A 12-metre sculpture of a reddish-brown eagle in mid-flight stands on a platform at Kuah's waterfront, right where the ferry from Penang docks. The eagle is Langkawi's symbol and gives the island its name. The surrounding Langkawi Legend Park is a pleasant garden with sculptures depicting stories from local Malay mythology, including the tale of Mahsuri — a young woman unjustly executed whose dying curse supposedly brought seven generations of misfortune to the island. A good five-minute orientation stop when arriving by ferry.
Dataran Lang (Eagle Square)
A story
The eagle (Helang in Malay) is Langkawi's symbol, and the island's name itself is said to derive from "Lang" (eagle) and "Kawi" (reddish-brown stone). Brahminy kites — large reddish-brown eagles — are everywhere on the island and regularly dive-bomb fish thrown from the mangrove tour boats. The giant statue was erected to welcome visitors arriving by ferry from the mainland.