[14], The island of Langkawi was recorded in history by various travellers to the region. [8][9], Some believed that Langkawi is the same as, or related to, the Lanka or Langkapuri mentioned in Indian sources. Pangkor Island 15. Terms of Use Duty-free Langkawi is one of the most visited and beautiful islands in … How to reach Langkawi Island Malaysia? Annual tourist expenditure is targeted to increase from MYR9.0 billion (US$2.86 billion) in 2005 to MYR21.8 billion (US$6.9 billion) in 2012 and MYR64.5 billion (US$20.4 billion) in 2020. Officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah, Langkawi offers the ultimate tropical island destination for sun seekers who want a side of adventure to accompany their long days lazing in the sun, enjoying the crystal clear waters and white-sand beaches. … The island is best known for the 4,354-hectare natural lake in … Langkawi islands' population recovered afterwards, mainly due to immigrants' settlement from Sumatra. We spent a week here in early 2019, exploring as many beaches, attractions and islands as we could – from a sunset cruise sipping cocktails to the world’s steepest cable-car, we packed a lot in, in a fairly short space of time. Langun Island has a fresh-water lake called Pregnant Maiden Lake and has a Sand Spit Beach on its south-facing orientation. When the Ming dynasty admiral Zheng He visited the region, the island was marked as 龍牙交椅, Lóngyájiāoyǐ, on his map. [6] This interpretation was used to create the landmark sculpture of an eagle as the symbol of Langkawi at Dataran Helang (Eagle Square) in Kuah. Mataking Island 7. The departure/arrival point in Langkawi is at Kuah Jetty, Langkawi and Telaga Harbour, Langkawi. See our 10 Must See and Do list. [citation needed]. Langkawi is a serene archipelago of 140 islands – only a few of which are inhabited. The island is north of Penang, Malaysia’s island famous food island. The island of Langkawi can be reached by sea and air. Blonde beaches are the biggest draw, but this 478.5-sq-km island has been duty free … Pantai Cenang beach has long stretches of fine white sand. Beaches in both places are popular with visitors and the locals. Pantai Tengah is separated from Cenang by a small cape. The archipelago consists of the main island Langkawi and almost 100 small surrounding islands; only four of them are inhabited. There are two main island areas: the Southern Islands, a heavier tourist population, and the islands to the northeast which are more secluded with little tourist traffic. some 30 km off the coast of northwestern Malaysia. The name Langkawi is also thought to be related to Langkasuka, an old kingdom believed to have links with Kedah. Pantai Kok quiet beach has a backdrop of limestone hills. On 15 July 2008, Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah consented to its change of name to Langkawi Permata Kedah in conjunction with his golden jubileecelebration. Make sure to stop by on your trip: 1. The Langkawi Cable Car takes visitors on a Malaysia tour up to the peak of Gunung Mat Chinchang, where the Langkawi Sky Bridge is located. She placed a curse on the island that would last for seven generations. Location of Langkawi Island Malaysia. The second-largest island in the Langkawi archipelago, Dayang Bunting is one of 3 main geoforest parks within Langkawi's UNESCO Global Geopark, thanks to its 290-million-year-old marble rock formations. Langkawi International Airport is one of seven international airports in Malaysia and connects the island to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Penang, and Subang. [original research?] [10] This ancient name Lanka (or Lankapura and Lankapuri) is found in Indian literature from an early period (named in Ramayana as the city of the king Ravana), although the identification of the original Lanka is not certain. All rights reserved. Langkawi is popular for its beautiful beaches, underwater gems and mishmash of Malaysian culture. The main island is well-served by many roads. The Southern Islands, with a high tourist population, features white sand beaches, watersports, bars, and restaurants, while the islands to the northeast are more secluded. It lies just south of the Thai island of Tarutao. At the same time, the Langkawi islands to the south would come under British rule. In 1691, the French general Augustin de Beaulieu recorded going to the island of "Lancahui" (Langkawi) to buy pepper,[12] and de Beaulieu was required to obtain a license from Kedah's heir apparent then in Perlis before the penghulu or chief of Langkawi would sell pepper to him. It was called Lóngyápútí (龍牙菩提) in the 14th century by the Yuan dynasty traveller Wang Dayuan. They are rich in wildlife with hairy nosed sea otters, brown winged kingfishers, monitor lizards, and swimming macaque monkeys being common sights. The coastal areas consist of flat, alluvial plains punctuated with limestone ridges. Datai Bay has a combination of forests and sea, and its white sandy beach is backed by forest. Technically this is a collapsed cave (hong) consisting of a cave entrance from the sea emerging into a hidden lagoon with towering, limestone escarpments, and smaller caves. Penang Island 14. Langkawi. [35], The start of the cable car ride is located in the Oriental Village where there are several attractions, including a 3-Dimensional art museum known as Art