Off the beaten path in Langkawi

Langkawi, the ‘Jewel of Kedah’ is a much favored vacation destination, which attracts both local and international tourists in droves. Renowned the world over for its many well-known attractions, like the gorgeous beachfronts of Pantai Kok, Pantai Cenang, Pantai Tengah and Tanjong Rhu and other man-made attractions like, the Langkawi skybridge, the Langkawi cable car and  more, the island of Langkawi is known to attract to more than three million visitors annually.

However, if you are the kind of tourist who likes to avoid the ‘touristy’ stuff in favor of one of a kind experience, you will be delighted to know that Langkawi offers much opportunity to veer from the tried and tested.

Listed below are some of offbeat Langkawi adventures not normally included in a usual visit Langkawi itinerary:-

Visit the Telaga Tujuh(Seven Wells waterfall)

Langkawi is an island associated with many myths and legends, one such legend states that fairies come to bathe at Langkawi’s beautiful Telaga Tujuh waterfalls, also known as the Seven Wells waterfall. These stunning falls are situated near the island’s luxe yacht-heavy Telaga harbor set amongst an area littered with mystical limestone formations and caves adorned with various ancient inscriptions.

Pay a visit to the tomb of Mahsuri Makam

The tomb of Princess Mahsuri Makam is an attraction located in the Langkawi village of Mawat. The attraction consists of a marble crypt which contains the mortal remains of Princess Mahsuri who is believed to have been of Siamese origin. Mahsuri married a local tribal chief and was loved and respected by everyone. However, Mahsuri’s mother-in-law was insanely jealous of her and unjustly accused her of adultery.

Mahsuri was then sentenced to death but at her execution, she shed white blood to the surprise of the onlookers, who were then immediately convinced of her innocence. As Mahsuri lay dying, she cursed the island of Langkawi by saying it would be barren for the coming seven generations. However, this prophecy did not come true.

A museum located at the site chronicles the sad tale of this beautiful but tragic maiden and offers actual evidence in the form of newspaper clippings and photos that date back to the time.

Take a kayaking trip on the Sungei Kilim River

The Sungei Kilim Nature Park is a protected mangrove swamp located on the northeast tip of Langkawi.  This nature reserve encompasses a diverse landscape made up of dense mangrove forests, pristine white sand beachfronts and sparkling lagoons. The park also has the Sungei Kilim River flowing through it and the banks of the river are inhabited by an assortment of native flora and fauna like tree crabs, long-tailed macaques, white-bellied eagles, pythons, monitor lizards, crocodiles and mangrove dingos(small russet-colored creatures who can deftly navigate the dense mangrove swamps). Kayaking trips through Sungeo Kilim Park lead visitors past fantasic sights like ‘Flying fox’ island, an island inhabited by giant bats known as ‘flying foxes’ or ‘flying dogs’ because of  their long wing spans which can measure up to 1.2 meters.

Other expected sights on this kayaking tour, include viewings of bizarre limestone formations, which seem to emerge from the sea bed in the midst of the dense mangrove swamps. These formations sport interesting if not funny names like the Hanging Gardens, the Temple of Borobodur and the Elephant Stone. Also included in such a tour is a viewing of Gua Kelewar (the cave of bats), a grotto used as a refuge by thousands of fruit bats who cling to its numerous stalactites and stalagmites.

Go island hopping

Langkawi is the collective name given to an archipelago of islands in the waters of the Andaman Sea. Most visitors to the island tend to concentrate their trips on the largest of these islands a.k.a Langkawi but if you would like to do something out of the ordinary, do think of taking an island hopping trip to the other islands that make up the archipelago.

These tours guide visitors to islands like, Pulau Beras Basah, “the Isle of Wet Rice” whose sole inhabitants are monkeys, Pulau Singa Besar and  Pulau Dayan, an island inhabited by numerous long-tailed macaques which is also  home to the mysterious Tasik Dayang Bunting or the lake of the Pregnant Maiden, a dip in the lake’s crystal-clear waters are believed to cure infertility.

A walk through the dense jungle leads visitors to the lake, the legend associated with the lake states the waters of the lake were blessed by a celestial maiden after she lost her own child. It is said that this celestial princess was married to a mortal prince, but she lost her child soon after it was born. She then buried the baby in the lake and blessed its waters. It is now a believed that a maiden wishing to conceive should bathe in the lake’s waters and she will soon be with child.

These offbeat attractions provide a visitors an alternative perspective of Langkawi as they learn that it in addition to being a hedonistic destination equipped with many a beachside attraction, Langkawi is also a mysterious, mythical spot where legends and old world tales reign supreme.