Perlis: Hidden Gem of the North

This tiniest hidden gem in Malaysia is what I’d like to call home. Why do I say hidden? Only because there is an interesting bunch of people who neither know where Perlis is nor the fact that Perlis is a state.

I sincerely don’t mind. It makes Perlis all the more special and exciting to share about.

Perlis is Malaysia’s smallest state and is located in the far north between Thailand and Kedah. Historically, Perlis was considered as part of Siam (previous name: Palit ปะลิส) as well as Kedah before officially becoming its own state.

Map of Perlis. (Source)

Here is a fun piece of information.

The origin of the name Perlis is still unclear but the capital Kangar which I grew up in was named after Pohon Kangar. It was believed to be a huge tree that existed here long ago which provided shade and respite to traders. Eventually, every merchant and trader began calling the place, Pohon Kangar Port, in honour of the tree that bore witness to the development of the land.

If you are from Perlis or have met someone from Perlis, a question like this usually pops up in conversations.

“What is there to see in Perlis?”

The answer to this seemingly simple question can actually be harder than SPM. These are some common options:

1. There’s nothing in Perlis

2. Just paddy fields

3. Harum manis/Gua Kelam/Padang Besar

4. All of the above

A lot of Malaysians, including Perlisian themselves, perceive Perlis as less advanced than other states. Well, the sense of “kampung” that Perlis is associated with has both positive and negative connotations. No, we don’t have a shopping mall, cinema or an airport.

But, Perlis has its own little charms. You can take a breath of fresh air and enjoy the peaceful oasis through its serene landscape and kind people. There are plenty of small, unexpected and mesmerising spots you would be thankful to stumble upon. It is a perfect destination to escape from the hustle and bustle of life in bigger cities.

All it takes is a chance to visit.

Like the view? This picture was taken during one of my morning cycles in Perlis.

Needless to say, my hometown became a common subject of interest when I entered a university in Selangor. I usually had trouble explaining Perlis because I used to want to leave the nest so bad as it always seemed to be a place with limited opportunities for my younger self.

However, that is not the way I see it now. Hailing from a small town can sometimes make people doubt my capabilities in certain situations, but I secretly love the surprised look on their faces when I prove them wrong. The fact is, our hometown boasts plenty of talents. It is probably just hard to see if you think Perlis only has 8 people in it.

Anyways, what is there to not like about this small state? You have everything within your vicinity and less people to interact with!

All jokes aside, there is so much more to see in Perlis today, I could create a travelogue if I decide to write about them all but to save your time, I’ll share some photos of the interesting places you can know about in Perlis.

Although previously, I was not prepared to tell many good things about my hometown but comparing it to bigger cities and states, I can proudly say Perlis is a gem that is worth keeping no matter how small it is because frankly, there is nothing in the world like it!

Written by Ilham Shedy

Image sources:

Oh My Perlis

Fairuz Othman