Cave Exploration
Part of the unique geological heritage that has earned Langkawi its UNESCO Geopark status are the impressive limestone caves found all over the archipelago. As you may have guessed, most of these caves have intriguing legends surrounding them. Some of the more interesting ones are noted below and true enthusiasts are recommended to hire a guide to explain the mysteries of the caves.
Gua Cerita – Cave of Legends
This cave is accessible by boat from Tanjung Rhu beach. A ladder leads you to the entrance and once inside, you can sees ancient Arabic script on the walls. This is dated to around 1750AD when Arab missionaries were invited here by the sultan of Kedah.
According to legend this cave is where a Chinese princess was held captive by the giant Phoenix, Garuda, to prevent her from marrying a Roman prince. It is also here where her prince eventually found her when he was dropped into the sea by the giant bird.
Gua Kelawar – BatCave
This cave is accessible only by boat. Once you disembark, a boardwalk takes you under the branches of mangroves, through woods filled with medicinal and poisonous plants, right into the shadows of the bats’ lair. You won’t find the Batmobile here, but there are hundreds of tiny bats hanging from the roof by their claws. The cave is also known for its unusually large stalagmites and stalactites, many of which are at an oblique angle.
Gua Pasir Dagang – Cave of the Sand Merchant
On the coast of the Pregnant Maiden Island, this cave is to be reached by an adventurous boat ride. It is said to be one of the most fascinating on the island, with unusually shaped stalactites and stalagmites and a shallow stream flowing right through it.