in Paradise. Langkawi remained a quiet backwater until 1986, when Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad transformed it into a major tourist resort, helping to plan many of the islands buildings himself. Pulau Langkawi however is the largest island in the group and one of only a handful of the islands that is inhabited. As an alternative, ride-hailing apps, such as Grab, also operate on the island. Snorkeling is also a popular activity, with operators organising daily tours to the nearby Payar Island (Malay: Pulau Payar). [4], 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. Pulau Payar Marine Park is a popular site for snorkelling and scuba-diving … Asia Web Direct, the Asia Web Direct logo, Hotels.com and the Hotels.com logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Hotels.com L.P. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. Population: ~ 100,000. The journey takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes.[41]. Find the perfect hotel within your budget with reviews from real travelers. Tourists can also choose to go for island hopping tours with different options: The Island of Langkawi does not have public transportation, but the people can still use taxis or rent a vehicle (car, bicycle, motorbike, scooter, etc.). It is a well-known holiday destination in Malaysia. [7] The Malay word for eagle is helang (shortened to lang), and kawi is a red stone used as a chalk to mark goods. Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah (Malay: Langkawi Permata Kedah), is a district and an archipelago of 99 islands (plus five small islands visible only at low tide) in the Malacca Strait. Langkawi is an archipelago made up of 99 islands on Malaysia’s west coast. See Tripadvisor's Langkawi, Langkawi District hotel deals and special prices on 30+ hotels all in one spot. The island comprises a archipelago of 99 islands. The Siamese nevertheless captured the island in May 1822, killed its leaders, and took many islanders as slaves, while others fled. [19] In 1909, the islands came under British rule following the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909. The largest of these is the eponymous Langkawi Island, which has UNESCO World Geopark status because of its richly populated (by wildlife, that is) conservation areas. Surrounded by turquoise sea, the interior of the main island is a mixture of picturesque paddy fields and jungle-clad hills. The population is approximately 99,000, around 65,000 of them in Langkawi, of which 90% are Malays. All taxis have a standard fixed price system with the fare from one part of the island to another is always being the same. Langkawi is an administrative district with Kuah as its largest town. The Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark status was due for renewal in 2015. Two-thirds of the island is dominated by forest-covered mountains, hills, and natural vegetation.[25]. These three parks are the most popular tourism area within Langkawi Geopark. [11] Puri or puram in Sanskrit means a town or city. I sland hopping Langkawi is a must for anyone spending a few days on Malaysia’s beautiful Langkawi Island. Upon thorough inspection by the appointed Geopark Inspectors, Langkawi was issued the Certificate of Membership dubbed the Green Card by Asia Pacific Geoparks Network under the Global Geopark Network (GGN). Other major religions are Hinduism (mainly among Indians), Buddhism (mainly among Chinese and Thai), and Christianity (mostly Chinese). Langkawi has the longest free span and curved bridge in the world. English is widely spoken and understood by the locals. [26] The best exposure of Cambrian rocks (541 to 485 Ma) in Malaysia is the Machinchang Formation, composed of quartzose clastic rock formations, in Langkawi; the other known example, the Jerai Formation, emerges near the west coast of Kedah on the mainland (peninsula). [6], In 2008, the then-sultan of Kedah, Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, conferred the title of Langkawi Permata Kedah (meaning 'Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah') upon the island as part of his golden jubilee as an affirmation of Kedah's ownership over the island. Choose one of the following to unlock Secret Prices and pay less on selected hotels. The total landmass of the islands is 47,848 hectares (118,230 acres). From the expansive Underwater World Langkawi along Pantai Cenang to the soaring Cable Car in Pantai Kok, Langkawi is an electrifying locale that keeps visitors coming back for more. Layang Layang Island 3. If you are looking to fly to Langkawi Island from Kuala Lumpur, please note that the flying duration will be approximately one hour, plus or minus 5 minutes. The Pearl of the Orient, Penang Island, is a cultural fest of colours in all shapes and sizes! In the first attack, the locals burned down the granary at Padang Matsirat to starve the Siamese army. It has many restaurants and bars for evening entertainment, several hosting live musics, and watching the sunset. [23][24], Langkawi, a cluster of 99 islands separated from mainland Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca, is a district of the state of Kedah in northern Malaysia and lies approximately 51 kilometres (32 mi) west of Kedah. Cities: Kuah. The television and radio in Langkawi can be received from Gunung Raya and RTM Kuah.