Exploring Malaysia 
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The historical past of Kedah and its royalty is gradually being unveiled in the Bujang Valley (Lembah Bujang) where the remains of ancient shrines bear testimony to the importance of Hindu and Buddhist cultures in the past. A popular stop for Chinese and Indian traders in the past, Kedah was a flourishing trading point. Between the 7th and 8th century Kedah was part of the Sumatran Srivijaya Kingdom and subsequently the Siamese empire. It became part of the Melaka Sultanate in the 15th century during which time Islam flourished and gained a strong foothold in Kedah. It subsequently faced attacks by the Portuguese and the Achehnese and fell under the Siamese and subsequently British control. During World War II, Kedah, like the rest of Malaya, was occupied by the invading Japanese. Following the surrender of the Japanese and the end of war, Kedah joined the Federation of Malaya.
Mahathir Birth Place
Among the illustrious personalities of Kedah are two Prime Ministers of Malaysia, i.e. the late Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, Malaysia’s first Prime Minister and the enigmatic Tun Dato' Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s fourth Prime Minister.
Kedah's population today comprises about 1.8 million, comprising primarily Malays and significant Chinese and Indian minorities. Given its remarkable history it comes as no surprise that Kedah enjoys a wealth of cultural traditions, songs and dances.
