Kedah attractions

Larger than you’d expect for an island Langkawi’s size, Underwater World Langkawi is a Pantai Cenang landmark thanks to its striking frontage. With freshwater and ocean aquariums, it’s home to everything from penguins and sea lions to lionfish, catfish, sharks, and turtles—and even a tropical rain forest aviary packed with birds.

The jewel of Langkawi’s Dayang Bunting Island, Dayang Bunting Lake (Tasik Dayang Bunting is a pretty freshwater lake, nestled just inland from the salt waters of the Andaman Sea. The name means “Pregnant Maiden Lake” and some locals still believe the ancient legend that bathing here can help improve female fertility.

Stretching along the waterfront in Kuah, Lagenda Park (Taman Lagenda) offers green gardens, tranquil pools, shady pathways, and mangroves, but sculptures are the highlight. Seventeen colorful structures immortalize different Langkawi legends, from friendly giants to Mahsuri, who cursed the island for generations.

The Malaysian state of Kedah is nicknamed the Rice Bowl of Malaysia, so it’ll come as no surprise that it’s home to the Rice Garden Museum (Laman Padi Langkawi)—where thousands of acres of rice paddy fields thrive with different rice varieties. The emerald expanse is also home to water buffalo and a rich variety of birds.

Remote, vibrant, and carefully protected, Pulau Payar Marine Park is an underwater paradise for divers and snorkelers. Made up of four small islands south of the larger island of Langkawi, the marine park is home to coral reefs, colorful fish, and baby sharks. This uninhabited archipelago shows off a different side of Malaysia’s natural beauty, reminding you to look beneath the surface.

This museum displays a glittering collection of awards, gifts, and mementos given to Tun Dr. Mahathir when he was Malaysia’s prime minister. The building that houses the eclectic collection looks traditionally Malay from the outside. Inside, it boasts an ornate ceiling, stained glass, and elaborate plasterwork.