Muzium Diraja Negeri Kedah, Alor Setar

Muzium Diraja Negeri Kedah, Alor Setar (2 August, 2015)


Muzium Diraja Negeri Kedah (GPS: 6.11943, 100.36681), or Kedah Royal Museum is the Royal Museum in Alor Setar. It is located next to the Balai Besar and houses a collection of exhibits belonging to the Kedah royalty.

Muzium Diraja was originally Istana Kota Setar, a wooden palace built by Sultan Muhammad Jiwa (1710-1778), the 19th Sultan of Kedah, in 1735. It served as a royal palace for the Sultan of Kedah and the royal family. As with many historical buildings in the centre of Alor Setar, Muzium Diraja suffered some damage during the Bugis attack of 1770 and the Siamese invasion of 1821. During those times, the reigning sultan was forced into exile.

Originally built of wood, Istana Kota Setar was rebuilt by Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Mukarram Shah (1854-1879) in bricks around 1856. The sultan lived here with his consort Wan Hajar Wan Ismail. As a result, the palace was also known as Istana Mak Wan Besar. The architecture bears strong elements of Thai influence.

Muzium Diraja Negeri Kedah is on the Map of Alor Setar

Compound of Muzium Diraja Negeri Kedah (2 August, 2015)

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