Alor Setar

Alor Setar is actually the capital of the Kedah state where it is approachable from all parts of Peninsular Malaysia either by road, by sea or by air. Although Alor Setar itself has many modern architectures and shopping complexes, there are still some Thai temples visible around the city. Part of the reason is because Alor Setar is very much in association with Thailand since the early days.

There are actually quite a few interesting places here in Kedah. First of all is the Alor Setar Tower which is located at the heart of Alor Setar. Just like the Kuala Lumpur Tower, the Alor Setar Tower serves two purposes, which is as a telecommunication tower and as Kedah’s landmark. Aside from the Alor Setar Tower, the Masjid Zahir which was officially opened in 1912 is the state mosque of Kedah and no doubt, it is one of the largest and grandest mosques here in Malaysia. This mosque is one of the results of magnificent architecture as this mosque is built based on the Moorish architecture where it has countless arches and columns that definitely defines the grandeur of the mosque.

Besides the state mosque, the Royal Orchestra’s scared musical instruments are housed at Balai Nobat. These three sacred instruments are the drums, a gong and a flute where they signify an important role of the royal regalia. It is said that the drums are a royal gift from the Sultan of Malacca backed in the 15th century. These instruments are only played during royal ceremonies such as weddings and inaugurations. In addition to the Balai Nobat is the Balai Besar where it is also formerly known as the Great Hall. The Balai Besar or the Great Hall is a solid proof between the cultural and historical relationship between Kedah and Thailand. The Balai Besar which was built in 1898 is currently used by the state Sultan for royal and as well as state functions.

There are actually a lot of places in Kedah which are interesting and appealing for all of the people. However, for any first timer visiting Kedah, the place mentioned above is a must visit destinations or else the trip to Kedah will be totally meaningless at all.