Museums and Galleries In Alor Setar

Muzium Negeri (State Museum) As a state museum, it houses a large collection of Kedah's historical, culture, and royal heritages. The collection includes early Chinese porcelain, artefacts from the archaeological excavations in Lembah Bujang (Bujang Valley) and a fabulous pokok bunga emas or 'gold tree' produced as a tribute to the Thais.

The museum is also a research centre on Kedah's civilisation. Before the present premise was built in 1936, the museum - officially opened by the then Kedah Mentri Besar Tan Sri Tunku Ismail Tunku Yahya (Tunku indera Setia), on February 3, 1957 - was located in the Balai Besar (Grand Hall).

Pusat Sains Negara(National Science Center) Located at Gunung Keriang next to Alor Setar Aquatic Centre and Paddy Museum, the center is the first science center built in northern Malaysia region.

Muzium Padi (Paddy Museum) The museum is the first paddy museum in Malaysia, and the fourth to be opened in the world after Japan, Germany and the Philippines.

The museum showcases the paddy cultivation process in Malaysia and displays tools and equipment which are used in the trade over the years. Through beautiful murals, the art work of 60 artists from North Korea, the history of paddy cultivation in Malaysia is revealed.

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.

Galeria Sultan Abdul Halim This building formerly was the Alor Setar High Court, before it was moved to Kompleks Mahkamah Alor Setar in Suka Menanti. This building is located at the junction of Jalan Putera, adjacent to the Balai Nobat. Initially, this building was the place for the existing Balai Seni. This building was built on Rabiulawal 1341 Hijrah equivalent to November 1922.

Muzium Diraja Kedah (Royal Kedah Museum)

This building which originated from the Kota Setar Palace is a wooden building that was built by HRH Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Adilin II, the 19th Sultan of Kedah), who was the founder of Alor Setar town in 1735. This building had undergone demolitions several times due to attacks by the Bugis (1770) and Siamese (1821).

The concrete building was completed during the reign of HRH Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Mukarram Shah). His Royal Highness had once stayed in this palace with his queen, Wan Hajar Wan Ismail who was also known as "Mak Wan Besar". Therefore, this palace is also known as the "Mak Wan Besar Palace".

YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra was also born adjacent to this palace (the Pagoda building, which no longer exist today) on 8 February 1903 and once grew up in this palace while his father the late HRH Sultan Abdul Hamid and his mother Mak Che Manjalara resided there.

This palace is also renowned as the "Pelamin Palace" when the space of the palace was extended to as a pavilion and additional rooms when HRH Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah wanted to marry off his five princes and princesses. This grand wedding ceremony lasted for three months in 1904. After 1941, this palace was used as a school and an office for several organizations including the office for the St. John Ambulance and the Scout movements. On 25 July 1983, this palace was declared the "Kedah Royal Museum".