Perlis, State administrative division in northern Malaysia
Perlis is a state in northern Malaysia, located between Thailand and Kedah, and forms the smallest administrative division in the country. The landscape alternates between flat rice paddies, gentle hills, and limestone formations scattered across the territory.
The area became independent in 1843 after Syed Hussain Jamalullail received the title of Raja and the ties to the Kingdom of Kedah were released. Later the state joined the Malayan Union and became part of modern Malaysia after independence in 1957.
The name comes from a Thai word referring to the region's position near the border, where Malay and Thai influences blend in everyday speech and local customs. Visitors notice this mix in the way people greet each other and in the designs painted on houses and shops.
Travelers reach the area by the West Coast railway line or road connections leading to larger cities in Malaysia and to border crossings into Thailand. The best time to visit falls outside the monsoon months, when roads and footpaths are easier to navigate.
Inside the caves flows an underground river once used as a transport route for tin, now accessible via wooden walkways. Some caves shelter small shrines that locals visit on certain occasions and decorate with fresh flowers.
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