Mount Jerai

Mount Jerai formerly known as “Kedah Peak”, this forest-clad Gunung Jerai is a massive limestone outcrop that rises 1200 m above sea level. As the highest peak in the state, it adds a touch of variety to the scenic flat plains seen throughout the area. It’s located near Sungei Petani, not far from the island of Penang. When you’ve been on Penang you must have seen the Gunung Jerai (across the sea) on the mainland.

From the historical viewpoint, Gunung Jerai plays an important part in the history of Kedah. Even before the Malacca Sultanate became famous, Indian and Arab merchants were already making a beeline for the Merbok estuary at the foothills. After travelling from the Bay of Bengal, the first glimpse of this strategically located mountain was a welcoming beacon to the sea farers. As a result, they traded and even settled down at the foothills. Considering this place to be sacred, traders built a complex of temples that have now been excavated and preserved at the Lembah Bujang Archeological Museum site.

Like all other mountains, Gunung Jerai has its fair share of history and fascinating tales. Legend has it that Raja Bersiong, the ‘king of fangs’, once had his ancient kingdom within the Bujang Valley, at the foot of the mountain. Recent archeological findings revealed the existence of the “Temple of the Ninth Water Pool”; many believe that it was Raja Bersiong’s private pool.

Relics uncovered in the area provide evidence of a Hindu-Buddhist civilisation dating back to the fourth century A. D. Isolated from the other mountain ranges of Peninsular Malaysia, Gunung Jerai has a unique range of medicinal plants and herbs not found in other mountains. Today, Gunung Jerai is Kedah’s premier hill resort and recreational park. On a clear day atop the peak, the cool, refreshing mountain offers spectacular views of the rolling paddy fields of Kedah stretching up to Perlis, and the islands of Penang in the south and Langkawi in the north-west.

The famous Alur Naga waterfall is located about 200m from the resort, which is a magnificent spot. The hike down a path of steep boulders was well worth it as one could spend the whole day enjoying the serenity and beauty of the falls. The water was clear and the 30m high waterfall simply breathtaking. The pool beneath it is waist deep and safe for swimming. The name was derived from a legend where a dragon was believed to have lived in the cave behind the waterfall and occasionally came out to bathe in the pool.