There are many reasons to visit Alor Setar; you will find historical or cultural sites after all. Some are located within the city, while others are located outside of the city limits and require transportation. Alor Setar is not known as a tourism destination. Therefore when it comes to local sightseeing, you win as all the sites worth visiting are laid-back and thus can be enjoyed at a leisurely pace.
About Alor Setar
Alor Setar is located in northern Kedah and is the capital of the Kedah state. Alor Star is derived from the words ‘alor’, which means river channel, and ‘setar,’ a pohon setar tree. The setar tree grew along the river banks that flowed past the Alor Star settlement. In the early days, visitors traveling by boat to the settlement would rest under these trees along the riverbanks. Thus the resting place became known as Alor Star.
Our Reasons to Visit Alor Setar
Our reasons for visiting Alor Setar were to see other parts of Malaysia and experience other locations. Alor Setar seemed to fit the bill nicely. Georgetown was great, but it was time to see something different. The plan was to stay a couple of days in Alor Setar and then take the train over to Ipoh for three days. To be sure the train would be interesting, and we thought, something different.
Take the Bus To Alor Setar
Having booked our bus seats online, which was very easy using easybook.com, the cost approx USD 3.50, an outstanding deal indeed. We caught the bus to Alor Setar from the Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal in Georgetown early in the afternoon. Our trip would take a couple of hours. Remember to take a little food and drink for the ride, as nothing is provided. It’s easy to book many forms of transportation just follow this link 12go.
In general, the bus ride itself was pleasant, the countryside stunning. Cindy and I had never seen so many rice paddy fields or palm oil plantations. Our trip was uneventful, which saw us being dropped off at the bus terminal in Alor Setar, where we caught a cab to our hotel Sentosa Regency. We used Agoda to book our room at Sentosa Regency Hotel. The room was a pleasant enough place, close to the town center.
After getting settled into our room, we walked downtown to find something to eat; we had plenty of food choices. All of which looked particularly interesting and, I’m sure, filling. In addition, it was amazing the number of different foods available, the aromas transported you to hawker stalls where you were enticed to savor the presented unusual foods. I often feel sorry for those who do not take this opportunity to try different foods because of preconceived ideas or phobias. Food is another good reason to visit unique locals.
Local Sightseeing
We spent our first day touring the local sights within walking distance—staying close to downtown afforded us many interesting sites. Our local sightseeing tour took us to see cultural attractions that we found to be interesting and impressive. Alor Setar is a diverse experience as it offers much to see. We walked all over the downtown area, enjoying all it had to showcase. We occasionally stop to sample some of the foods the local street hawkers offer.
Alor Setar has many reasons to visit, below are but a few locations that we enjoyed ourselves, in no particular order. There are others, so feel free to explore, this is what makes travel exciting; you never know what you may find.
Balai Nobat ( octagonal-shaped tower)
Nobat Tower is a historical landmark inside Dataran Alor Setar. This three-tiered circular building rises 18 meters. Nobat Tower dates back to 1906; the yellow and white arrangement is home to the Royal Nobat musical instruments, which are only played at Royal ceremonies.
Such as the coronation day, wedding, and royal burial. Nobat’s musical instruments consist of three large tambourines, two small tambourines, one gong, and one flute. Amazingly these instruments can produce an impressive sound combination known as nobat music, a Kedah cultural song. Thus this ranked as a must-visit attraction for its majestic appearance.
Muezzins from Zahir Mosque once banged the drums to call local Muslims at prayer time before the clock tower next door opened.
Masjid Zahir (mosque)
In fact, the Zahir Mosque is one of the grandest and oldest mosques in Malaysia, built-in 1912. Additionally, the Zahir Mosque has been voted as one of the top 10 most beautiful mosques in the world. The mosque opened in 1912 to commemorate the place where Kedah’s warriors fought against the invading Siamese decades early.
The five-domed Moorish structure exhibits intricate carvings covering its white façade. Blue mosaics sit above the entrance. Arabic calligraphy decorates the walls. Manicured gardens complement the external details creating one of Alor Setar’s most photogenic spots.
Alor Star Tower
The Alor Setar Tower is a telecommunications tower located in the city center at 165.5 meters (543 feet). It can be spotted easily in the skyline. The tower is a Kedah landmark, almost resembling the spaceships out of HG Wells’ War of the Worlds. You need to check out the observation deck for panoramic views of Alor Setar and the surrounding paddy fields.
Alor Setar Tower features a rooftop revolving restaurant, making plans to enjoy a romantic evening in one of the city’s most exclusive spots. It is recommended on a cloudless evening for the best views of Alor Setar. Almost every image of Alor Setar includes either Zahir Mosque or Alor Setar Tower.
The Big Clock Tower (Menara Jam Besar)
Menara Jam Besar, or Big Clock Tower in English, stands across the street from Zahir Mosque. The yellow-gold and white exteriors showcase a twist of Islamic and Hindu styles; the clock dates back to 1912, around the same time as the mosque. When it first opened, the tower chimed to announce the call to prayer. The clock tower still displays the correct time over one hundred years later.
