Alor Setar

Alor Setar is the capital city of the state of Kedah in Malaysia.

It sits in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The city is located near the Malacca Strait, which separates Malaysia from Indonesia. It is a vital center for politics and the economy within the state. The city is also a major transportation hub for the northern Malay Peninsula. It sits along the main travel corridor connecting Malaysia to Thailand.

This location makes it easy to reach via the Padang Besar–Sadao Highway from Thailand. It also sits along a very long expressway that runs from Kuala Lumpur to the north of George Town, Penang.

Geography plays a huge role in how the city looks and functions. The city is surrounded by several important river systems. These include the Kedah, Langgar, Tajar, Anak Bukit, Alor Malai, and Alor Merah Rivers.

A notable landmark is Mount Keriang, which is a mogote, or a small hill. This hill reaches a height of 217.9 meters. Inside the hill, there is a network of limestone caves. These caves even contain geodes made of calcite crystals. The climate is a tropical monsoon climate, known as Am in the Köppen classification. This means the city has a very lengthy wet season. Temperatures stay relatively consistent, with average highs around 32 degrees Celsius and lows around 23 degrees Celsius.

The city's name tells a story about its natural environment. The name comes from two Malay words: "Alor," meaning a small stream, and "Setar," which refers to the *Bouea macrophylla* tree. This tree is also known as the marian plum, gandaria, or plum mango.

The city was originally founded as Kota Setar in 1785. It was established by the 19th Ruler of Kedah, Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Adilin II. The sultan chose this location because it was a strategic spot. He was drawn to the lush greenery and the place where two estuaries of the Kedah River converged. The town grew from a small village into a bustling center for trade and administration.

Alor Setar has experienced many periods of change and turbulence. In 1770, a Bugis armada led by Raja Haji attacked the settlement. They destroyed both the Istana Kota Setar, which was the Royal Palace, and the Balai Besar, or Grand Hall.

Later, in 1805, Siamese forces occupied the capital during a coronation ceremony. This forced the sultan to retreat to Penang and later Malacca. The settlement remained at a standstill for 20 years. However, the city eventually recovered and grew through increased trade. English explorers like James F. Agustin visited in 1883 and noted the beautiful palatial architecture. This helped spur direct trade relations with British, Indian, and Chinese merchants.

The city has a deep connection to the history of Malaysia. It is the birthplace of two very important prime ministers. Tunku Abdul Rahman was the founding father of the nation and served from 1957 to 1970.

Mahathir Mohamad was the country's longest-serving prime minister. He served for 24 years between 1981 and 2003, and again from 2018 to 2020. The city is also a core cultural center for the Kedahan Malays. In the post-war period, the town joined protests against the Malayan Union. A mass protest of 10,000 people was led by Tunku Abdul Rahman. The city also hosted the 4th UMNO General Assembly, which helped draft the foundation for the current Constitution of Malaysia.

Modern Alor Setar is a large and organized urban center. According to the 2020 census, the city has more than 400,000 inhabitants.

The city is home to the Alor Setar Tower, which is the third-tallest tower in Malaysia. The city is administered by the Alor Setar City Council. It serves as the administrative center for the Kota Setar District. The city holds the Central State Administration Centre. This includes the Office of the Chief Minister and the Kedah State Legislative Assembly, located in Wisma Darul Aman. The city's status has evolved significantly, moving from a sanitary board in 1905 to a municipal council in 1978.

Infrastructure and landmarks define the skyline and the daily life of the city.

Transportation has been a key part of its development since the early 20th century. The railway station was commissioned in 1915, and the airport followed in 1929. Many historic buildings still stand, such as the High Court building built in 1922, which is now the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Gallery.

The city's history is also visible in its religious monuments, like the Masjid Zahir. The name of the city has even changed several times. It was once called "Alor Star" during a ceremony in 2003, but the historical spelling, "Alor Setar," was restored in 2009.