This is Alor Star

The capital of Kedah is approachable from all parts of the Peninsular Malaysia by all transport means.

By Road
The North-South Expressway, which starting from Bukit Kayu Hitam (Malaysia-Thai border town) till Singapore, has made it easy for any traveller to drive up to Kedah. Roads are accessible from and to major towns and cities in the Peninsula Malaysia. It is a 7–8 hours drive from Kuala Lumpur and 2 hours drive from Butterworth via North-South Expressway. From major towns, such as Kuala Lumpur and Penang, air-conditioned express buses are also available.

Car
Travellers can drive to Alor Setar by car from south and north via North-South Expressway, from east coast via East-West Expressway(Lebuhraya Timur Barat). Travellers can also prefer major roads from other major cities. Other towns can be accessed from Alor Setar too, such as Butterworth, Thailand, Kangar etc. Car rental services are available, which their offices can be found at airport, train station or in the city.

Bus
Most of the bus companies in Peninsular Malaysia provide air-conditioned express bus services. Tickets can be bought at bus terminals or ticket offices. All the buses that arrived to Alor Setar will be stopped at Shahab Perdana Terminal Bus, Alor Setar. Those who wish to travel to other towns, including Thailand, can catch their bus at this terminal. Local bus services are also available. They service almost all towns in Kedah.

Taxi/Cab
Taxis or cabs can be hailed throughout the city.
At the airport there is a taxi booth just before the exit. Passengers can prepay for their destinations. Prices are fixed and proper receipts issued.

Taxi fare to the Malaysian ( Bukit Kayu Hitam ) / Thai (Danok) border is 55MYR. Its about 50 minutes drive to the border from the airport.

By Rail
Train services are provided by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB). The train services are between Kuala Lumpur and Alor Setar, Butterworth and Alor Setar, Padang Besar and Alor Setar, Hat Yai and Alor Setar, and, Singapore and Alor Setar. Alor Setar train station is located near to the CBD. Tickets can be obtained from train station or online booking.

There is also an international express train service to Bangkok, Thailand, operated by State Railway of Thailand.

By Air
The newly-built state-of-the-art Sultan Abdul Halim Airport (Alor Setar Airport, IATA: AOR) is located at Kepala Batas, 15 km north from city. It serves mostly domestic flights. Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and AirAsia fly daily to and from Alor Setar and Kuala Lumpur.

By Sea
Passenger ferry services to and from Langkawi are provided at Jetty Kuala Kedah, Alor Setar. The jetty is located 25 km west from city. Travellers can take bus or taxi from city to the jetty.

• StarCity Hotel
• Sentosa Regency Hotel
• Grand Crystal
• Grand Royale Hotel
• The Regency Hotel
• Holiday Villa
• Hotel Seri Malaysia
• Anggerik Hotel
• ASRC Hotel
• Federal Hotel
• Miramar Hotel
• Royale Hotel
• Samila Hotel
• Seberang Perak Hotel
• Wangsa Inn

The Kolej Universiti Insaniah Malaysia (KUIN, formerly known as Kolej Insaniah or INSANIAH) is located nearby the state capital. The campus area occupies an entire section of the city known as Mergong.

Other institutions of higher learning in Alor Setar include Kolej Poly-Tech MARA Alor Setar also locate in Mergong which owned by Majlis Amanah Rakyat or MARA.Alor Setar is served by many primary and secondary schools.Kolej Tentera Udara (Royal Air Force College) also located in Kepala Batas, Alor Setar.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS
Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid
SMK Sultanah Asma (Cluster School)
SMK Syed Mohammad Al-Bukhary
SMK Dato'Syed Omar
SMK Sultanah Bahiyah
SMK Agama Kedah
SMK Convent Alor Setar
SMK Darulaman
SMK Seberang Perak
SMK St. Michael
Maktab Mahmud Alor Setar
SMK Tunku Abdul Malik
SMK Simpang Kuala
SMK Tun Sharifah Rodziah
Keat Hwa Secondary School
SMKJC Keat Hwa II

TECHNICAL SCHOOL
Sekolah Menengah Teknik Alor Setar (Cluster School)
Sekolah Menengah Teknik Jalan Stadium

SPECIALIST SCHOOL
Sekolah Pendidikan Khas Alor Setar

PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Sekolah Kebangsaan Sultanah Asma
Sekolah Kebangsaan Convent
Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Rakyat
Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Uda
Sekolah Kebangsaan Iskandar
Sekolah Kebangsaan Alor Setar
Sekolah Kebangsaan Jalan Pegawai
Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Korok
Sekolah Kebangsaan Sultan Abdul Halim
Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Aman
Sekolah Kebangsaan Haji Mohamad Shariff
Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (C)Keat Hwa (Cluster School)
Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (C)Sin Min
Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (T) Barathy
Sekolah Rendah Islam Darulaman (SRIDA)
Sekolah Rendah Islam Alor Setar (SRIAS)

