langkawi


Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of Malaysia's Kedah state, but are adjacent to the Thai border. By far the largest of the islands is the eponymous Pulau Langkawi with a population of some 45,000, the only other inhabited island being nearby Pulau Tuba. Langkawi is a duty-free island.The name Langkawi is a combination of 'Lang' and 'Kawi'. 'Lang' means 'Helang' eagle in Malay. In the past days the land was a home to innumerable eagles. 'Kawi' is the Sanskrit word for marble, which is found in excess in this part of Malaysia. Both these words together joined to form the word 'Helangkawi' which ultimately became as Langkawi.

Another reference found in the book of Tun Mohamed Zahir's named 'The Legends of Langkawi' which says its a mix of two sanskrit words 'Langka' (beauty) and 'Wi' (innumerable).