ALOR SETAR

Overview

Alor Setar is the state capital of Kedah, Malaysia, located in the north-western part of Peninsular Malaysia.  It is the second largest city in the state after Sungai Petani, Kedah.  It is one of the important cities in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the North-South Expressway，located 400 km from Kuala Lumpur.

Alor Setar is unique for Malaysia because the government sector and schools in 'tip of Malaysia' city here operate from Sunday to Thursday every week, which is different from neighbouring states.

Accessibility and Transportation

Due to its location along the main travel route from Malaysia to Thailand, it is a major transportation hub in the northern Malay Peninsula.  The city is served by the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport, which began operations in 2006.  The city's Kuala Kedah Jetty is served by ferries linking the city with the popular resort island of Langkawi.

Places of Attraction

There are a few places of interest to visit here.  One of them is the Alor Setar Tower, which is a major landmark located in the heart of town.  It is the tallest building in Alor Setar with the height of 165.5 meters. It functions as both a telecommunications tower and a tourist attraction. In the tower there  is a rotating restaurant named Restoran Sri Angkasa.  The tower also provides a panoramic view of the state capital to its visitors. Visitors can used the binoculars that are available at the observatory deck to view a closer view at the many tourist spots in Alor Setar.

The Birth House of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad (former Prime Minister of Malaysia) is one of the most significant buildings in Kedah.  It is a humble wooden house that is located at No. 8, Lorong Kilang Ais. The house is also located adjacent to Jalan Pegawai.  Visitors will get the opportunity to view displayed memorabilia that are related to the life and times of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

Located towards the back of the Kota Setar Palace complex is the Balai Besar(Royal Hall). Its initial purpose was as an audience hall, built in 1735 by the 19th Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Adilin Muazzam Shah.   This was a lovely building with wood pillars, roofs and flooring. Unfortunately, the building was badly damaged in 1770 when the Bugis armada attacked the place, and ruined even further by the Siamese in 1821.It was, however, refurbished in 1896 to prepare for the weddings of the reigning Sultan's children. Besides weddings, the Balai Besar was also used for official ceremonies and other royal events.

Paddy Museum is the latest popular tourist attraction that features different aspects of paddy cultivation through the ages, including samplings of paddy plants from around the world. Paddy Museum is situated at Gunung Keriang, about 8km from Alor Star.  This is a museum that displays all you need to know about paddy and rice; from the process of planting and harvesting, and all the way to the benefits and the many grades of rice. The main attraction within the museum is the rotating deck, showcasing a large 360-degree mural depicting the four phases from planting to harvesting.