Masjid Zahir (Zahir State Mosque)
This mosque was built in 1912, a contributory effort of YTM Tunku Mahmud Ibni Almarhum Sultan Tajuddin Mukarram Shah. The site of this mosque before it was built was the cemetery of the Kedah warriors who had died while defending Kedah from Siamese (1821). The architecture of the mosque was inspired by the Azizi Mosque in Langkat town, north Sumatera. This mosque is enhanced with five prime large domes symbolizing the five Islamic principles.Its official launching ceremony was held on Friday, 15 October 1915 by the late HRH Sultan Abdul Hamid Shah. Tunku Mahmud read the Friday sermon while HRH Sultan Abdul Hamid Shah led the Friday prayer. At the back of the Zahir Mosque, is the Syariah Court building complex and the Centre for Basic Education for Children.
The Zahir Mosque occupies a site of approximately 124,412 square feet (11,558.3 m2). Its center hall (Prayer Hall) measures 62 x 62 square feet (5.8 m2) and surrounded by verandahs of 8 feet (2.4 m) wide with 4 mezzanine areas of each has a dome. The main dome is located at the north-east of the mosque building. It is one of the grandest and oldest mosques in Malaysia.

Balai Besar (Grand Audience Hall)
Initially the function of the building was as the Balai Rong Seri or Balai Penghadapan (audience hall), that was situated at the back area of the Kota Setar Palace complex (Istana Kota Setar). The original building was built in 1735 by HRH Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Adilin Muazzam Shah, the 19th Sultan of Kedah). The pillars, roofs and floors were made of wood.

This building was destroyed due to attacks by the Bugis armada (1770) and Siamese (1821). During the reign of HRH Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, the 26th Sultan of Kedah), this building was refurbished (1896) spearheaded by Muhammad bin Lebai Tambi, an architect with the Public Works Department of Kedah State for the wedding ceremony of His Royal Highness's five princes and princesses (1904).Besides the wedding ceremony, the Balai Besar was used for installation ceremonies, official ceremonies, State Council Conferences since 1905 until 1973.

Two Kedah Sultans were officially installed at the Balai Besar: HRH Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Halim Shah II, the 22nd Sultan of Kedah) in 1805 and HRH Sultan Abdul Halim on 20 February, 1959.

The design of the Balai Besar is of the characteristics of a Malay house with lengthy roof. On the left and right sections of the Balai Besar are the verandahs. The verandah at the right side of the throne was the area for the Ministers' children, warriors and official officers' children as well as the good citizens. The left verandah was the area for the religious men, merchants and the good citizens. The centre area of the balai (hall) was the place for "the children of the palace", those who held the royal regalia together with the ministers and main government officers in accordance to individual status right up to the ordinary people.

The pillars and cross-beams were made of the highest quality of cengal wood from the state of Kedah. The roofs were made of rumbia (a type of palm-tree). Two large staircases were built in front of the Balai Besar, left and right ascending to the grand hall, rumah tangga, right verandah, left verandah as well as the pavilion, the throne and the Balai Siak located at the utmost back section of the building.

Balai Nobat
This 18 metre-tall and 5 metre-wide three-tiered octagonal tower sole purpose is to keep all the royal musical instruments including the serunai (wooden flute), nafiri, gendang (drum) and gong, which is known as nobat. This nine-piece musical set is composed of three drums, a gong, two flutes, two instruments called the cheng-cheng, and a trumpet-like instrument called the Nafiri, which produces the haunting strains of nobat music. The skills to play nobat music and these instruments are passed down from father to son, and the person who is incharged to play these instruments called Orang Nobat. Nobat are played for specific ceremonies such as royal installations, deaths and other official ceremonies. It is believed that the Nobat originated from the Hindustani culture centuries ago when one of the brothers of the then ruling Sultan made a visit there.

Upon the official opening of the Alor Setar town in 1735 by HRH Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Adilin Muazzam Shah, the 19th Sultan of Kedah), a number of early buildings had been completed including the Kota Setar Palace, the Balai Besar, the Balai Nobat and the State Mosque. The original design of the Balai Nobat could not be ascertained but certainly it was built using wood.

