Green and red roof
Pointed golden finials.
Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia — CC BY-SA 2.0
A Thai-style Buddhist temple in Alor Setar, one of the most notable in a city whose history has long been bound up with the neighbouring kingdom of Siam. The Thai and Chinese communities built it together, so it is Thai in form with clear Chinese touches. It catches the eye with its main hall under a tiered tiled roof in green and red, topped by pointed golden finials in the Thai manner, and a tall spire at its entrance. Inside, a gilded seated Buddha sits before colourful murals under a red ceiling decorated with golden flowers, and in the courtyard are small shrines with gilded figures. The temple is very busy at Vesak in May, when its courtyard fills with food stalls, colourful lanterns and worshippers. On ordinary days it is quiet; entry is free, shoes come off and modest dress is expected. It is a few minutes from the royal square and the Alor Setar Tower, so you can stop by on a tour of the city.
Pointed golden finials.
Before colourful murals.
Lanterns and stalls in May.
A few minutes from central Alor Setar
Alor Setar TowerA 165.5-metre telecommunications tower, the tallest structure in Kedah and the t7 minutes walk
Balai NobatAn elegant three-storey octagonal tower in yellow and white, crowned by a golden9 minutes walk
Balai BesarThe royal audience hall of the sultans of Kedah, at the heart of the historic sq10 minutes walk
Kedah Royal MuseumAn old royal palace known as Istana Pelamin, the wedding palace, completed in 1711 minutes walk
Zahir MosqueKedah's state mosque and one of the oldest and most beautiful mosques in Malaysi12 minutes walkBecause Kedah bordered the kingdom of Siam and was tied to it for centuries, and a Thai community still lives there, so temples in its style spread across the state.