Kota Sarang Semut is a small town in
Yan District,
Kedah,
Malaysia. It is located near at km 16 along
Alor Star–Gurun main trunk road Federal Route 1 at a junction to
Pendang town.
Etymology
There are Many Verses about this town's Etymology.
The name of the town literally translated means City of Anthills. A story goes that when
King Solomon
King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king.
*In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...
passed by this place with an entourage of men and elephants. The ants, fearing that the stampede will destroy their home, cried for mercy and it was heard by Solomon. He then warned off his company not to step on the anthills.
Another Story of this Town's Name came from How Soldiers of the
Kedah Sultanate
The Kedah Sultanate (كسلطانن قدح) is a Muslim dynasty located in the Malay Peninsula. It was originally an independent state, but became a British protectorate in 1909. Its monarchy was abolished after it was added to the Malayan Unio ...
are building Defenses around the area to defend themselves against
Siam. While Building the defenses, the place is full of Anthills. Which made them name the place as
Kota Sarang Semut.
In the Langkasukan Language,
Kota Sarang Semut Is known as "Kota Sereng Semet", which means a Fort that is abandoned by Soldiers.
Demographics
Today, the main federal road cuts through the quiet town from
Gurun to
Alor Setar
Alor Setar ( Jawi: الور ستار, Kedahan: ''Loqstaq'') is the state capital of Kedah, Malaysia. It is the second-largest city in the state after Sungai Petani and one of the most-important cities on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia ...
. The
Wan Mat Saman Aqueduct
Wan Mat Saman Aqueduct or ''Terusan Wan Mat Saman'' is the longest aqueduct in Malaysia. The total length is 36 km, connecting Sungai Kedah at Alor Star to Gurun in the south of Kedah. It was built between 1885 and 1896 at the order of Ment ...
, a historical canal channelling water to the paddy fields in
Kedah since colonial days also passes through the town centre.
The construction of the
North–South Expressway made this town less known and visited except for those who still prefer travelling the old way. To compensate for the loss, however, the expressway puts the town on a signboard marking the nearest exit (175).
Untitled photo showing signage along expressway – Panoramio
Published 23 August 2012, Retrieved 16 November 2012
See also
* North–South Expressway
** Siamese Invasion of Kedah
References
Towns in Kedah
Yan District
{{Kedah-geo-stub