The black domes
Said to stand for the five pillars of Islam.
Jensennbj — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Qhairy — CC BY 4.0 · CK Tan — CC BY 3.0 · Qhairy — CC BY 4.0
Kedah's state mosque and one of the oldest and most beautiful mosques in Malaysia, built in 1912 in the heart of Alor Setar on the ground where Kedah warriors who fell defending the state against a Siamese invasion were buried. Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Abidin II took the inspiration for its design from the Azizi Mosque of the Langkat Sultanate in North Sumatra. It catches the eye with its black domes, said to stand for the five pillars of Islam, above a broad white building ringed by verandahs of decorated arches and paired columns, and slender minarets. The state's annual Quran recitation competition is held here. The mosque is open for prayer from dawn until the evening and welcomes non-Muslim visitors outside prayer times. Entry is free; dress to cover shoulders and knees, and women should cover their hair. It stands on the royal square in the city centre, close to the Balai Besar audience hall, the Balai Nobat tower that keeps the instruments of the royal nobat orchestra, the Kedah Royal Museum and Alor Setar Tower, all within one walk. It photographs best just before sunset, when its white walls take on colour.
Said to stand for the five pillars of Islam.
Decorated arches and paired columns.
The audience hall and nobat tower nearby.
The heart of Alor Setar, on the royal square near the Balai Besar
Balai BesarThe royal audience hall of the sultans of Kedah, at the heart of the historic sq2 minutes walk
Kedah State Art GalleryAn art gallery in a handsome historic building on the royal square in central Al2 minutes walk
Balai NobatAn elegant three-storey octagonal tower in yellow and white, crowned by a golden2 minutes walk4.1
Kedah Royal MuseumAn old royal palace known as Istana Pelamin, the wedding palace, completed in 173 minutes walk
Alor Setar TowerA 165.5-metre telecommunications tower, the tallest structure in Kedah and the t6 minutes walk4.3Yes, outside prayer times, dressed to cover shoulders and knees, with women covering their hair. Remove your shoes before entering the prayer hall and keep your voice down.