The giant eagle
A statue around 12 metres tall with outstretched wings.
SNN95 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0
A giant statue of a reddish-brown eagle with outstretched wings, as if about to launch itself over the sea, about twelve metres tall, greets everyone arriving in Langkawi by ferry. The name itself is tied to the bird: Langkawi is said to come from two Malay words for the reddish-brown eagle that still circles over the island. The square around the statue is laid out on the waterfront with little bridges, pools and gardens, looking over the harbour and nearby islands, and it is loveliest at sunset when the sky colours behind the eagle. It is the most famous photograph in Langkawi, which is why it fills up in the evenings and at weekends. The visit is free and short, and half an hour is plenty. Next door are Legenda Park, which tells the island's legends through sculptures in a garden, and Kuah ferry jetty, and the whole area is easy to walk. The best times are early morning before the heat or just before sunset for photographs. It is exposed with almost no shade, so bring water and a hat at midday.
A statue around 12 metres tall with outstretched wings.
Langkawi, after the Malay words for the reddish-brown eagle.
The sky colouring behind the eagle over the harbour.
By Kuah jetty, Langkawi
If you are in Kuah or arriving by ferry, yes: it is on the way and the island's best-known picture. Staying at Cenang, it is only worth a trip for the photograph.