The neighbouring states of Perlis and Kedah usually escape from the radar of most travellers. Both are so uncharted to the point that they are sometimes referred to as the “undiscovered” states of Malaysia.
With the exception of Kedah’s Langkawi island, northwestern Malaysia tends to be enveloped in relative obscurity among tourists.
“The states of Kedah and Perlis represent a rural idyll that is central to the Malay identity. Limestone pillars thrust up through emerald paddy fields, which contribute to the harvest of over half of the country’s domestic rice supply, ” Lonely Planet remarked in its guide of the two states.
The travel publication then concedes that not that many travellers experience the charm of mainland Kedah and Perlis.
“In fact, most travellers would draw a blank if you asked them about Kedah. Perlis, Malaysia’s smallest state, has an even lower profile, ” Lonely Planet said.
It went on to say that Perlis deserves more attention in the books of tourists.
“Like Kedah, it (Perlis) borders Thailand and most travellers simply rush through it on their way up there. Their loss; this corner of the country is part of the Malay heartland and well worth a visit, ” said Lonely Planet.
Under the radar
The Department of Statistics reported that Kedah welcomed 14.8 million domestic tourists in 2019. Perlis, meanwhile, only received 2.1 million domestic visitors in the same year.
The top five states in terms of domestic visitor arrivals are: Selangor (33.6 million), Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur (22.6 million), Sabah (22 million), Perak (21.1 million) and Sarawak (19.8 million).
The lack of tourism buzz in Perlis has even inspired local academics to ask: Why don’t more people travel to Malaysia’s smallest state?
It’s something that Universiti Malaysia’s Goh Hong Ching, Tan Wan Hin and Ching Fei Ern discussed extensively in a research paper.
“One of the critical issues with tourism development in Perlis pertains to its location at the northernmost tip of Peninsular Malaysia, ” they wrote.
The long travelling distance plays an important role in tourists’ decision to skip Perlis, according to the Border town issues in tourism development: The case of Perlis, Malaysia paper.
“Perlis can be reached by train, bus and ferry. However, there is no airport in the state for commercial flights, ” the researchers said. The nearest airport is located one state over, in Kepala Batas, Kedah.
The paper also highlighted that most people only travel to Perlis to visit family and friends. The setting up of universities, in particular, has boosted visitor arrivals during the opening of semester and convocation days.
“While it contributes to tourism development, it (universities) has also created a seasonality issue as tourists’ facilities are crowded during such periods but are often un-utilised at other times, ” they said.
The researchers, however, remarked that Perlis benefits as a stopover destination for travellers who wish to go to Kedah, as well as Thailand, which shares a border with the state.
They remarked that visitors typically stop in Perlis only for a short period through the entry points of Wang Kelian (to Thailand) and Kuala Perlis (to Langkawi).
Pleasantly surprised
Those who have visited Perlis, however, have nothing but praise for its rich history and wealth of natural attractions.
Nazri Ahmad, who made his first trip to the state three years ago for work, said the place deserves more attention among travellers.
“When people mention tourist spots in Malaysia, most people would think of places such as Melaka and Penang.
“I don’t see many people mentioning Perlis, which is a shame. Malaysia’s smallest state has many big things to explore, ” he said.
Nazri, who went with the impression that “Perlis only has padi fields”, thoroughly enjoyed his time there. Some of the attractions he visited include Istana Arau, Tuanku Syed Putra Bridge and Masjid Al-Hussain.
On his way back to Kuala Lumpur, Nazri decided to spend a night at Alor Setar, Kedah.
It’s a smart move on Nazri’s part to visit both states together since they are situated side by side. In fact, many travel sites recommend visiting Perlis and Kedah due to their close proximity.
Kurt Ganapathy, in his post for travel platform TripZilla, proposed visiting both states together.
“Mainland Kedah and the neighbouring state of Perlis have fascinating histories, stunning natural attractions and lots of good food for those who journey on roads less travelled, ” he wrote.
He added that there is so much more to that particular region of the country than just the internationally famous Langkawi island.
The recent 2021 American Express Global Travel Trends reported that more people are interested in visiting lesser-known destinations amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Once we can travel again, perhaps it’s a good time to explore the hidden gems in Perlis and Kedah.
We take a closer look at both states and find out why they deserve more attention from travellers.
Although it’s the smallest state in the country (measuring around 800sq km), Perlis has much to offer in terms of charming attractions.
Its reputation today is very much associated with the harum manis mangoes, which have been referred to by enthusiasts as the “Musang King” of mangoes. The fruit, which is grown in Perlis, chalked up RM22mil in online sales between April and May this year.
Those looking for a more savoury treat usually head to Kuala Perlis for seafood, especially ikan bakar. While grilled fish is easily found throughout the country, the charcoal-grilled seafood here is usually paired with a special dipping sauce made up of red chillies, oyster sauce, fish sauce and Thai chilli sauce.
Food aside, Perlis is also known for its rich royal history – much of which is concentrated in the royal town of Arau. Istana Arau, the official residence of Raja Perlis, can be found here. While the palace is off limits to the public, visitors are welcomed to visit the Royal Gallery that houses precious collections belonging to the royal family.
For more historical insights, the Kota Kayang Museum showcases the history and culture of the area. The grounds of the museum is also home to a small cave and well-landscaped gardens.
While lush greenery can be found almost anywhere in Perlis courtesy of its many padi fields (it is after all, a rice-producing state), there are other notable natural attractions to visit. These include Gua Kelam and Lake Timah-Tasoh. The lake has been referred to as “Malaysia’s Guilin” due to its beautiful hilly backdrop. (Guilin is a city in southern China known for its beautiful limestone karst hills.)
Some other highlights are the snake farm, Wang Kelian Weekend Market, Tasik Melati Recreational Park and Perlis State Park.
Long referred to as the rice bowl of the country, Kedah is known for its rustic and rural setting. Much of the land here is covered with padi fields.
That concentration of padi fields does give the initial impression that there’s nothing more here except, well... rice. And if you happen to be at the Paddy Museum, the visit might further cement that first impression.
It’s worth noting, however, that there’s more to Kedah than just rice.
The island of Langkawi and its surrounding islets come out top in terms of touristic appeal, but there’s much to discover on the mainland too.
Take Pekan Rabu, for instance, which dates back to the 1920s. The marketplace, which translates to “Wednesday Market”, started off as an attap-roofed shack. It has since become an important shopping venue in the city for locals and visitors, once even counting Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as a trader.
Kedah is actually the birthplace of Mahathir as well as the country’s first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj. And their former childhood residences are open to visitors keen to learn about the lives of the notable statesmen.
Alor Setar is also home to the beautiful Masjid Zahir and the iconic Menara Alor Setar.
Kedah also houses a very important archaeological discovery – the Bujang Valley or Lembah Bujang as it is more popularly known. It is arguably the richest archaeological area in Malaysia, and definitely worth a visit for those who are interested in history.
The Lembah Bujang Archaeological Museum exhibits archaeological collections that show the existence of Hindu/Buddhism propagation in South-East Asia.
Adventure tourism is also a main draw in the mainland. Both Gunung Jerai and Gunung Keriang offer outdoor enthusiasts an exciting hiking experience with great views at the peak.
If you’re more interested in hunting down unique eats in Kedah, look for local specialties like air nira nipah (a sweet drink extracted from nipah palm), laksa Kedah or laksa utara, kuih karas and serabai.
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