Alor Setar

Alor Setar, (Jawi: الور ستار) or also known as Alor Star in 2004-2008, is the capital of Kedah, Malaysia; largest city in the state of Kedah; important city in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The city houses the Kota Setar District Administrative Centre the City Muadzam Shah and the royal city of Kedah, City Anak Bukit.

Alor Setar is located 93 kilometers north of Penang and 45 km from the southern border of Thailand. Alor Setar City is managed by the local authorities (PBT) Alor Setar City Council. As a transportation center in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia, Alor Setar, which covers a land area of 666 km2 (square) occupied by more than 300,000 thousand inhabitants according to the census of 2010 is one of the oldest cities in the area.

Alor Setar which is also an important city of the state of Kedah is among the major cities in Kedah apart from the city Sungai Petani, city Kulim and city Langkawi These cities are also developing in line with the existing development in Alor Setar.

Alor Setar linked with northern states of Peninsular Malaysia with an airport, the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport, newly built in 2006 to serve only domestic flights but also provides international flights only for pilgrims, through the North-South Expressway in and out through the toll plaza North Alor, Alor Setar Selatan toll plaza and toll plazas Alor Setar Hutan Kampung, a railway station in the City Centre Alor Setar, Shahab Perdana bus station and transport out of the mainland to the island of Langkawi through the Kuala Kedah Ferry Terminal.

It is also the birthplace of two Prime Minister, YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia's first Prime Minister, and Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, Malaysia's fourth Prime Minister. Many celebrities also originated from Malaysia here.

Here are some photos of Alor Setar city.

History 

Alor Setar was founded in 1735 by Kedah’s 19th Ruler, Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Adilin II 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. The name came from the combination of two Malay words which is "Alor" which mean ("small stream") and from the name of a tree "Setar" ("Bouea macrophylla Griff").

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.