Alor Star (formerly know as Alor Setar) is located 45 kms south of the Thai-Malaysia border, near the west coast, & only 93 kms north of Butterworth (Penang), making it a perfect day trip from Penang, or a perfect stop when visiting Langkawi. The passenger ferry to and from Langkawi Island is in Kuala Kedah just 25 kms west of the city. Buses & taxis can take you between the city & jetty. There are two highways to get you there from Penang. The North-South Expressway (Highway 1) is the quickest, but the old highway, which is slower, is more scenic. You can do what we did & go up one highway, & back on the other. Apparently, you can also get there via a/c express buses from Penang & also by train? There’s also a domestic airport at Kepala Batas, 15k north of the city.

Alor Star is the state capital of Kedah & has been the royal seat of Kedah state since it was founded in 1735. Granted city status in 2003 (9th city in Malaysia), it currently has an urban population of about 400,000.

This pretty & clean little city has a colorful past that spanned more than 250 years. Founded in 1735 by Kedah’s 19th Ruler, it is the state’s 8th administrative center since the establishment of the Kedah Sultanate in 1136. The town was sacked twice when Kedah was attacked by the Bugis (from Sulawesi, Indonesia) in 1770, & the Siamese (now Thailand) in 1821.

Alor Star was the birth place of a few famous personalities in Malaysia, including two former Prime Ministers - Abdul Rahman, Malaysia's 1st Prime Minister, & Dr. Mahathir, Malaysia's 4th.

Great Kedah site. Check Alor Setar in Focus for more info: http://www.mykedah.com/main.html