TheBujangValley in Kedah was the bustling centre of a rich and prosperous kingdom between the third and 12th century AD.It was then known as Nusantara, a Sanskrit word which means ‘seat of all felicities.’The area, which was also called Bujanga or ‘Valley of the Serpent’ was Southeast Asia’s central trading entreport which dealt with cargo brought by Arab, Chinese, Indian as well as maritime traders from the Malay archipelago.
Today, the valley is a treasure trove of ancient artifacts from this early civilisation.Archeologists have unearthed a wealth of architectural and cultural relics that prove the existence of a Hindu and Buddhist civilisation there.Among the most significant of these relics are the candis (Sanskrit for temple ruins). There are altogether seven candis.
SOLID FOUNDATION:The main candi at Bukit Batu Pahat was found and excavated in 1936.Its main building materials are granite blocks and river stones.
Candi Bukit Batu Pahat is one of the largest ancient monuments in the BujangValley. This shrine, built using granite blocks and river stones, is situated on the west of the BatuPahatRiver, about 3km north of Kampung Sungai Merbok.Artifacts found here include eight reliquaries with nine chambers containing jars, beads, and gold foil in the shape of linga (statue of fertility), nandi (bull), discs and a goddess seated on padma (lotus) holding a trident.
The Siva candi and 66 sites of wooden poles are among the remains of this temple. It is believed that this monument was made of wood besides granite stones.In the 1960s, the ruins of the temple were reconstructed at its original location with help from experts from Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur and the Angkor Wat Conservation Centre in Cambodia.
BujangValleyArchaeologyMuseum assistant curator Nurul Azlida Ghozali said records showed that the candis had existed from the 11th century AD.“This museum is a treasure house of artifacts recovered from historical sites dating from the early 5th to 14th century AD. Over 1,000 of these artifacts are on display while another 2,500 are still being studied,” she said.
According to Nurul Azlida, there are seven completed temples in the BujangValley but only four are located within the museum’s grounds. They are the main templeCandi Bukit Batu Pahat and the smaller ones called Candi Bendang, Candi Pandiat Dalam and Candi Pengkalan Bujang.
Candi Bukit Pendiat and Candi Pengkalan Bujang are located at their original sites where the early settlers lived in those days.The lush jungle surrounding the BujangValleyArchaeologyMuseum makes it an ideal place to visit even if one is not a history buff.
The scenic MerbokRiver nearby, with its cool, crystal clear water adds to the area’s attraction. It explains why the museum’s grounds is a popular hiking and picnic spot for families and those who love the great outdoors.
Visitors to the valley can also enjoy the scenic view of Kedah’s highest mountain, Gunung Jerai or KedahPeak, which is a breathtaking landmark in BujangValley.The 1,380m-high Gunung Jerai is a majestic sight against the flat landscape of the padi fields-dominated region.Gunung Jerai was considered a sacred mountain during the time of the Hindu–Buddhist influence in BujangValley.
Kedah historian Datuk Wan Samsuddin Mohd Yusof, who is an authority on the early history of Kedah, said BujangValley was also famed for being “home” to the royal tomb of Kedah’s first monarch, Sultan Mudzaffar Shah, who ruled from 1136AD until he died in 1179AD.Before he converted to Islam, the sultan was known as Maharaja Berbar Raja.
The Sultan’s tomb is located 0.5km from SK Sultan Mudzaffar Shah in Kampung Bujang in Merbok.
If you are a nature lover, you might be interested to explore the mangrove swamps in Sungai Petani along the river bank of Sungai Merbok.
Sungai Merbok is rich in history and has its glorious past as an entrepot of the 5th - 13th Century AD, where Chinese and Indian sailors called this place as "Suvarna Dwipa" means "Golden Peninsular".
The 4114 hectare forest is the largest mangrove forest reserve in Malaysia, which was gazetted since 29 September 1951.
The wonder of this place is the life inside of it and the swarming tiny creatures which protected by this natural habitat: Crabs, insects, fishes (very small or big), mollusks, reptiles and mysterious mimetic creatures.
These animals, in millions, are the perfect food for herons, macats, seagulls and generally speaking for a big variety of birds which populate the mangrove, making it the best place for birds watching. Mangrove is also known to provide protection against coastal errosion such as Tsunami with its massive root system is efficient at dissipating wave energy.
The mangroves in this area are considered to be among the most species-rich in the world. The serene Sungai Merbok has some 30 species of mangroves, 80 species of birds and 50 species of fish and shellfish. It is slated to be extensively developed during the Eighth Malaysia Plan period.
The nearest access points to scenic mangrove spots in Sungai Petani are at Semiling Jetty , Bandar Laguna Merbok Jetty or Pekan Baru Jetty.
Visitors can charter boats to cruise into these impressive wetlands and the mangrove forest at any of the jetties above.
Apart from these attractions, there are two legendary islands in Sungai Semiling, the Pulau Tiga and Pulau Tok Kunyit which is believed to be the lair of the legendary "Raja Bersiong" and "white crocodile".
If you are fond of fishing, the Semiling floating fish farm complex is a great place for anglers to bait for freshwater fish like siakap, groupers and soft shell crabs too.
Other activities not to be left out is the Crab Catching experience with the guide of local villagers who are more willing to take visitor to their favourite spots of setting up the crab traps.
Lokasi Tandop Camp adalah bersebelah dengan sungai Merbok Kecil yang punca airnya mengalir dari Gunung Jerai hingga ke Sungai Merbok. Pekan yang terdekat dengan camp ini adalah pekan Merbok.Lokasi Tandop Camp juga berdekatan dengan tempat bersejarah di negeri Kedah, iaitu Muzium Arkeologi Lembah Bujang dimana terdapatnya banyak barang-barang arkeologi yang telah dijumpai dari zaman Kedah Tua. Di muzium inilah terdapatnya candi Lembah Bujang. Mengikut cerita-cerita orang tempatan, sejarah kawasan Merbok ini juga ada dikaitkan dengan Raja Bersiung.Lokasi Tanjung Dawai juga tidak berjauhan dengan Tandop Camp. Tanjung Dawai terkenal dengan hasil laut yg dikeringkn. Diantaranya ikan pekasam,ikan kering, belacan dan banyak lagi.Tandop Camp didirikan di kawasan kebun getah dan buah-buahan.Terdapat 5 jenis pokok buah di sekitar kawasan Tandop Camp dan diantaranya adalah pokok cempedak, rambutan, durian,manggis dan dukong.Terdapat juga pokok buah yang baru ditanam, dan diantaranya adalah pokok pulasan, longan, nenas, kelapa mawar dan pelbagai pokok herba. Pelbagai aktiviti yg boleh pengunjung lakukan apabila berada di Tandop Camp, diantaranya berkayak disepanjang sungai merbok, white water rafting di Sedim, melawat muzium arkeologi Lembah Bujang, melawat tapak arkeologi yang baru ditemui, menikmati keindahan pantai di Pantai Merdeka, menikmati hidangan makanan laut di Tanjung Dawai dan banyak lagi yang sudah semestinya tidak akan mengecewakan. Mai che' oh mai che' mai......
