Discover Bedong: Archaeology and Market Times

Bedong is home to two named archaeological sites; the Lembah Bujang Archaeological Museum is nearby in Merbok. There are also different night market hours for Pekan Bedong and Bedong. If you are planning a trip with an interest in history, you can distinguish between the specific sites, the museum galleries, and the respective evening hours.

Archaeological Sites and Landscape

Candi Pengkalan Bujang (Site 23) is located in Kampung Sungai Baru, 08100 Bedong, Kedah, and was declared a national heritage site on October 17, 2018. Tapak Arkeologi Sungai Batu is located in Kampung Permatang Samak, 08100 Bedong, Kedah, and was declared a national heritage site on May 10, 2012. Sungai Batu’s declaration took place six years before that of Candi Pengkalan Bujang.

Tapak Arkeologi Sungai Batu covers more than 3 square kilometers and contains 30 small hills. A system of small river channels makes the individual ridges appear like separate islands. The area and number of hills convey the scale of the site; the island comparison, in contrast, describes the visual divisions formed by the river channels. Find out about current access to Tapak Arkeologi Sungai Batu before your visit.

Trade History at the Museum

The Lembah Bujang Archaeological Museum is located nearby in Merbok and has two main galleries. One of the galleries displays archaeological finds that attest to Lembah Bujang’s role as a major trading port in Southeast Asia from the 3rd to the 12th century AD. The museum also displays goods brought by Arab, Chinese, and Indian traders, as well as maritime traders from the Malay Archipelago. Examples include forest products such as gaharu and cendana.

The exhibits address different questions: the finds establish a historical period for the port’s role; the trade goods focus on merchandise and the groups of traders involved. During your museum visit, you can therefore focus on either the trading tradition or the specific products that were brought there.

Night Market Hours for Planning

A night market is listed for Pekan Bedong on Sundays from 6 p.m. to midnight; a night market is listed for Bedong on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to midnight. The time periods are the same length but differ by location and day of the week. Check the hours before your visit, as schedules may change.

Search for Hotels with Your Destinations in Mind

If the Archaeological Museum in Merbok is also part of your plans, consider its location separately. Compare the location details of specific hotel offers with the places you want to visit. This will help you coordinate your stay and planned visits geographically.

Discover more destinations: Changlun, Kuah, Jitra, Simpang Empat, Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kodiang, Lunas, Alor Setar

Back to the main travel overview: Kedah.