The upper part has a distinct Islamic flair with a crowning dome topped by the crescent. Look at the lower half, and both parts combine to form the intricacies of the tower. Apart from showcasing some beautiful architecture in Alor Setar, it’s also among the most beautiful clock towers. During the day, capture its elegance next to the surrounding lavish architecture. After nightfall, the Big Clock Tower lights up. George Town also has a beautiful clock tower that is worth seeing if you are ever there.
Galeri Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Sham
The Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Gallery is a museum located in the northern part of Dataran Alor Setar. Showcasing the history and artifacts of Kedah Sultan Abdul Halim ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah.
The building was originally completed in November 1922 as the new High Court building. The building was repurposed as a gallery in 2007
Inside endless displays cover everything about the former Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah’s (1958-2017) life. This includes the late Sultan’s possessions, photographs, and official documents. His collection of luxury cars and watches fill others. We found this to be very interesting and would recommend visiting.
Kedah Fort (Kota Kuala Kedah)
On our second day in Alor Setar, we decided to visit a couple of tourist destinations located outside of town. The first is Kedah Fort, located about a 15-minute drive from Alor Setar. Heading towards the coast and located on the Kedah river. We had booked a Grab car to take us to Kedah Fort. Our driver was interesting and a woman, very friendly with good English. When asked if we could hire her for the day, she agreed, which was nice and convenient.
Kedah fort was constructed in the early 1600s and has an amazing history. Besides, I always find historical sites to be incredibly interesting. You can almost feel the presence of the individuals who were a living part of these structures—having the ability to build such unique forts that have passed the test of time. Conveying to us today what the past was really like. I’m fascinated by it all. A good reason to visit is the history associated with this Fort.
While we were waiting for our Grab driver, Cindy and I did some local sightseeing, wandered around the fort’s outer area, and came across this fish market. This was truly a local fish market as we were the only non-locals to be seen. As always, we got a few stares but were welcome to participate. Purchasing some of the local foods, we were not disappointed. You never know what lies around the corner. What new experiences await you? This is the adventure of travel; you don’t need a reason to visit. If time permits and you are in the area, this piece of history is well worth the visit.
Paddy Museum (Muzium Padi)
Once picked up by our Grab driver, we were off to the Rice (Paddy) Museum. Our driver had never been to the Paddy Museum before, so we invited her to join us instead of letting her wait outside while we toured the museum. We offered to pay for her admission into the museum. Having our driver with us paid dividends, as she translated most of the information displayed throughout the museum.
This three-storied museum covers everything about rice and its cultivation in Kedah. First, the lower floor displays machinery and presents the cultural role of rice. Secondly, the middle level provides context for its sale and distribution. Lastly, the Paddy Museum’s highlight is the vast mural spanning the third floor’s circular wall. These images depict a rural Kedah scene: Farmers performing their day-to-day duties and tending to their crops. It made you feel like part of the display. Furthermore, the murals on this museum’s walls are hand-painted with amazing detail.
If you are ever in Alor Setar, do take the time to visit. We recommend it.
Made a Friend
After a great day of sightseeing with our newfound friend, we were taken back to our hotel. Moreover, when we parted ways, we did as friends, not as strangers. Given the opportunity, grab a Grab and do a little bit of touring yourselves. The small cost was very much worth the enjoyment we received in return. The conversations we had with her let us into the life of a local Malaysian, if only for but a brief moment.
Off To Ihpo
We are now off to Ipoh for the next several days. We decided to take the train, very much looking forward to the experience. The trip takes approximately 2.5 hours at the cost of approximately &12 USD each. Again we used Easybook.com to book our tickets online. The trains themselves are electric and travel at 150 km/hr. Please follow this link to view our video on YouTube of our visit to Alor Setar.
Final Thoughts On Alor Setar
- Cindy and I enjoyed our stay in Alor Setar; we would recommend a visit if you are in the area. Interesting and historical sites to see, no crowds, which I always think as a positive. A couple of days here would be lots of time to see everything.
Our Positives
- Few tourists, which I always think is a positive
- Interesting tourist attractions
- Locals are friendly and the food is good.
Our Negatives
- Should maybe have done some further research for general knowledge.
Would have, Could have, Should have
- Should have gone to the top of the Alor Setar tower
Next Stop
We are taking a train to Ihpo, for several days and some exploring of the local attractions and a car rental to visit the countryside. Follow us.
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Recommended Travel Essential
Cindy and I call ourselves nomadic so with this lifestyle, we use certain essentials to make this way of life easier and more comfortable. With this in mind, we have composed a list of what we feel are essentials and some tips you might use to plan or take your next travel adventure.
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Accommodation Options While Traveling The World
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- Agoda.com we find is best to use when in Southeast Asia, but hey you never know what you might find
- Airbnb.com used to be our go-to but some of their cancelation policies are reasonable, give them a try as well
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