Langkawi – “Langkawi Permata Kedah” (Jewel of Kedah) by Malaysia Travel Guide

Langkawi is actually an archipelago of islands off the Northwestern coast of Kuala Perlis with the main island, known as “Pulau Langkawi” in Malay.

These islands have long been shrouded in legends and myths, with the legend of Mahsuri being one of the most well known.

The Legend of Mahsuri

Legend has it that Mahsuri was a maiden who was wrongly accused of adultery. For that she was sentenced to death.

According to the legend, during the execution, she bled white blood which indicated her innocence. With her last breath, she cursed the island of Langkawi to be riddled with bad luck for seven generations and only after the seven generations have passed would the curse on Langkawi Island be lifted.

Many of the locals believed this legend to be true, citing the incidents of crop failures and numerous invasions by the Siamese army with the last one occurring in 1821 which occurred after the death of Mahsuri.

More here