| Historical Forts |
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Kuala Kedah Fort
" Fort Kuala Kedah (Kota Kuala Kedah) is the oldest Malay fort in northern Malaysia and dates back from the 17th century.
It was destroyed and rebuilt in the 19th century and was occupied by Japanese troops during the Japanese occupation of
Malaya in the Second World War.
Sultan Sulaiman Syah who ruled from 1602 to 1620 built the original fort from clay, bakau timber and bamboo with the
assistance form his allies, the Portuguese who had established a presence in the area. The sultan ruled from his base at Fort
Siputeh, which was destroyed by the Aceh Armada in 1619 (an event which resulted in the Portuguese being ousted from the
area) and again in 1770 by the Bugis Armada.
In 1780 to 1782, Sultan Mukarram Syah, the 20th sultan of Kedah who ruled from 1778 to 1797, rebuilt and strengthened
Fort Kuala Kedah. Hafiz Sab, an architect who was also the 'Maharaja Kadhi', or religious head, directed the rebuilding o the
fort with labour imported from India and gave it its present look. Cannons purchased from the British and the Dutch were
placed around the fort. A palace was also built inside it.
The fort was attacked and destroyed in November 1821 by the powerful Siamese Armada. It occurred during the reign of
Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Halim Syah II, the 22nd sultan of Kedah who ruled from 1804 to 1845. The fort was his
administrative centre.
The fort, which was also known as Fort Kuala Bahang (Kota Kuala Bahang), located near the mouth of the Kedah River,
about 12 kilometres from the town of Alor Star. It was designated a historical monument and a historic site under the
Antiquities Act 1976 in August 1978. " [1]
Year Built: 1782,
Architect:
Style:
Location:
" Fort Kuala Kedah (Kota Kuala Kedah) is the oldest Malay fort in northern Malaysia and dates back from the 17th century.
It was destroyed and rebuilt in the 19th century and was occupied by Japanese troops during the Japanese occupation of
Malaya in the Second World War.
Sultan Sulaiman Syah who ruled from 1602 to 1620 built the original fort from clay, bakau timber and bamboo with the
assistance form his allies, the Portuguese who had established a presence in the area. The sultan ruled from his base at Fort
Siputeh, which was destroyed by the Aceh Armada in 1619 (an event which resulted in the Portuguese being ousted from the
area) and again in 1770 by the Bugis Armada.
In 1780 to 1782, Sultan Mukarram Syah, the 20th sultan of Kedah who ruled from 1778 to 1797, rebuilt and strengthened
Fort Kuala Kedah. Hafiz Sab, an architect who was also the 'Maharaja Kadhi', or religious head, directed the rebuilding o the
fort with labour imported from India and gave it its present look. Cannons purchased from the British and the Dutch were
placed around the fort. A palace was also built inside it.
The fort was attacked and destroyed in November 1821 by the powerful Siamese Armada. It occurred during the reign of
Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Halim Syah II, the 22nd sultan of Kedah who ruled from 1804 to 1845. The fort was his
administrative centre.
The fort, which was also known as Fort Kuala Bahang (Kota Kuala Bahang), located near the mouth of the Kedah River,
about 12 kilometres from the town of Alor Star. It was designated a historical monument and a historic site under the
Antiquities Act 1976 in August 1978. " [1]
Year Built: 1782,
Architect:
Style:
Location:
Information Centre (Kuala Kedah Malay School)
" According to records kept in the Public Works Department, this building was constructed in 1922 and is registered as KP
(K) Bldg. no 351
It was built to replace a earlier school at Kampung Seberang Alor, Seberang Kota Kuala Kedah which was built in 1913. The
first school built on this site in 1909 was later converted to house the Syariah Courts.
A storm in 1993, caused the long abandoned building to collapse and the Department of Museum and Antiquities, in its
efforts to preserve this building, mounted an operation to salvage all of the timbers for conservation and preservation for the
purpose of reconstruction.
In 1996, with assistance from Kedah State Public Works Department, it was reconstructed based on its original architecture.
This project served to highlight the concept of conserving old and interesting buildings as prideful artifacts of national
heritage for our future generations.
