Description of the attraction
Mount Jerai, or as it was called before - Kedah peak, is located in the federal state of the same name in Malaysia, the state of Kedah. More specifically, Mount Jerai is located near Sungai Petani, the second largest city in Kedah state, near Penang Island. The height of the mountain is 1175 m. Being on the territory of the state, the mountain borders on the regions of Kuala Muda and Yan.
The heavy, elongated silhouette of Mount Jerai is visible for several tens of kilometers. It is considered the highest point in the state of Kedah. There is a stand at the top of the mountain, which indicates that the mountain used to be an island called Pulai Serai, until the time when the sea level dropped and the mountain was formed. But there is no historical or scientific confirmation of this fact.
From a historical point of view, the mountain has played an important role in the history of the state of Kedah. About 1500 years ago, Mount Jerai served as landmarks for Indian and Arab traders and sailors.
It is worth noting that in the Hindu-Buddhist world, mountains were very often deified. Among the ancient Malays, in the era of the Bujang kingdom, Mount Jerai was also considered sacred, so temples were built on its slopes. At the beginning of the 19th century, archaeological excavations were carried out there, during which the ruins of a 6th century Hindu temple were discovered.
Like other mountains, this mountain has its own legend, which says that a long time ago there was an ancient kingdom on the territory of the Bujang Valley, headed by King Raja Bersiong. The kingdom was at the foot of Mount Jerai. Recent archaeological excavations have uncovered the Temple of the Nine Lakes, which was probably built on the territory of the lakes that belonged to King Raja Bersiong.
The surface of the mountain is covered with forests. Many tourists climb the mountain and enjoy the picturesque surroundings.
