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Alor Setar is the state capital of
Kedah, Malaysia, and
Kota Setar District's Administrative Centre. It is also a distribution
center for manufacturing and agricultural products such as paddy, and the
royal seat of the Kedah since the establishment of this city. The
city, which has an urban population of approximately more than 300,000, is
one of the region’s oldest cities. The city is administered by Majlis Bandaraya Alor Setar
(MBAS) after accorded a city status in 2003.
It is located 93 kilometers north of
Butterworth,
Penang and 45 km south
of the
Thailand border.
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.
It is also the birthplace of two Prime Ministers, YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman,
Malaysia's first Prime Minister, and Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad,
Malaysia's fourth Prime Minister. Alor Setar was granted city status on 21
December 2003.
How to get there
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By Road
The North-South Expressway, which starts from
Bukit Kayu Hitam
(Malaysia-Thai border town) until Singapore, has made it easy for any traveller to drive up to Kedah. Roads are accessible from and to major
towns and cities in Peninsula Malaysia. It is a 5–7 hour drive from
Kuala Lumpur and 1.5 hour drive from
Butterworth via North-South Expressway.
From major towns, such as Kuala Lumpur and
Penang, air-conditioned express
buses are also available.
Travellers can drive to Alor Setar by car from south and north via
North-South Expressway, from east coast via East-West Expressway (Lebuhraya
Timur Barat). Towns such as Butterworth and
Kangar etc., can also be
accessed from Alor Setar. Car rental services are available, which their
offices can be found at airport, train station or in the city.
By Rail
Train services are provided by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB). The
train services are between Kuala Lumpur and Alor Setar,
Butterworth and Alor Setar,
Padang Besar and Alor Setar, Hat Yai and Alor Setar, and,
Singapore and Alor Setar. Alor Setar railway station is located near to
the CBD.(Will moved to Anak Bukit International Railway Station when the
electrical twin rail (Ipoh,
Perak to
Padang Besar,
Perlis) project is
finished.) Tickets can be obtained from train station or online booking.
There is also an international express train service to Bangkok,
Thailand,
operated by State Railway of Thailand.
By Air
The newly-built state-of-the-art
Sultan
Abdul Halim Airport (Alor Setar
Airport, IATA: AOR) is located at Kepala Batas, 15 km north from city. It
serves mostly domestic flights. Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and AirAsia fly
daily to and from Alor Setar and Kuala Lumpur.
By Sea
Passenger ferry services to and from Langkawi to Kuah Ferry Service are
provided at Jeti Kuala Kedah, Alor Setar. The jetty is located 15 km west
from city. Travellers can take bus or taxi from city to the jetty.
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