Sungai Petani facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sungai Petani
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Town
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| Nickname(s):
SP
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 Sungai Petani
Location in Malaysia
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| Country | Malaysia | ||
| State | Kedah | ||
| Granted municipality status | 1 July 1994 | ||
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 443,458 | ||
| Time zone | UTC+8 (MST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | Not observed | ||
| Postcode |
08xxx
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Sungai Petani is a lively town in the Kuala Muda District of Kedah, Malaysia. It is the biggest town in Kedah. Sungai Petani is about 55 kilometers (34 miles) south of Alor Setar, which is Kedah's capital city. It is also 33 kilometers (20 miles) northeast of George Town, the capital of the nearby state of Penang.
Because it is so close to Penang, Sungai Petani is part of a larger area called Greater Penang. This is Malaysia's second-biggest city area. Sungai Petani uses Penang's good transportation system. Since the 1990s, many factories have been built here. Companies from Japan and other countries set up manufacturing plants around the town.
Contents
Economy and Business
Sungai Petani has many businesses, both big and small. Many small and medium-sized companies help the local economy. They make many different products. These include computer chips, TV parts, fabrics, and wood items. For example, Sharp has a factory here.
Sungai Petani is also a busy shopping area. It has many large malls and popular stores. Some of the shopping centers are Amanjaya Mall, Central Square, and Village Mall. There are also several Tesco and Giant Hypermarket stores.
Getting Around Sungai Petani
Train and Bus Services
The Sungai Petani railway station offers train services. These include KTM ETS, a fast train that connects major Malaysian cities. There is also KTM Komuter, a local train service. It links towns in Penang, Kedah, and Perlis.
You can find long-distance buses at UTC Sungai Petani, near the train station. Local bus services are also available. Companies like City Liner, Mara Liner, and Rapid Penang run air-conditioned buses.
Airports and Highways
The closest airport is Penang International Airport on Penang Island. Another option is Sultan Abdul Halim Airport in Alor Setar. Sungai Petani is also connected by the North-South Expressway. This highway links the town to other big cities in Malaysia.
Ferry Services
The Sungai Merbok jetty offers seasonal ferry services to Langkawi Island. This means you can travel directly to Langkawi from Sungai Petani. You do not need to go through Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis ports.
Fun Things to See and Do
Sungai Petani has a lot of potential for tourism. This includes historical places, nature trips, and water sports. The Kuala Muda district, where Sungai Petani is located, has the second-largest mangrove forest in Malaysia. Nature tourism is growing here.
You can explore the history of Kedah's old capital cities. These include Sungai Emas, Bukit Meriam, Bujang/Merbok, Pulau Tiga, and Kota Kuala Muda.
Pulau Tiga, near Laguna Merbok, was once the location of a Sultan's palace. This was after he was defeated by the Siamese in the 18th century. The Siamese later attacked and destroyed this new palace. The Sultan then escaped to Penang and Malacca. Kedah was split into smaller areas ruled by Siamese military governors. Later, after peace talks, the Sultan was put back in charge of Kedah.
Clock Tower
A famous landmark in Sungai Petani is the clock tower on Jalan Ibrahim. It was built in 1936 and stands 12.1 meters (40 feet) tall. It has a gold-colored, dome-shaped top. The tower was a gift from Lim Lean Teng to King George V and Queen Mary. It celebrated their Silver Jubilee.
Parks and Golf Courses
Sungai Petani is known for its green spaces and attractions. In the town center, you will find the Jubli Perak (Silver Jubilee) public park and a Bird Park. There are also more than five golf courses around Sungai Petani. You can also find many streams, rivers, and lakes.
SP Club
The Sungai Petani Club (SP Club) is a place for people to meet and relax. It is in the middle of town. This club has the oldest golf course in Kedah, started in 1922 by British planters. The clubhouse has an old colonial look and antique wooden insides. This makes it a special heritage site in Sungai Petani. The 9-hole golf course covers 40 acres (16 hectares) of land. It provides a green space in the fast-developing town.
Cinta Sayang Golf & Country Resort
Cinta Sayang Golf & Country Resort is only 30 minutes from Penang and Alor Setar. Its good location makes it a great base for tours and shopping trips to Penang, Langkawi, and Hat Yai. The resort started as an 18-hole golf course with 50 chalets. Over the years, it has grown and improved. Now, it is a 4-star golf resort, recognized by the Minister of Tourism Malaysia.
Gunung Jerai
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About 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of town is the famous Gunung Jerai. This mountain is 1,217 meters (3,993 feet) above sea level. It is the tallest mountain in the northern region and is surrounded by a large jungle. Ships entering the Straits of Malacca use it as a guide because it can be seen from far away. There is an 18-kilometer (11-mile) winding road to the top. At the top of Gunung Jerai, you will find a resort and cool waterfalls. Long ago, traders from the east and west used Gunung Jerai as a navigation point. There was a Hindu temple on top of the mountain. It was built almost a thousand years ago during the Bujang Valley Hindu Civilization.
The Carnivall
The Carnivall is a water park in Sungai Petani. It is located within the Cinta Sayang Golf and Country Resort. The Carnivall is the first water park in Kedah. It opened on December 25, 2006.
Pantai Merdeka
Pantai Merdeka is the only beach on mainland Kedah. It is a popular spot for beach lovers from Penang and Kedah. You can rent places to stay to enjoy the beach and other nearby attractions. These include collecting local seafood like Kepah, Siput Kemudi, and Kerang. You can do this in Kampung Tepi Sungai, Kota Kuala Muda, Pantai Merdeka, and Pulau Sayak. Pantai Merdeka is also a starting point for trips to small islands like Pulau Bidan and Pulau Telor. These islands are just a few minutes away by boat and are great for fishing and relaxing on the beaches. Kota Kuala Muda also has an old fort. It was once the fort of the Raja Muda of Kedah. There is also an archaeology site in Kota Kuala Muda where valuable stones were found hundreds of years ago.
Culture and History
Bujang Valley
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The Bujang Valley or Lembah Bujang is sometimes called the "Ancient Wonder of Kedah." It is a very old historical site covering about 400 square kilometers (154 square miles) in Merbok. This area is about 17 kilometers (11 miles) from Sungai Petani. This archaeological site was home to an ancient Hindu-Buddhist kingdom. This kingdom ruled the region starting from the 4th century AD.
There is also an archaeological museum here called The Lembah Bujang Archaeological Museum. This museum shows more than 2,500 old items. These items are from Malaysia's earliest civilization. They were found at nearby dig sites. You can see gold, gems, pottery, Hindu gods, and beautiful Buddha stone statues. These items date from the 3rd to the 14th centuries. The main display is Chandi Bukit Batu Pahat. This is a rebuilt temple built to worship the Hindu god Shiva.
Famous People from Sungai Petani
- Khairul Helmi Johari, Kedah football captain and national player.
- Bala Ganapathi William, Actor, Director & TV Host.
- Baddrol Bakhtiar, national football player for Kedah and the national team.
- Syed Amin Aljeffri, born November 10, 1947, a Malay Entrepreneur.
- Chong Wei Feng, national badminton player.
Images for kids
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AIMST University
See also
In Spanish: Sungai Petani para niños
