• Pulau Dayang Bunting • Pulau
Beras Basah • Pulau Singa Besar •
While in Pulau Langkawi (Langkawi
Island), you should not miss out on visiting the pristine islands of Pulau Dayang Bunting, Pulau
Beras Basah and Pulau Singa Besar. Located in the south they are within easy
reach by chartering a boat, or joining in on a half day island hopping tour
Pulau Singa Besar name means "Island of the Bid Lion" although physically
there's no resemblance. Located 17km from Kuah, Pulau Singa Besar is nestled
between the smaller island of Pulau Beras Basah to the west and Pulau Dayang
Bunting to the east.
Pulau Dayang Bunting (Island of the Pregnant
Pulau Dayang Bunting, or the Isle of the Pregnant Maiden, is the second
largest island in the archipelago. Located 17.6km from Kuah, Its about
fifteen minutes' boat ride from Langkawi main island and definitely worth a
day trip. Its name 'The Island of the Pregnant Maiden" is inspired by the
legends which surround the lake or by the physical appearance of the island
itself which resembles the belly of a pregnant woman.
On the island are found the well-known 'Lake of the Pregnant Maiden' and
'Gua Langsiar' (Banshee Cave), which was so named because of the banshee
wailing like sound produced by the blowing wind.
The cave is very heavily forested and sits on top of a limestone hill
towering 91 metres above sea level, on the island's west coast. Dayang
Bunting has impressive limestone hills and most of the island is still
covered by dense forest. A jetty has been constructed near the lake to
enable the boat to drop its visitors off and tourists normally alight here
before heading off to the cave, which is about eight
kilometres to the
large lake, set in tranquil surroundings is suitable for swimming. Its
waters are also said to possess magical powers that will enable barren women
to bear children if they drink water from the lake. Fringed with mangrove
swamps, the island flourishes with rich ecosystems. It offers excellent
Pulau Beras Basah (Island of the Wet Rice)
Pulau Beras Basah literally means Island of Wet Rice. It features lush,
mysterious jungle with mountains looming in the background.
You can expect to see spectacular sights like the breathtakingly beautiful
beach with its white powdery sand and blue-green waters. Do some snorkelling
or swimming...or simply relax in the sun. Watch out for monkeys at the
Pulau Singa Besar (Singa Island)
located three kilometres off the southern tip of Pantai Tengah. It is a
designated stop for the island-hopping boat. The sedimentary rocks on this
island are reputed to be among the oldest in Malaysia going back 500 million
years. The flora and fauna here differ greatly form that on the mainland,
with lush abundance of the Diptherocarp, kelubi and cycas.
A wildlife sanctuary for many species of animals have been released on the
island. If you're lucky you may be able to catch a glimpse of monkeys, mouse
deer, various reptiles and birds - possibly peacock displays.
Mangrove swamps dominate the perimeter of the island, while rainforests
reign supreme inland. The bird and insect population are high, width over 90
species of birds including the hornbill, kingfisher, drongo, woodpecker and
Wooden walkways and paths have been delineated on the islands shores
for nature lovers and a trek around the island takes about 8 hours.
To conserve the island's natural surroundings, no hotels or chalets have
been built. Instead, camping is encouraged. However, visitors will have to
bring along their own tents and camping equipment
July to mid-September is the monsoon season and most trips don't operate
due to choppy seas when the weather can make day trips unpleasant.
The monkeys on the islands can be especially mischievous, so take care.
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