langkawi magazine

To Do SECTION

Lady Mahsuri Lives On

A fair maiden by the name of Mahsuri cursed Langkawi island with her dying breath for seven generations because she was wrongly sentenced to death for alleged adultery. Today her story lives on and is recounted to millions of tourists who find their way to Langkawi island. Her tomb is one of the most visited spots in Langkawi.

Makam Mahsuri or Tomb of Mahsuri, located in a small village 12km from Kuah, was erected at a spot where she had died, as legends have it. Ticket collector Faridah Cheemboi says, "We get many tourists from Star Cruise ships every Monday. Locals visit Makam Mahsuri mostly on weekends.

"There are daily cultural performances like groups playing traditional music, singing traditional songs to a baby, berdikir and photo sessions with local villagers." Visitors will see a Perkampungan Kedah or Kedah village, Rumah Kedah (house), Jelapang Padi, Bangsal Pameran, Mahsuri well, Ethno Botanic garden and the making of traditional biscuits and snacks at the tomb.

The site where the model Kedah House is situated is believed to be where Mahsuri's house originally stood. Before reaching the Kedah House you will see three local women in a wooden shack frying snacks on a gas stove. The snacks - kuih loyang, kuih peneram and kuih karas - are sold at RM2 per packet or 20 sen per piece.

At the entrance of the tomb, work is going on to build Gallery Mahsuri. Guides can be engaged for group visits. Seeing the droves of tourists on weekends and public holidays, the curse has apparently lapsed.

Langkawi 21/03/2002