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Kota Sarang Semut is a
small town in Kedah, Malaysia. It is located
near Pendang town.
The name of the town literally translated means City of Anthills. A story
go that when King Solomon passed by this place with an entourage of men
and elephants. The ants, fearing that the stampede will destroy their
home, cried for mercy and it was heard by Solomon. He then warned off his
company not to step on the anthills.
Today, the main federal trunk road cuts through the quiet town from
Gurun to Alor Setar.
The Wan Mat Saman Aqueduct, a historical canal channeling water to the
paddy fields in Kedah since colonial days also
passes through the town center. Wan Mat Saman Aqueduct or Terusan Wan Mat
Saman is the longest aqueduct in Malaysia. The total length is 31 km,
connecting Sungai Kedah at Alor Setar to
Gurun in the south of Kedah. It was built between
1900 and 1909 at the order of Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of Kedah at the time, Wan Mat Saman. The structure enables Kedah to boost its rice production and
through it, enables Kedah to earn the nickname "Malaysia's rice bowl".
The construction of the North-South Expressway made this town less known
and visited except for those who still prefer travelling the old federal
trunk road.
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