There are plans to convert this beautiful old building, which was originally built as the Kuala Kedah Malay School, to house
the Information center that will serve the tourists who visit the Kota Kuala Kedah Historical Complex." [1]
Year Built: 1922
Architect:
Style:
Location:
" According to records kept in the Public Works Department, this building was constructed in 1922 and is registered as KP
(K) Bldg. no 351
It was built to replace a earlier school at Kampung Seberang Alor, Seberang Kota Kuala Kedah which was built in 1913. The
first school built on this site in 1909 was later converted to house the Syariah Courts.
A storm in 1993, caused the long abandoned building to collapse and the Department of Museum and Antiquities, in its
efforts to preserve this building, mounted an operation to salvage all of the timbers for conservation and preservation for the
purpose of reconstruction.
In 1996, with assistance from Kedah State Public Works Department, it was reconstructed based on its original architecture.
This project served to highlight the concept of conserving old and interesting buildings as prideful artifacts of national
heritage for our future generations.
There are plans to convert this beautiful old building, which was originally built as the Kuala Kedah Malay School, to house
the Information center that will serve the tourists who visit the Kota Kuala Kedah Historical Complex." [1]
Year Built: 1922
Architect:
Style:
Location:
Lighthouse
" The lighthouse was built in 1892 under the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid Shah the 25th Sultan of Kedah. Its design
resembles a chess piece.
It was first built with a concrete domed roof with glass windows. It was later redesigned and an octagonal zinc roof was built
to replace the earlier roof. A rotating light was placed in the light house to guide the many ships and fishing boats that came
to Kuala Kedah.
The light house is still in use and is maintained by the Marine Department." [1]
Year Built: 1892
Architect:
Style:
Location:
" The lighthouse was built in 1892 under the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid Shah the 25th Sultan of Kedah. Its design
resembles a chess piece.
It was first built with a concrete domed roof with glass windows. It was later redesigned and an octagonal zinc roof was built
to replace the earlier roof. A rotating light was placed in the light house to guide the many ships and fishing boats that came
to Kuala Kedah.
The light house is still in use and is maintained by the Marine Department." [1]
Year Built: 1892
Architect:
Style:
Location:
| Information Centre |
| Light house |
| Megalith stones |
Kuala Kedah Fort Historical Complex
| Fort Lukut |
| Inside the fort............ |
| Water storage area ............... |
| Fortified walls............. |
| Moat/Trenches surrounding the fort........ |
| Entrance........... |
Fort Linggi
This fort was built atop of a hill due to its strategic location where the Linggi River could easily be guarded. The
original name of this hill is not known but it was referred to as Bukit Supai (Sepoy’s Hill). The Dutch called it as
For Filiphina named after the daughter of the Dutch Governor.
The war between the Dutch and the Bugis which started in 1756, finally came to an end at the later half of 1757.
Both the Dutch and the Bugis jointly built this fort as a memento of their friendship. A peace treaty was signed at
this fort on the 1st of January 1758. This treaty enabled the Dutch to take over the fort and monopolized the tin
trading that was quarried in the interior of the Linggi River and the Rembau River.
This square fort was built complete with bastions for artillery and moat around it. At each corner of the fort, is
made into a semi-circle and placed a cannon. This fort was built from the arrangement laterite stones A
passageway that connected the fort and the landing stage at the beach has disappeared, the same way the
buildings that were erected within the fort also collapsed and totally disappeared.
Year Built:
Architect:
Style:
Location: Kuala Linggi, Melaka
original name of this hill is not known but it was referred to as Bukit Supai (Sepoy’s Hill). The Dutch called it as
For Filiphina named after the daughter of the Dutch Governor.
The war between the Dutch and the Bugis which started in 1756, finally came to an end at the later half of 1757.
Both the Dutch and the Bugis jointly built this fort as a memento of their friendship. A peace treaty was signed at
this fort on the 1st of January 1758. This treaty enabled the Dutch to take over the fort and monopolized the tin
trading that was quarried in the interior of the Linggi River and the Rembau River.
