Kuah
Encyclopedia
Kuah is a town and district capital of Langkawi
, Kedah
, and is the entry point for those coming by ferry from either the mainland or Penang
Island. The town is centered on its jetty, which brings in flocks of tourists each year who come to enjoy the shopping and other attractions of Langkawi
. Over the years, Kuah has developed to become a modern and vibrant town with many shopping and dining opportunities, helped by the astounding growth of visitors to Langkawi
.
The name ‘Kuah’ comes from the Malay word for ketchup, and legend has it that the town arose from a cup of gravy spilled on the land by two giants fighting. Kuah has a wide range of hotels but no resorts, as the town has no proper beach despite being located by the sea. Also, the nightlife in Kuah consists mostly of eating out in seafood restaurants, though there are a few bars and pubs located in some of the hotels.
Still, Kuah boasts many facilities and attractions, making it a convenient and attractive place to stay despite the lack of beach and night spots. Today, Kuah is indeed booming as a commercial center with shopping complexes, restaurants, fast food outlets, hotels and handicraft shops sprouting all over the horizon.
Island as its name derives from the Malay word for eagle. The square is a landscaped area with ponds, terraces and bridges, making it a nice place to take a stroll and admire the view of the sea.
Along with the flowering vegetation, the park has 17 sculptures that depict the many legends found in Langkawi
, such as the duel between two giants that led to the formation of Mat Cincang and Raya Mountains, mythical birds and fairy-tales of princesses. In addition, there are 4 artificial lakes and a man-made beach to complement the picturesque scenery. The park is open from morning till late at night and is within walking distance from the jetty.
was the retreat destination for the Government heads that attended the function. Today, the Park still carries the flags of all the Commonwealth Nations that participated, standing tall in the garden that is lushly planted with trees. This is a good place to take a stroll and relax in.
along with traditional Malay elements. Also, the mosque has sentimental value to Langkawi
as it was opened by the first Prime Minister of Malaysia
Tunku Abdul Rahman
in 1959.
and Starbucks
with wireless internet access.
despite being located at the fringes of Kuah Town. With a family-oriented theme, one can find household commodities, family apparel, electronics and groceries besides fashion clothing, tobacco, liquor, confectionery, local souvenirs and luggage bags all at duty-free prices. Services include money exchange, ATM and a tourist information counter.
The only cinema in Langkawi is located on the 10th floor and there is abundant parking available on-site and also in the multi-level car park attached to shopping mall.
Langkawi
Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border...
, Kedah
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
, and is the entry point for those coming by ferry from either the mainland or Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
Island. The town is centered on its jetty, which brings in flocks of tourists each year who come to enjoy the shopping and other attractions of Langkawi
Langkawi
Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border...
. Over the years, Kuah has developed to become a modern and vibrant town with many shopping and dining opportunities, helped by the astounding growth of visitors to Langkawi
Langkawi
Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border...
.
The name ‘Kuah’ comes from the Malay word for ketchup, and legend has it that the town arose from a cup of gravy spilled on the land by two giants fighting. Kuah has a wide range of hotels but no resorts, as the town has no proper beach despite being located by the sea. Also, the nightlife in Kuah consists mostly of eating out in seafood restaurants, though there are a few bars and pubs located in some of the hotels.
Still, Kuah boasts many facilities and attractions, making it a convenient and attractive place to stay despite the lack of beach and night spots. Today, Kuah is indeed booming as a commercial center with shopping complexes, restaurants, fast food outlets, hotels and handicraft shops sprouting all over the horizon.
Places of Attraction
While Kuah is more of a commercial center and shopping zone, there are a few landmark attractions you can visit in Kuah. Most of these are recreational parks where you can come to enjoy some rest and relaxation as well as the gentle cooling breeze from the sea.Dataran Lang
Dataran Lang, or ‘Eagle Square’, is a huge monument in the shape of a sea-eagle in pre-flight pose perched on some rocks. This huge 12-meter high statue greets visitors who come to Kuah by ferry as they ride to the jetty. The eagle is symbolic of LangkawiLangkawi
Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border...
Island as its name derives from the Malay word for eagle. The square is a landscaped area with ponds, terraces and bridges, making it a nice place to take a stroll and admire the view of the sea.
Taman Lagenda
Taman Lagenda or Lagenda Park is a recreational area dedicated to Langkawi’s heritage of myths and fables. The park covers an area of 50 hectares of reclaimed land and is more of an open-air museum built with the theme of a flowering garden. Indeed, the park is full of flowers, shrubs and fruit trees growing around pathways and along ponds that dot the garden.Along with the flowering vegetation, the park has 17 sculptures that depict the many legends found in Langkawi
Langkawi
Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border...
, such as the duel between two giants that led to the formation of Mat Cincang and Raya Mountains, mythical birds and fairy-tales of princesses. In addition, there are 4 artificial lakes and a man-made beach to complement the picturesque scenery. The park is open from morning till late at night and is within walking distance from the jetty.
CHOGM Park
Also another park within Kuah, the CHOGM Park was built to commemorate the 1989 Commonwealth meeting in Malaysia. LangkawiLangkawi
Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border...
was the retreat destination for the Government heads that attended the function. Today, the Park still carries the flags of all the Commonwealth Nations that participated, standing tall in the garden that is lushly planted with trees. This is a good place to take a stroll and relax in.
Al-Hana Mosque
The Al-Hana Mosque is one of the island’s largest and most popular mosques. It is conveniently located in Kuah town to accommodate Muslim patrons and also receive visitors who come to view the architecture. Indeed, this majestic mosque incorporates motifs and carvings from UzbekistanUzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
along with traditional Malay elements. Also, the mosque has sentimental value to Langkawi
Langkawi
Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border...
as it was opened by the first Prime Minister of Malaysia
Prime Minister of Malaysia
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
Tunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, AC, CH was Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya from 1955, and the country's first Prime Minister from independence in 1957. He remained as the Prime Minister after Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore joined the...
in 1959.
Shopping
Langkawi has been allotted as a duty-free zone within the country. Kuah town has the highest concentration of shopping centers and shop lots that retail duty-free goods and souvenirs.Jetty Point Mall
The Jetty Point Mall enjoys a strategic location by being part of the jetty complex itself. This makes it a frequent last-minute shopping place for visitors before they disembark on ferry back to the mainland. Housed with the mall are many shop lots that stock various duty-free goods. In addition, there are cafes, bakeries and fast food outlets such as KFCKFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
and Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
with wireless internet access.
Langkawi Fair Shopping Mall
The Langkawi Fair Shopping Mall is one of the largest shopping malls in Langkawi with over 100 individual shops and an adjoining supermarket cum departmental store. Duty-free goods, along with souvenirs, fashion apparel, sports attire and electronic items, can be purchased here. Other facilities include fast food outlets, a food court, money changer and an information counter for tourists.Teow Soon Huat
Teow Soon Huat is a large duty-free shopping mall with over 40 outlets, 8 food and beverage outlets including a food gallery, a department store and a supermarket selling fresh, frozen and canned foods. This is one of the most popular places to shop in LangkawiLangkawi
Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border...
despite being located at the fringes of Kuah Town. With a family-oriented theme, one can find household commodities, family apparel, electronics and groceries besides fashion clothing, tobacco, liquor, confectionery, local souvenirs and luggage bags all at duty-free prices. Services include money exchange, ATM and a tourist information counter.
The only cinema in Langkawi is located on the 10th floor and there is abundant parking available on-site and also in the multi-level car park attached to shopping mall.