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.
It is also
worth mentioning that Malaysia’s well-established hospitality sector features
all the leading global brands and is also extremely well priced, thus hosting a
wedding in Malaysia actually makes perfect economic sense. Another vital fact
is that citizens of Saudi Arabia enjoy visa-free access in Malaysia and this
makes bringing friends and family over to Malaysia for a wedding infinitely
easy.
Gorgeous beaches,
World heritage sites, top-notch hotels and a fabulous array of delicious street
foods count enhance Penang’s reputation as a wedding destination.
