Lembah Bujang
Early Kedah to Bujang Valley (200 BCE–1400 CE; peak 500–1100 CE)·Kedah Tua (Qarun) to Srivijaya–Langkasuka·🇲🇾 Kedah, Merbok District, Lembah Bujang valley, Muda River, Malaysia
About
About Lembah Bujang
Lembah Bujang is Malaysia's earliest Hindu–Buddhist entrepôt (200 BCE–1400 CE) — 224 candi and iron-smelting furnaces (200 BCE, 30 furnaces) along the Muda River–Merbok estuary, iron export to Rome–China.
Why it mattersKey Kedah Tua (Qarun) to Srivijaya–Langkasuka temple-complex with stratified sequence and regional trade significance.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre
- 02Territorial marker
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.200 BCE
- Period
- Early Kedah to Bujang Valley (200 BCE–1400 CE; peak 500–1100 CE)
- Culture
- Kedah Tua (Qarun) to Srivijaya–Langkasuka
- Builders
- Kedah Tua (Qarun)
- Purpose
- Ancient city and ceremonial centre
- Abandoned
- 13th century
- Rediscovered
- 1970s excavation
- Excavation
- Excavated
On the ground
Structures & features
5.5800° N · 100.4200° E · 10 m · 3 mapped features
Candi Bukit Batu Pahat
temple6th-c brick candi with Pallava Vishnu
5.5803° N · 100.4203° ESungai Batu Iron Furnaces
industrial30 iron furnaces with slag (110 ha)
5.5797° N · 100.4197° EMerbok Estuary Jetty
structureJetty with Tang ceramics and South Indian beads
5.5800° N · 100.4208° E