This photo journal, the 2nd part of the 2 part series on Alor Star, features other important sights we saw in the city, a hodge podge of museums, palaces, towers, waterside parks, to name a few. Like all towns in Kedah, Alor Setar still retains its old world charms & is the place to visit if you want to be 'Far from the Madding Crowd'. What's even better is that most of the places of interest in the city are within walking distance.

"Court Square:"

This spacious square in city center, was so named because the first High Court building (now the State Art Gallery) was located here. The square is surrounded by a number of important heritage & modern buildings that are historically significant to Alor Star - Kota Setar Palace/Pelamin Palace (now the Royal Museum), Balai Besar (Great Hall), Balai Nobat (Hall of the Royal Nobat Ensemble), Great Clock Tower, Zahir Mosque, Balai Seni Negeri (formerly the High Court, now State Art Gallery ), the present High Court, & the Wan Muhammad Saman Building. A number of important historic events took place in or near Court Square since the 19th century.

"More places to see":

If you plan to spend some time in the area, here's a short list of places we missed that you may want to visit:

Things to see that we missed in the city:

Wan Mat Saman Aqueduct/canal - right in town, the longest aqueduct in Malaysia. I took pictures but can’t find them. It was built so that Kedah’s rice farmers could boost their rice production. (Kedah is referred to as "Malaysia's rice bowl")

Wan Muhammed Saman Building (1941) apparently in court Square, previously known as the Government Office building.

Sepachendera Palace - an old palace situated at Jalan Kampung Baru, aka 'Istana Kampung Baru'. This palace was built by the late Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah in 1882 for his first wife, Che Sepachendera upon his ascension to the royal throne. I think it now houses a school?

State Public Library completed in 1991.

Pavilion For The 37th. National Al Quran Reading Competition completed in 1994.

Nearby:

New Padi Museum - Museum situated at Gunung Keriang, 8 kms Alor Star. officially opened 2004. Photos here: http://www.malaysiabest.net/2006/02/02/kedah-paddy-museum/

Kedah Royal Mausoleum - located in nearby Langgar + new mosque In Langgar

Kuala Kedah fort & historical complex (highly recommended):

Kuala Kedah Fort aka Kuala Bahang (1771) - oldest Malay fort in northern Malaysia, located near the mouth of the Kedah River, about 12 kms from Alor Star. It was designated a historical monument in 1978. Great web site with photos: http://www.sabrizain.org/malaya/kedah2.htm

Kuala Kedah Historical Complex: Includes the Information Centre (formerly Kuala Kedah Malay School) which was constructed in 1922, a lighthouse (1892), a rebuilt gateway, & a grouping of Megalith stones. Good photos of the complex on this site: http://www.vintagemalaya.com/Alor_Star_Buildings.html