31/05/2025
Join us as we embark on an epic journey through time in Part 1 of the Ancient Kedah Chronicles. This episode begins at Tanjung Dawai Jetty, overlooking the river estuary that once served as a vital trade route for the ancient Kedah civilization — a thriving entrepôt over 2,000 years ago.
From there, we head to Pantai Merdeka, where we uncover the geological marvel of Mount Jerai, formed by magma intrusion some 550 million years ago. This process pushed granite from the seabed to create the towering peak we see today serving as a natural beacon for ancient maritime traders and the source of rich iron ore deposits. This very iron made Ancient Kedah emerge as one of the earliest iron-exporting civilizations in the world, dating back to 788 BC.
We then journey inland to the Bujang Valley Archaeological Complex and Museum, where we discover how granite from Mount Jerai’s base was chiseled into blocks used to build “candi”, sacred temples and places of worship, revealing the spiritual and cultural depth of this ancient kingdom.
The episode ends with a relaxing and delicious lunch at Merbok River Oysters, a floating restaurant upon the Merbok River, serving fresh, divine oysters in a serene riverside setting.
History. Geology. Culture. Cuisine.
Come explore the roots of Southeast Asia’s oldest kingdom with us! Subscribe and hit the bell icon to catch Part 2!
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Shot with DJI Osmo Action 4
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Note:
En. Mazlan Mahmud is a co-founder of the NGO Ancient Kedah Heritage Resources (together with Prof. Dato' Dr. Mokhtar Saidin), an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich archaeological and historical heritage of Kedah, Malaysia. His work focuses on raising awareness about the ancient civilizations of the region, particularly the iron-smelting industry that thrived in areas like Sungai Batu in the Bujang Valley.
Through community engagement and educational initiatives, En. Mazlan and his organization aim to highlight Kedah's significance in early global trade networks and its contributions to metallurgy.
Join us as we embark on an epic journey through time in Part 1 of the Ancient Kedah Chronicles. This episode begins at Tanjung Dawai Jetty, overlooking the r...