Kedah Sightseeing | Balai Nobat (Hall of Drums)

Balai Nobat ( Hall of Drums )

Balai Nobat, known as Hall of Drums in Alor Setar is located along Jalan Pekan Melayu, which is a walking distance to Balai Besar and just across the road is the Bangunan Jam Besar. Its original building was in a wooden structure and the new building was rebuilt with concrete and metal in 1906 during reign of HRH Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah (the 26th Sultan of Kedah).

Balai Nobat ( Hall of Drums)

The Hall in a three-tiered octagonal shaped tower with a height of 18-metre tall and 5-metre wide , features musical instruments of royal orchestra that comprises of drums, gongs and a traditional flute.

The skills to play nobat music and these instruments are passed down from father to son, and a person who is incharged to play these instruments called "Orang Nobat". Nobat are played for specific ceremonial occassions such as royal installations, deaths and other official ceremonies.

The Nobat is the symbol of power and greatness for the kings at the time .It also represents the greatness of the art of Hindu.

Nobat is a famous music in Southeast Asia and not just in Malaysia. The word Nobat derived from Sanskrit word "Naubat", where nau and nava bring the meaning of nine, while the bah which means combine. In full, it means combination of nine type of instruments.

The nine types of musical instruments includes Nahara, two Gendang Besar, one Gong, one Nafiri, two serunai, two cheng cheng which made from bronze and there is one big cheng cheng and one small cheng cheng.

There are only a handful set of these orchestras left in the country. The tower door of Balai Nobat is closed to public. However, in order to view the Nobat visitors must first obtain a permission from the State Secretariat.

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