Langkawi is an archipelago made up of 99 islands on the west coast of Malaysia. Surrounded by the Andaman Sea, the main island offers a mixture of picturesque paddy fields, jungle-clad hills, and tranquil waterfalls.
Malaysia: Langkawi – Giant Eagle Statue
The icon of Langkawi, Eagle Square locally known as Dataran Lang is the home of Langkawi’s giant statue of an eagle. Local folklore suggests the island gets its name from two Malay words – helang (Eagle) and kawi (reddish-brown), hence the name lang-kawi.
I had seen a lot of pictures of Langkawi’s giant eagle statue. I love visiting these types of monuments, sometimes they can be disappointing but mostly they are impressive and make me feel it was worth the effort. What would the Langkawi eagle be? Anyway, it was time to find out.
According to folk stories, ancient fishermen, the earliest settlers in Langkawi, saw a giant eagle clutching a stone as it hovered around the island. This inspired the naming of the island as “Lang” is a Malay word for eagle, while “kawi” is a manganese stone.
The eagle was constructed to serve as a symbol for the island. The statue cannot be missed when arriving at the island of Langkawi by ferry or cruise ship. The magnificent sculpture is constructed as though the eagle is preparing to take flight and stands in the centre of a gorgeously decorated plaza.
We parked the car and walked across an interesting set of bridges over a pond covered in waterlilies (and sadly trash) to reach the square where the eagle lives. Eagle Square was stately. It is a wide 19-acre area located in front of the new Jetty Mall Complex, about 400 metres away from the Langkawi Legends Park. At its limit, right next to the waterfront is the imposing statue of the Langkawi eagle, which stands 12 metres tall. It was time to take a few pictures before going back to the car.
Getting to the Langkawi Giant Eagle
The best time to visit Langkawi
Langkawi, Malaysia sits under the Am classification of the Köppen climate system – meaning it experiences a tropical monsoon climate. The temperature remains reliably warm year-round with slight fluctuations, while precipitation amounts oscillate noticeably, hinting at distinct wet and dry seasons. The island experiences high temperatures ranging from 31°C to 34°C across the year. The lowest temperatures are in a narrow band of 23°C to 24°C.
Throughout the year, rainfall amounts see a significant variation. Starting with 50mm in January, it increases, reaching peak levels in September and October with 339mm and 344mm respectively. After that, rainfall decreases sharply heading into the year-end, bottoming out at 94mm in December. With respect to rainfall days, lesser numbers during January to March of around 4 to 9 days, rise sharply in the ensuing months to peak at 22 days from September to October. The remainder of the year sees this number taper off gradually.
Unmistakable patterns appear in the number of daylight hours too. The year starts with 11.8 hours in January, gradually increasing to a high of 12.5 hours in June and July before slowly reducing back to 11.8 hours by December. On the other hand, sunshine hours fluctuate minimally, varying between 6 to 8 hours across the year. Even the sea temperature remains fairly constant throughout the year, oscillating between 28°C to 30°C.
The best time to visit Langkawi
Considering the average weather conditions, the optimal time to visit Langkawi would be from January to March. During this period, the rainfall levels are comparably lower ranging from 50mm to 91mm, with rainfall occurring on 4 to 9 days of the month. The sea temperature holds steady at a pleasant 28°C to 29°C, desirable for water-related activities. Additionally, the daylight hours gradually escalate from 11.8 hours to 12.1 hours, leaving ample time for sightseeing. Despite the high UV index of 12 in this period, equipped with suitable sun protection, visitors can enjoy pleasant weather with 8 hours of sunshine each day.
The worst time to visit Langkawi
The months from September to October mark the least favourable period to visit Langkawi owing to high rainfall levels. These months witness the heaviest rainfall, exceeding 330mm, coupled with the highest number of rainfall days at 22. Despite the decent sea temperature oscillating between 29°C to 30°C, the influx of monsoon rains could hinder marine activities and outdoor adventures. While there is significant daylight, with about 12.2 hours to 12 hours, sizable rainfall and an average of 6 hours of sunshine might restrict outdoor pursuits.
Other places to visit while on Langkawi
1. SKYBRIDGE AND SKYCAB
Langkawi Sky Bridge is a 125-metre (410 ft) curved pedestrian cable-stayed bridge in Malaysia, completed in 2005. The bridge deck is 660 metres (2,170 ft) above sea level at the peak of Gunung Mat Cincang on Pulau Langkawi.
2. KILIM KARST GEOFOREST PARK
Kilim Geoforest Park (or Kilim Karst Geoforest Park as its full name) is one of the three geoforest parks associated with the Langkawi Geopark. Langkawi Geopark comprises the whole of Langkawi Island and was endorsed as the 52nd Global Geopark by UNESCO on 1st June 2007.
Where to stay in Langkawi
1. LUXURY – THE DATAI LANGKAWI
The Datai offers luxurious accommodations with free Wi-Fi. It features a golf course, well-appointed spa and swimming pool.
The rooms at The Datai Langkawi overlook a tropical landscape and feature a living area with a private balcony. Private bathrooms are fitted with a dressing area and bathtub.
The hotel’s spa offers a menu of massage and body treatments. Mountain bikes are also available for usage, at no charge. Guests have access to a fitness center and two tennis courts at Els Club Teluk Datai, which is a 5-minute drive from the resort.
Located away from the hotel in a rainforest, The Gulai House is an open-air restaurant serving Malay and Indian dishes. The Dining Room serves western and local favorites, while The Pavilion offers Thai food in an outdoor setting.
2. MID-RANGE – THE SMITH HOUSE
The Smith House Langkawi is amongst the most pleasant 3-star hotels in Langkawi. This boutique hotel boasts of elegant furnishings coupled with contemporary dcor, thus attracting guests from far and wide, including families, couples and leisure/ business travelers. The hotel offers modern-day services and facilities in order to offer a relaxing and hassle-free stay. It features an azure blue swimming pool wherein guests can enjoy a relaxing dip in cool blue waters. One can also head to the onsite library and enjoy a reading session in tranquility.
3. BUDGET – VILLA ABADI RESORT
Located in Pantai Cenang, a 7-minute walk from Kuala Teriang Beach, Villa Abadi Resort has accommodations with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking and a garden. Located around 1.6 miles from Kuala Muda Beach, the hotel with free WiFi is also 1.1 miles away from Telaga Harbour. The hotel has family rooms.
More to Explore