This square fort was built complete with bastions for artillery and moat around it. At each corner of the fort, is
made into a semi-circle and placed a cannon. This fort was built from the arrangement laterite stones A
passageway that connected the fort and the landing stage at the beach has disappeared, the same way the
buildings that were erected within the fort also collapsed and totally disappeared.
Year Built:
Architect:
Style:
Location: Kuala Linggi, Melaka
“This fortress was built by Raja Jumaat bin Raja Jaafar around 1847 during the reign of the third Sultan of Selangor,
Sultan Muhammad Shah (1825-1857) atop a hill called Bukit Gajah Mati or sometimes called Bukit Raja.
The rectangular-shaped fortress measures approximately 200 meters long and 170 meters wide and is surrounded by a
trench of between 3 to 5 meters deep. The trench was planted with stakes at a depth of between 3 to 5 meters to
deter the encroachment of enemy forces. The earth from the trench was used to fortify the trench. 4 cannons were
brought from the Dutch in Malacca were placed on the walls of the fortress.
Raja Jumaat’s grand palace was built in the center of the fortress and another smaller one was built at it side for his
daughter, Raja Wok. A “sepak raga” court (a type of ball game) was built in front of the rand palace. Several water
storage areas were also built. It is believed that the water was transported to the fortress by bullock carts from a
nearby river. A well known as the “Perigi Beracn” (Poisoned Well) at the northern extreme of the fortress was used
as an area to punish major crime offenders (execution area). Another well, called “Perigi Raja” (King’s Well) is
located at the center of the fortress and was for the exclusive use by the Raja and his consort. The well is enclosed by
fencing and guarded.
A cobblestone road encircled the hill and entry to the fortress was via either the northern or western gate. During
his reign, Raja Bot strengthened the defense of the fort with 30 Arab soldiers. Raja Bot’s main enemy then was Raja
Sulaiman of Sungai Raya. During the skirmishes, the fortress was used as refuge for women and children.
Political uncertainty and the continued onslaught by enemy forces, spelt the downfall of the fortress and in 1878,
Raja Bot was stripped of his powers and right to rule Lukut, Remains of the fortress are still in existence today and
bears testament to the existence of a Malay rule in Lukut.” [1]
Year Built: 1847
Builder: Raja Jummat bin Raja Jaafar
Style:
Location: Lukut, Negeri Sembilan
Sultan Muhammad Shah (1825-1857) atop a hill called Bukit Gajah Mati or sometimes called Bukit Raja.
The rectangular-shaped fortress measures approximately 200 meters long and 170 meters wide and is surrounded by a
trench of between 3 to 5 meters deep. The trench was planted with stakes at a depth of between 3 to 5 meters to
deter the encroachment of enemy forces. The earth from the trench was used to fortify the trench. 4 cannons were
brought from the Dutch in Malacca were placed on the walls of the fortress.
Raja Jumaat’s grand palace was built in the center of the fortress and another smaller one was built at it side for his
daughter, Raja Wok. A “sepak raga” court (a type of ball game) was built in front of the rand palace. Several water
storage areas were also built. It is believed that the water was transported to the fortress by bullock carts from a
nearby river. A well known as the “Perigi Beracn” (Poisoned Well) at the northern extreme of the fortress was used
as an area to punish major crime offenders (execution area). Another well, called “Perigi Raja” (King’s Well) is
located at the center of the fortress and was for the exclusive use by the Raja and his consort. The well is enclosed by
fencing and guarded.
A cobblestone road encircled the hill and entry to the fortress was via either the northern or western gate. During
his reign, Raja Bot strengthened the defense of the fort with 30 Arab soldiers. Raja Bot’s main enemy then was Raja
Sulaiman of Sungai Raya. During the skirmishes, the fortress was used as refuge for women and children.
Political uncertainty and the continued onslaught by enemy forces, spelt the downfall of the fortress and in 1878,
Raja Bot was stripped of his powers and right to rule Lukut, Remains of the fortress are still in existence today and
bears testament to the existence of a Malay rule in Lukut.” [1]
Year Built: 1847
Builder: Raja Jummat bin Raja Jaafar
Style:
Location: Lukut, Negeri Sembilan
| entrance to the fort......... |
| inside the fort............... |
| fortified walls..... |
| looking towards the sea............ |