LANGKAWI

 

Overview

Langkawi, made up of a cluster of 99 islands separated from mainland Malaysia by the Straits of Malacca.  It is a district in the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border and lies approximatedly 51km west of Kedah. The total land mass of the islands is 47,848 hectares. The main island spans about 25 km from north to south and slightly more for east and west. The coastal areas consist of flat, plains punctuated with limestone ridges.  Two-thirds of the island is dominated by forest-covered mountains, hills and natural vegetation.

The name Langkawi is thought to have existed by the early 15th century, although in the 16th century the island of Langkawi was also marked on maps variously as Langa, Langka, Lansura, and Langapura.

There are many suggestions for the origin of the name of Langkawi. According to one interpretation, Langkawi means island of the reddish-brown eagle in colloquial Malay languague. The Malay word for eagle is helang - which is shortened to "lang", while kawi is the name of a red stone used as a chalk to mark goods.  This interpretation was used to create the landmark sculpture of an eagle as the symbol of Langkawi at Dataran Helang (Eagle Square) in Kuah.

Places of Attraction

Langkawi is a popular tourist destination for both local and foreign crowd. Forested hills, romantic white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters greet visitors to this tropical island.  Most of the locals earn their living by serving the tourist crows.  A tourist can get to sample local cuisine at the night markets, hike to dramatic waterfalls or dive into an underwater marine park to take a guided glimpse at life beneath the sea.

By far the largest of the islands is the eponymous Langkawi Island with a population of some 64,792, the only other inhabited island being nearby Tuba Island. Langkawi is also an administrative district with the town of Kuah as largest town. Langkawi is a duty-free island.

The island's oldest geological formation, Gunung Matchincang, was the first part of South-East Asia to rise from the seabed in the Cambrian period more than half a billion years ago. The oldest part of the formation is observable at Teluk Datai to the north-west of the island, where the exposed outcrop consists of mainly sandstone (quartzite) in the upper parts and shale and mudstone in the lower parts of the sequence.

The easiest way to get around is to hire a motorbike for around RM35 per day, according to some locals. You can do a leisurely circuit of the island (70km) in a day. The roads are excellent, and outside Kuah it’s very pleasant and easy riding. Motorbikes can be hired at most stands all over the island.

Accessibility and Transportation

More than half-dozen airlines offer flights to and from Langkawi.  There is also the option by ferries, which operate from the busy terminal at Kuah jetty. Several ferry providers, including Langkawi Ferry Service.