Alor Setar

Alor Star is the capital of Kedah State, the seat of Malaysia’s oldest sultanate.

Alor Setar was founded in 1735 as the seat of the sultan.

Sultan Mohamed Jiwa Zainal Azlim Maazam Shah was the one who built Balai Besar which sits in the padang of Alor Setar. He was the first Kedah’s sultans to make Alor Setar his capital in 1735

During the 7th and 8th centuries, Kedah paid tribute to the Srivijaya Empire of Sumatra, but later fell under the influence of the Siamese until the 15th century, when the rise of Melaka led to the Islamisation of the area.

In the 17th century Kedah was attacked by Portuguese who had already conquered Melaka and by the Acehnese, who saw Kedah as a threat to their own spice production.

The first Palace, Istana Kota Setar was built in 1763. In 1770, Buginese warriors led by Raja Haji had attacked and set fire to Alor Setar. The palace then been renovated in 1771 and again following the Siamese occupation from 1821 to 1842.

Alor Setar was under Siamese suzerainty until the 1909 Anglo Siamese Treaty transferred the rights to the British.
Alor Setar