Just off the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia, about 30 kilometers from Kuala Perlis and 51 kilometers from Kuala Kedah, is Pulau Langkawi. Covering an area of 32,848 hectares, The island is divided into six districts, namely Mukim Kuah, Padang Mat Sirat, Ayer Hangat, Bohor, Ulu Melaka and Kedawang. The island has a population of approximately 45,000 people,  with most of them being 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 over 500 million years, the geological facade of the islands contain unique rock formations. Ravages of nature through the aeons have created numerous caves like the mystical Gua Cerita, the 'haunted' Gua Langsiar and Gua Kelawar with their stunning stalactites and stalagmites, to lure the adventurous.

Beautiful sun-kissed beaches fringed with lush tropical vegetation offer exhilarating days of complete relaxation. The clear emerald waters reflecting the azure skies make it ideal for endless hours of water sports and other recreational activities. Beneath the surface, the warmth of the tropical seas support a profusion of marine life. Quant and rustic, this is a tropical paradise - perhaps heaven on earth.  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 a wronged maiden 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 adultery and sentenced to death by those who were envious of her. White blood oozed from her body as soon as she was stabbed, while in her dying breath she steadfastly proclaimed her  innocence. She laid a curse upon the islands that it should remain barren for seven generations. Today, the Mahsuri Memorial Complex in Kampung Mawat stands as a tribute and a sombre reminder of the wronged maiden.

Following the curse of the innocent maiden, the island was overran by the mighty Siamese army in 1821. Upon realising the inevitable fate of the island as village after village was plundered, Datuk Kerma Jaya, the headman of Kampung Raja, the ancient capital of Langkawi, ordered that the granary located at today's Padang Mat Sirat put to the torch and razed to the ground, while all the wells poisoned in order to starve the enemy. From then on, the island slipped into a slumber. A misfortune of yore but a fortune found for today's Langkawi, as the legend and the epic yarn has become the main attraction of the islands.

Call it superstition or coincidence, the island's slumberous existence ended seven generations later. Modernisation crept-in swiftly and the lethargic landscape of the land was given a careful face-lift. On 1st 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, is now a thriving and bustling commercial district.

On 13th January 1996, Malaysia saw the launching of the country's first communications satellite, MEASAT 1 into the earth's orbit. Langkawi was chosen for the command centre. The centre at Gunung Raya, the tallest peak on the island, carved Langkawi's name on the world map. Today, MEASAT 2 and Measat 3 (launched from Baikonur cosmodrome in Russia in December 2006) are also somewhere in orbit. MEASAT 3a was launched on 22nd June 2009.

Legions of tourists from all over the world have since streamed to the island to enjoy  the idyllic and pristine beaches such as Pantai Chenang, Pantai Kok and Pantai Datai, as well as the many small islands, namely Pulau Dayang Bunting, Pulau Payar and Pulau Singa Besar. Another reason for the irresistible pull of the island is the numerous international events held here throughout the year. The events include the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Show (LIMA), Tour de Langkawi, Langkawi International Motor Show and The Langkawi International Dialogue (LIDE.) The venue for most of these events is the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre at Padang Mat Sirat, which covers a 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                   

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