During the reign of HRH Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Mukarram Shah, the 25th Sultan of Kedah), the new Balai Nobat consisting of five-story building was built. The building was totally built of wood with zinc roofing. During the reign of the HRH Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, the 26th Sultan of Kedah), a new building was built using concrete and metal. The architecture is the same as the previous wooden building. The height was three-story and the dome at its apex represents the Islamic element such as those found on mosques. This new building was built in 1906.

Right now, there are only a handful of these orchestras left in the country. This tower, however is closed to public. In order to view the nobat, visitors must obtain permission from the State Secretariat first.

Balai Seni Negeri (State Art Gallery)
The Kedah State Art Gallery was set up with the objective of fostering interest in and an appreciation of art in the state. Its collection includes paintings, photographs, musical instruments and handicrafts. Temporary exhibitions are held at regular intervals.

This building was the earliest modern government office that was built in the town of Alor Setar. Its construction was spearheaded by Muhammad bin Lebai Tambi, an architect from the Kedah State Public Works Department. The construction of the building began on 21 January 1893, and he was also responsible for the restoration of the Balai Besar building.

This modern building with eastern and western architectural elements was initially the High Court and was officially opened by Sultan Abdul Hamid Shah. This building was closed to make way for the special entertainment hall for very important people during the wedding ceremony of His Royal Highness's five princes and princesses which lasted for three months (June until September 1904).

In 1912, a number of offices were located here such as the office of the His Royal Highness's Sultan, the treasury and audit office and the British Adviser. In 1914, most of these offices were relocated to the Wan Muhammad Saman building. The building was later occupied by the Public Works Department and the Department of Drainage and Irrigation. In conjunction with the celebration of the Silver Jubilee of the reign of HRH Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah, this building was converted to the Balai Seni Negeri (State Art Gallery) which was officiated by His Royal Highness on 25 July 1983.

Alor Setar was founded in 1735 by Kedah’s 19th Ruler, Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Adilin Mu’azzam Shah and is the state’s eighth administrative centre since the establishment of the Kedah Sultanate in 1136. The earlier administrative centres were located in Kota Bukit Meriam, Kota Sungai Emas, Kota Siputeh, Kota Naga, Kota Sena, Kota Indera Kayangan and Kota Bukit Pinang.

"Alor" or more correctly, "alur" is Malay for a groove, furrow or main stream of a channel. In Tamil "alur" means drain. "Setar" is a tree with small, sour fruit (Bouea macrophylla) also known as either "kundang" or "remia" in Malay. The uniqueness of these fruits is that when you split the seed, each part is purple in colour.
The city had been sacked twice when Kedah was attacked by the Bugis in 1770 and the Siamese in 1821.

Significant events held here included the handing back of Perlis and Setul (now Satun) to Kedah by the Siamese in May 1897 (both provinces were separated from Kedah since 1821) and a 90-day festival from June to September 1904 to celebrate the wedding of the five children of Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah.

Alor Setar had been officially granted as a city – the ninth in Malaysia, on 21 December 2003, during which the spelling of its name was officially changed to Alor Star from the prior Alor Setar. The proclamation ceremony to declare the Kedah capital a city was held at Dataran Tunku, Alor Setar. Among those present at the historic ceremony were the Kedah's Sultan Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah and his consort Che' Puan Haminah Hamidun, the Raja Muda of Kedah and Raja Puan Muda (Heir Apparent of Kedah State and his consort), members of the Kedah royalty, parliament members and state exco members. The ceremony was also witnessed by civilians and tourists. The name was returned back to Alor Setar on January 15, 2009.

Alor Setar, known as Alor Star between 2004 and 2008, is the state capital of Kedah, Malaysia, and Kota Setar District's Administrative Centre. It is also a distribution center for manufacturing and agricultural products such as paddy, and the royal seat of the Kedah state since the establishment of this city. The city, which has an urban population of approximately more than 300,000, is one of the region’s oldest cities.
It is located 93 kilometers north of Butterworth, Penang and 45 km south of the Thai-Malaysia border, with the latitude of 6°7' 0N and longitude of 100°22' 0E. Its time zone is UTC+8. As a transportation hub in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia, many places can be easily reached from Alor Setar, such as Phuket, Kota Bahru, Langkawi and etc, either by air, rail, road or sea.

It is also the birth place of a few famous personalities in Malaysia, including two former Prime Ministers, YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia's first Prime Minister, and Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, Malaysia's fourth Prime Minister. Alor Setar was granted city status on 21 December 2003.

Alor Setar atau dikenali sebagai Alor Star merupakan ibu negeri Kedah, Malaysia dan Pusat Pentadbiran Daerah Kota Setar. Tempat kelahiran Allahyaraham YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, Perdana Menteri Malaysia yang pertama dan Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, Perdana Menteri Malaysia yang keempat.