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Sunday, February 22, 2009

Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum

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My agenda of the day was actually to hike Mount Jerai. Unfortunately massive landslide that blocked the trekking trail for a couple of months then diverted me to Lembah Bujang (Bujang Valley) for the Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum.

Anyway, it should not be a bad idea to re-visit history occasionally.

Mount Jerai can be seen at the far side behind the museum. The lush tropical rainforest greenery in the background of the museum was really a good replacement after the earlier setback.


Research showed that because of its favourable location along the trade route, Bujang Valley became an important and prosperous kingdom attracting traders from China and India.


The treasure trove showed Bujang Valley had a thriving Hindu and Buddhist civilisation from third to 14th century AD.


There are ruins, including temples (Chandi), that may date more than 1,500 years old in Bujang Valley.

Ganesha is one of the best-known and most widely worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon. Statue of Ganesha is no doubt to be found during the excavation in 1938 and 1939.

A sitting Budda Statue

Having gone through a brief history lesson, then come a big surprise to me. I got to know some stories of Cerok Tokun, my weekend lover, 40km away from her home. I do not know whether she was too shy to tell me on the spot or her caretaker did not bother at all.

Cerok Tokun inscription chiseled in Sanskrit meaning 'while Young' dated to the 4th century AD.


A sailor named Buddha-Gupta was wished a safe voyage in the inscription dated in 5th century AD were discovered in 1845. Every now and then, when the trees start talking, I shall know and appreciate that they will be telling me stories back to few hundred years ago.


By the way, for someone who are interested to track my footsteps at Bujang Valley, then once you exit Sungai Petani at the southern toll, follow the signs and you will be led on a 20km drive to Bujang Valley, Merbok where the museum is located.

I shall come back in the next post showing you some pictures on waterfalls at Bujang Valley.

5 comments:

  1. I really like museums, especially the Archeological kind. There aren't many old things like those in your museum left here, but we have some. I like the ruins the most.

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  2. I do enjoy your posts and I am pleased I found your blog. Looking at the photographs of Mt Kinabalu bring back many happy memories too.

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  3. As a photo blogger, it is hard to be educated as many people do not have enough resources to provide a photography journal through lenses.

    Your post is revealing so much history and cultural artefacts through this post. I like the last 3 shots that really depict the feel of the region.

    The first facade does not appear like a museum. It is more like some rich people's garden!

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  4. Ratty...All these past remainings are the evidence what our ancestors had done which cannot be denied and changed.

    The TEFL Don...Thanks. Your comment has nearly made me to include one of my pictures at Mt Kinabalu in the next post.

    Roentarre...To spend some times on history occasionally is good in such a way it helps to remind everyone the past fact.

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  5. I am reading this backward :) but here I am still on your blog reading this morning...Your early posts are quite addicting :)

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