Alor Setar - Tourist Attractions in Malaysia

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• published: 03 Jun 2014
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Alor Setar, (Jawi: الور ستار; formerly Alor Star from 2004-2008) is the capital and largest city of Kedah, Malaysia, and is one of the major cities on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The city houses the Kota Setar District Administrative Centre at Muadzam Shah and Anak Bukit, the royal city of Kedah. Alor Setar is located 93 kilometres north of Penang and 45 km from Malaysia's border with Thailand. Its location along the main travel route from Malaysia to Thailand has long made it a major transportation hub in the northern Malay Peninsula. At present, the city covers a land area of 666 km2, which is occupied by more than 300,000 thousand inhabitants (as per the 2010 census). At the local government level, Alor Setar is administered by the Alor Setar City Council. The city is served by the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport, which began operations in 2006. The airport is currently not serviced by any commercial international flights; however, during the Haj season, there are special flights available for Muslim pilgrims journeying to Saudi Arabia to perform the Haj. In terms of land routes, the city is connected to other parts of Peninsular Malaysia by the North-South Expressway, the Shahab Perdana Bus Station and the Alor Setar railway station. The city also boasts the Kuala Kedah Jetty, which is served by ferries linking the city with the popular resort island of Langkawi. Alor Setar 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.