PLACES TO VISIT IN MALAYSIA.: Balai Besar Alor Setar or The Noble Hall of Alor Setar.

Balai Besar Alor Setar or The Noble Hall of Alor Setar.

Balai Besar, or Great Hall, is a heritage structure in Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia. The original structure dates back to the founding of Alor Star in 1735, and was built by Alor Star's founder, Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Abidin (1710-1778), the 19th ruler of the Kedah Sultanate, as the Balai Rong Seri, or Audience Hall.

The Balai Besar, or the "Noble Hall", was built in 1735 and was used for royal gatherings, state assemblies and others. Thai motifs were heavily implemented in the construction as to the historical political connections of the past.

The Balai Besar was destroyed and rebuilt a few times. It was brought down by the Bugis invasion of 1770, and the same happened in the Siamese invasion in 1821. The present structure dates back to 1893, during the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah.

In 1904, the Balai Besar was the venue of a lavish wedding ceremonies for the Sultan's five eldest sons and daughters. The extravagant affair lasted three months, from June to September, and almost bankrupted the state.

The Balai Besar was also the venue of the installation of a new sultan, namely Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Halim Shah II (1804-1845) and Tuanku Sultan Haji Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah on 20 February 1959.

Throne Hall or Stage Kedah Royal was built in 1907 during the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah.Today, Kedah Throne Hall as a place to store musical instruments of the Royal Throne that is played at Royal ceremonies such as ceremonial coronation, marriage and burial of the Royal.

Throne musical instrument consisting of three large tambourine, two small tambourine, a gong and a flute is capable of producing a compelling combination of sound, known as court musicians music, a form of music culture of the state.