous visits, the elegant structure of this gallery, built in 1893 as a courthouse, was enough of a reason…

  • Langkawi Wildlife Park

    Pulau Langkawi

    While there are plenty of animals around (with an emphasis on exotic birds), feeding is encouraged and animals are kept in relatively poor conditions…

  • Lagenda Langkawi Dalam Taman

    Pulau Langkawi

    A landscaped ‘folklore theme park’ that stretches along the waterfront. Brightly coloured statues around the lakes illustrate several Langkawi legends,…

  • Oriental Village

    Pulau Langkawi

    There are a handful of fast-food restaurants and souvenir shops at this open-air mall, where the main attraction is the SkyCab cable car at Panorama…

  • Telaga Harbour Park

    Pulau Langkawi

    Telaga Harbour Park is a yachting marina and shopping complex surrounded by nature.

  • Masjid Al-Hana

    Pulau Langkawi

    Pulau Langkawi's largest place of worship sits near the water in Kuah.