Kuala Kedah Fort

Muzium Negara Gallery C

This fort is also sometimes called the Kuala Bahang Fort. It was constructed in between 1601 to 1619, and again reconstructed in 1771 to 1780. It is located in Kuala Kedah, Kedah. It is 106 meters wide and 183 meters long. It was made from clay, mangrove, wood, bamboo and bricks (during the second reconstruction).

Kacapuri Archway

It was originally built on a swampy area which was filled with earth and strengthened with mangrove wood and bamboo.

The second reconstruction of the fort was with the aid of the Portuguese, during the time of Sultan Sulaiman, in 1771.The fort was rebuilt with bricks. Dato Maharaja Kadi, from India, supervised the constuction. He brought in masons from India to complete the construction.

The fort resembles the architecture of European forts, which had corner stockades for guards, and a draw bridge at the main entrance. This fort had two archways built on the estern wall overlooking Alor Melaka. The archways are known as the Kacapuri Archway and British Archway. In 1970 these porticos collapsed during a heavy thunderstorm and were rebuilt in 2001.

At its height, the fort served as the administative headquarters and defence center for the Sultanate of Kedah. The fort was equipped with cannons to defend itself from the Bugis and the Siamese.

The most famous is the Meriam Badak Berendam or the Wallowing Rhino Cannon. This cannon is lodged in the mud in the collapsed sea wall. It is believed to be possesed by a spirit. All attempts to raise the cannon thus far have failed.

The fort had also functioned as a military base for foreign powers such as the Portuguese (1619), British (1771), Ligor (1821) and Japanese (1941-45).

The vestiges of the fort is still visible until todayand it had been gazetted as a historical site by the Department of Museums and Antiquities (Demaprment of Museums now) on 31 August 1978. Today the fort operates as Kuala Kedah Fort Historical Complex.

 

Kuala Kedah Fort

See Pintu Malim for related information