Langkawi Tourist Attractions
Map of Langkawi Tourist Attractions
View Langkawi Travel Guide in a larger map
Pantai Cenang (6 June 2005)
© Timothy Tye
Mat Cincang Walkway (6 June 2005)
© Timothy Tye
Galeria Perdana ceiling design (5 June 2005)
© Timothy Tye
Soft corals, Underwater World Langkawi (4 June 2005)
© Timothy Tye
|
Other documented Tourist Attractions in Langkawi
Gua Cerita
Gua Kelawar
Langkawi Bird Paradise
Langkawi Crocodile Farm
Langkawi Crystaal
Langkawi Geopark
Makam Purba
Padang Beras Terbakar
Tasik Dayang Bunting
Langkawi, Island of Legend
Langkawi is a major beach resort destination in Malaysia. Often known as the islands of legend, the Langkawi archipelago comprises Pulau Langkawi, the main island, and 99 satellite islands nestling serenely in the tropical waters some 30 kilometers off the coast of Kedah, in the northeast of Peninsular Malaysia.
Langkawi belongs to Kedah state and is adjacent to the Tarutao National Park of Thailand. The largest island of the archipelago is the eponymous Pulau Langkawi. Pulau Langkawi is the only other inhabited island in the archipelago, other than the neighbouring Pulau Tuba.
In 1987, Langkawi was granted tax-free status. This has helped propel its tourism industry and improve the standard of living of the population, which numbers around 45,000. Since then, numerous hotels of various classes have been built in Langkawi, catering to a wide spectrum of tastes and expectations.
Langkawi Geopark
In 2007, the Langkawi archipelago was declared a Geopark by Unesco. Langkawi Geopark is the only Geopark in Southeast Asia and the 52nd geopark under the Unesco Global Geoparks Network.
History of Langkawi
The name Langkawi is believed to have been derived from the name of the ancient kingdom of Langkasuka, which was centred in modern-day Kedah. According to ancient Chinese chronicles (ca. 500AD), a kingdom called Langgasu existed in the 1st century AD.
Langkawi eventually came under the control of the Sultanate of Kedah. When Kedah was conquered by Siam in 1821, Langkawi came under Siamese control. The 1909 Anglo-Siamese Treaty transferred control of Kedah to the British, which administered the state until independence, except for a brief period during the World War II Japanese occupation when the rule reverted to the Thais.
The present development of Langkawi began in 1987, when the island was granted tax-free status to propel tourism. The island's airport was upgraded to international status while ferry links were also increased.
The Legend of Mahsuri
Langkawi is famous for the legend of Mahsuri. According to the legend, Princess Mahsuri uttered a curse on Langkawi shortly before she was wrongly put to death for adultery. The curse is said to have taken effect, because shortly after her death, Langkawi was conquered by Siam. It remained a forlorn place for seven generations, the term of the curse, before blossoming today as a major tourist destination.
Getting to Langkawi
By Air:
Langkawi International Airport has direct links with Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Bangkok. The following airlines operate regular flights from Langkawi:
AirAsia (website) has regular services to Kuala Lumpur and to Bangkok.
Malaysia Airlines (website) has regular services to Kuala Lumpur.
SilkAir (website) has regular services to Singapore.
Firefly (website) has regular services to Penang.
By Sea:
There are regular ferry services connecting Kuah, the main town on Langkawi, with Kuala Perlis (45 minutes), Kuala Kedah (90 minutes) and Penang (3 hours) in Malaysia, and with Satun and Koh Lipe in the Tarutao archipelago in Thailand.
Getting Around
Perhaps the most convenient way to explore Langkawi is by renting a car or motorcycle. Other forms of transport is quite limited. You can rent a car or motorcycle directly from both the airport as well as the jetty.
Additional Tourist Attractions in Langkawi
Craft Cultural Complex
The Craft Cultural Complex is located on the northern coastline of Langkawi Island near Teluk Yu. This complex offers a wide range of Malaysian handicraft such as batik, silverware, woodcraft, rattan craft, and more. It is opening daily, 9 am - 6 pm.
Kampung Buku Malaysia
Kampung Buku Malaysia, or Langkawi Book Village, is the first and only book village in South East Asia. It is part of the International Book Villages and Book Towns Movement. Located 20 minutes from the Langkawi International Airport and 15 minutes from the Ferry Terminal, the Langkawi Book Village is stocked with a great variety of new books on numerous topics and languages as well as second-hand, rare and antiquarian books.
Laman Padi Langkawi
Laman Padi Langkawi is located at Pantai Cenang. It is where one can learn about the rice growing industry of Malaysia. There is a rice museum displaying artifacts, charts and photographs related to rice cultivation. There is a roof-top garden from which visitors gets a panoramic view of the rice fields. Laman Padi Langkawi is open daily, 10 am - 6 pm.
Pantai Kok
This is the beach on the western part of Pulau Langkawi, near to Oriental Village, Telaga Tujuh and Gunung Mat Cincang.
Pulau Payar Marine Park
Located 19 nautical miles south of Langkawi, this marine park consists of Pulau Payar, Pulau Lembu, Pulau Segantang and Pulau Kaca. Pulau Payar Marine Park teems with diverse marine life and coral reef.
|
|
