Under its newfound duty-free status the island has thrived and its tourism scene has picked up
so much that it has fast become the country’s tourism starlet.
But located in the village of Mawat, 12km from Kuah, it is also known as Makam Mahsuri.
which according to folklore, she was accused of adultery and executed by stabbing.
Her tomb, Makam Mahsuri, has become a tourist attraction on the island.
The story begins with the beautiful Mahsuri, a maiden (or princess by some accounts) born over 200 years ago, who married the love of her life during a time of conflict with the Siamese.
Her husband went off to fight in the war and her mother-in-law, jealous of her beauty, vengefully accused Mahsuri of adultery.
Mahsuri protested her innocence but the village elders tried the young girl, found her guilty and sentenced her to death by stabbing.
She was tied to a stake but when she was pierced with the ceremonial dagger she bled white blood, a sign of her innocence With her dying breath, Mahsuri cursed the island with seven generations of bad luck.
It is only at the end of the 20th century, after the seven generations have supposedly come to
pass, that Langkawi began to prosper as a tourist destination.
The Mahsuri Well
People are believed to posses healing pproperties such as if one were to wash ones face with the water it would helpto retain the youthful looklikewhat it did for Mahsuri, who back then possessed outstanding beauty.
Some how locals believed that the well never dried up even thought during drought seasons.
