Gunung Mat Cincang, Langkawi
Gunung Mat Cincang is a spectacular mountain range near Datai Bay, on the northwestern part of Pulau Langkawi. At slightly over 700 meters, it is the second tallest peak in Pulau Langkawi after the 850-meter Gunung Raya. The mountain has been earmarked as one of the sites within the Langkawi Geopark development. The mountain is part of the Mat Cincang Formation, the oldest geological formation in the country dating back 500 million years.
A cable car ride goes up Gunung Mat Cincang. It is one of Langkawi's latest tourist attractions. Each of the 35 gondolas can carry six persons. There are three stations all together, one at Oriental Village, while another two on Gunung Mat Cincang. The cable cars travel a distance of over 2 kilometers up a vertical height of 680 meters.
There are two cable car stops on Gunung Mat Cincang. The Middle Station is 1.7 kilometers from the bottom station. Both stations have viewing platforms that offer spectacular views of the Langkawi islands as well as mainland Kedah and even the Tarutao Islands of Thailand.
View of the cable car station on Gunung Mat Cincang.
According to local folklore, Gunung Mat Cincang, Gunung Raya and another smaller peak, Bukit Sawar, were once all human beings. They all shared the same martial arts guru.
According to the story, Mat Cincang's daughter was engaged to Mat Raya's son. However, there was a big quarrel between the two men on the wedding day that descended into a fight between the two childhood friends. Pots and pans and kitchen utensils were soon sent flying at each other's family. A big pot of curry for the wedding feast was overturned. It fell on a place in Langkawi now known as Belanga Pecah (Broken Cooking Pot). The gravy from the broken pot seeped into the ground at Kisap and stopped at Kuah (Gravy), Langkawi's capital.
A pot of hot water was also sent flying. The water dropped at Air Hangat (Hot Springs) while the pot itself with its ring handles fell into Selat Cincin (the Straits of Rings), the straits that separates Langkawi from Tarutao Islands of Thailand.
Eventually, Mat Sawar was able to stop the fight between Mat Cincang and Mat Raya. They were however transformed into mountains, with little Bukit Sawar wedged between Gunung Mat Cincang and Gunung Raya.
Gunung Mat Cincang Photo Gallery
Gondola leaving the bottom station at the Oriental Village.
Gondalas arriving at the Middle Station.
Gondolas leaving the Middle Station for the Top Station at Gunung Mat Cincang.
Walkway to the viewing platform.
The circular viewing bridge located a short distance from the Top Station.
View of Buray Bay with Telaga Harbour Park.
Craggy cliffside of Gunung Mat Cincang with the Andaman Sea in the distance.
View of the circular viewing bridge.
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