Just off the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia, about 30 kilometers from Kuala Perlis and 51 kilometers from Kuala Kedah, Pulau Langkawi, as it is popularly known, covers an area of 32,848 hectares. The island is divided into six districts namely Mukim Kuah, Padang Matsirat, Ayer Hangat, Bohor, Ulu Melaka and Kedawang and has a population of approximately 45,000 inhabitants with most of them being the Malays.

Out of the 108 (99 during high tide) islands, only Pulau Langkawi, Pulau Tuba and parts of Pulau Dayang Bunting are inhabited. With a geological history dating back to 500 million odd years, the islands contain unique rock formations. Numerous caves like the mystical Gua Cerita, the 'haunted' Gua Langsiar and Gua Kelawar with their stunning stalactites and stalagmites, taunt the adventurous.

Fine beaches fringed with lush tropical vegetation offer sun-filled days of complete relaxation. The clear emerald seas reflecting the shade of the azure skies provide a host of water sports and recreational activities, and a magical world of marine life. Unspoilt and rustic, it is a tropical paradise spectacularly endowed by nature. However, Langkawi is more than a place of captivating beauty,  it is also a land steeped in legends and shrouded in mysteries. Its past is filled with legendary tales of wronged maidens and lovelorn princes, all of whom have left their mark for posterity.

The best-known legend is that of Mahsuri, a beautiful maiden who lived here some 200 years ago. She was wrongly accused of committing adultery and sentenced to death by those who were envious of her. White blood oozed out as soon as she was stabbed proclaiming her innocence. With her dying breath, she laid a curse upon the island that it should remain barren for seven generations. The Kota Mahsuri Complex is a tribute and a somber reminder of the wronged maiden.

As it turned out, in 1821, the Siamese savagely attacked Langkawi. Upon knowing the inevitable fate of the island following the battle, Datuk Kerma Jaya, the headman of Kampung Raja, the ancient capital of Langkawi, ordered that the granary located at today's Padang Mat Sirat be razed to to the groundand all the wells poisoned in order to starve the enemy. From then on, the island slipped into a slumber. This legend is perhaps the main allure of Langkawi.

Call it superstition or coincidence, the island's slumberous existence ended seven generations later. Modernization crept-in swiftly and the lethargic landscape of the land was given a careful face-lift. On 1 January 1987, the Federal Government declared Langkawi a duty-free port and in 1990, the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), which is housed in the LADA Complex was set up to develop the island as a tourist destination, as well as to improve the socio-economic conditions of the local people.  Today, Langkawi has blossomed from a once sleepy hollow inhabited by farmers and fishermen into a prime holiday spot for domestic and international travelers. Its main town, Kuah once a sleepy hollow, is now a thriving and bustling commercial district.

On 13 January 1996, Malaysia saw the launching of Malaysia's first communications satellite, MEASAT I into the earth's orbit. Langkawi was chosen to house the MEASAT Satellite Control Centre to monitor and control all MEASAT satellites in-orbit operation. The erection of the centre at Gunung Raya, the highest peak of the island, brought Langkawi's name up further in the world map. Today, MEASAT II & Measat III (launched from Baikonur cosmodrome in Russia in December 2006) are also somewhere in orbit.

More and more tourists from all over the world are beginning to stream into the island for various reason ' the idyllic pristine beaches such as the Pantai Cenang, Pantai Kok and Pantai Datai as well as the many small islands namely the Pulau Dayang Bunting, Pulau Payar and Pulau Singa Besar surrounding Langkawi. Another reason behind the arrival of many visitors is the numerous international events held on the island. Some of the events include the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Show (LIMA), Tour de Langkawi, Langkawi International Motor Show and Langkawi International Dialogue. The venue for most of these events is the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre, which covers a land show area of 7500 sq feet.

To cater for the growing number of travelers to the island, Langkawi International Airport, located at Padang Mat Sirat, has expanded three times within the last decade and undergone major renovations costing RM90 million.Luxurious international class hotels and resorts spring up like mushrooms all over the island. Langkawi has suddenly gained worldwide attention as a prime tourist spot, the nation's aerospace centre and as a host of top-notch events.

* IIllustration for Death of Mahsuri by  Fazrul Arhan
Photo credits: Tourism Malaysia (top), Rocky Islands aerial view by Gerald Cubitt