Mount Jerai

Mountain in Kedah, Malaysia

Mount Jerai

Location in Malaysia

LocationKuala Muda and Yan Districts, KedahCountry

MalaysiaState

KedahGeologyMountain typeInselbergClimbingFirst ascentlocal Kedahans

Mount Jerai (Malay: Gunung Jerai), formerly Kedah Peak, is a mountain in Kedah, Malaysia with the height of 3,993 feet (1,217 m). Within Kedah itself, the mountain stands at the border of Kuala Muda and Yan districts.

Mount Jerai is known as the Hausberg of the town of Sungai Petani, the district capital of Kuala Muda.

Geology

Mount Jerai is a 1,217- metre tall inselberg located near the coast of the Strait of Malacca, and is part of an eponymous geological formation that correlates with the Machinchang Formation in the island of Langkawi. The Jerai Formation is originally a sedimentary formation composed of fully metamorphosed sandstone and shale, and it consists of argillite, arenite and porphyry facies.^[1]

Insular origins

There is an information board on top of the mountain stating that it used to be an island called Pulai Serai before the sea levels receded letting it form a mountain. This is probably supported by I Ching's record of Pu Lou Shi (Pulau Sri), a country located west of Sribogha.^[2]

Tourism

The summit of Jerai has been developed into a hill resort, and from there tourists can get to enjoy a wide angle view of the surrounding areas, including Penang Island and the rice fields of Yan District.

Gallery

Mount Jerai towers over a paddy field.
East face of Jerai, viewed from Gurun.
Mount Jerai, seen from Guar Chempedak.
The mountain as seen from Batu Feringghi, Penang, 41 km (25 mi) southwest.
Aerial view of Jerai and Tanjung Dawai, seen from a commercial flight.

References

^ Bradford, E.F., Geology and Mineral Sources of Gunung Jerai Area, Kedah. Geological Survey District Memoir 13, Geological Survey Malaysia, 1972.
^ i-Tsing (2005). A Record of the Buddhist Religion as Practiced in India and the Malay ... - I-Tsing - Google Books. ISBN 9788120616226. Retrieved 15 April 2016.