Alor Setar Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 1-2 Days

Best Time: December to February Read More

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Also Refered As:

Alor Star

"Land of Architectural Treasures"

Alor Setar Tourism

Known as Alor Star from 2004 to 2008, Alor Setar is the state capital of Kedah, Malaysia. It is the second-largest state in the city and one of the most important cities on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. A famous stopover between Langkawi and Southern Malaysia, Alor Setar is known for its architectural treasures. 

Alor Setar is a city that houses multiple places of interest. The Mahawangsa River Cruise for Alor Setar is a must ride river cruise along the Kedah river, giving you an opportunity to witness beautiful calming scenery, and Malay villages first hand. Besides this, the places of cultural interests include - Balai Besar, Balai Nobat, The Tou Mu Kung Temple, and Kota Kuala Kedah.

Blessed with a rich culture and heritage, Alor Setar also gives you the opportunity to witness beautiful art in the form of museums and art galleries. Muzium Negeri, Pusat Sains Negara, Muzium Padi, Balai Seni Negeri, and Galeria Sultan Abdul Halim are a few of the many present. In fact, Muzium Padi is the first paddy museum in Malaysia and fourth in the world. The state mosque of Kedah, Zahir Mosque (Masjid Zahir), enjoys a royal history and patronage. Reflecting strong Thai elements with minor Chinese motifs in its architecture, it offers a quiet oasis in the city centre.

Although Alor Setar is overshadowed by its neighbour, Langkawi Islands, the city’s rich history and heritage that provides some of the best examples of Islamic architecture is still worth a thought!

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How to Reach Alor Setar

How to Reach Overview

Alor Setar is accessible through two major road routes- North-South Expressway and  East-West Highway (Lebuhraya Timur Barat). The nearest airports to Alor Setar include - Sultan Abdul Halim Airport (Alor Setar) (AOR), Langkawi International Airport (Langkawi) (LGK), Penang International Airport (Penang) (PEN), and Sultan Azlan Shah Airport (Ipoh) (IPH).

Local transport in Alor Setar

  • The city of Alor Setar provides cars, trains, buses for getting in and around. The North-South Expressway, which connects  Bukit Kayu Hitam to Singapore, has made it easy to drive to Kedah. Car rental services are available. 
  • Most of the buses here are air-conditioned. All the buses that arrive in Alor Setar make a stop at Shahab Perdana Terminal Bus. Local buses are also available that make stops throughout the city. It is advised to have extra travel time in hand since buses can arrive at any time, making travelling on buses a little tricky.
  •  The city’s two railway stations are Alor Setar railway station and Anak Bukit railway station, tickets of which can be obtained either from the train station or online booking.

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Alor Setar Photos

Alor Setar
Alor Setar Tower
Gunung Keriang located near Alor Setar
Wat Nikrodharam

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