Alor Setar

Alor Setar's name comes from the combination of two Malay words: Alor, meaning 'small stream', and Setar, referring to a tree known as Bouea macrophylla.

Alor Setar was established on 30 December 1735 by Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Adilin II as the eighth administrative centre of the Kedah Sultanate.

The city is home to the Kedah State Mosque, Masjid Zahir, which was built in 1912 and inspired by the Azizi Mosque in Sumatera.

Alor Setar is served by Sultan Abdul Halim Airport, which is the second oldest airport in Malaysia, built in 1929.

The Kedah State Museum houses a large collection of Kedah's historical, cultural, and royal heritage, including early Chinese porcelain and archaeological artefacts.