Langkawi Island

Langkawi island is an archipelago of 104 islands lying in the north western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The exact location of these tropical islands is at the site where the Straits of Malacca meets the waters of the Andaman Seas. Langkawi Island lies at the northern tip of Peninsular Malaysia, about 30 kilometres from the nearest mainland town. The island is steeped in legend and mystery and most of the attractions are the physical reminders of these legends, like Mahsuri’s Tomb in the centre of the island and the Field of Burnt Rice. Another unique place on Langkawi is the Cave of Legends, located on the Cape of the Casuarinas, where verses of the Koran are inscribed on the walls.

Natural wonders of Langkawi include the summits of Gunong Raya and Gunong Machinchang, the Field of Echoes, the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden and several waterfalls, the Seven Wells Waterfall being the most famous.

The largest of these islands is called Langkawi Island and is bigger than the Penang Island.The other islands in this group are Island of Pregnant Maiden (Pulau Dayang Bunting), Lion Island (Pulau Singa Besar) and Beras Basah Island.The smallest of these islands are atolls roughly the size of an ordinary house! Langkawi is coined from the Malay words Lang and Kawi. Lang is a brown eagle and Kawi is a local manganese stone.The ancient fishermen must have seen eagles flying clutching the manganese stones! A giant monument of a brown eagle clutching the manganese stone greets all visitors to Langkawi near the Kuah Jetty. The main tourist attractions of Langkawi Island is its virgin white sandy beaches.The beaches have very gentle continental slope and the water is crystal clear. This island is unique in the sense that it has so many legendsand myths associated with it.Langkawi Island is therefore also called Pulau Lagenda or Legendary Island.

Langkawi Island, or as the local language says Pulau Langkawi, is blessed with many natural features: stunning waterfalls, tropical jungles and pristine white sandy beaches to name just a few.