Beautiful Langkawi -The History of Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah.

The magnificent name, Langkawi, is believed to have originated from the abundance of eagles found on the island. The Brahminy Kite, a species of eagle fondly known as “Lang Merah” in Malay, and “Kawi”, meaning marble in Sanskrit, is also unique to the island. Another reference states that the name is a combination of two Sanskrit words, “Langka” (beauty) and “Wi” (innumerable), which means ‘The Place of Immense Beauty’. True enough, this island was also once known as the ‘Land of Bliss’ dating back 2,000 years ago.


The ‘Isles of Legends’
Langkawi’s heritage includes the oral storytelling passed down by the first settlers centuries ago. This resulted in having hundreds of legends attached to almost every cave, forest, islet, rock and lake within the archipelago.

As the island prospered, a legend took place. It is said that the beautiful Mahsuri was sentenced to death for adultery, a crime she was falsely accused of, and with her dying breath, she cursed the island, predicting that the island would not flourish for seven generations. Strangely enough, Langkawi suffered a series of woes after the curse as crops failed for a very long time.

There are many accounts on Langkawi’s origin, including those from legends and folklore, but according to history, one can ascertain that the island was under the rule of the Sultanate of Kedah for a long time. The Sultanate of Kedah, founded in 1136, was the earliest Sultanate on the Malay Peninsula.
 

Eventually, the island came under British rule and then, for a brief period during World War II, it was controlled by the Thai monarchy. This is evident by the number of Thai cuisines and Siamese-inspired sights found around the island. After the war ended, the island became a favourite nesting ground for pirates as the dense jungle provided an excellent hideout.

Today, Langkawi has changed dramatically. The island is probably one of the busiest islands in Malaysia. Yes, it was the duty-free status that made the island a popular destination, but many local folks still believe that it was due to something less tangible - that the seven-generation curse cast on the island by Mahsuri had finally ended.