There are a couple of legends it s associated with the origin of the name. Some associate it with Helang (eagles) Kawi(reddish brown).Kawi is also the Malay word for limestone so it could be a reference to that as well. The picture on the left is of the eagle statue at Kuah, the port of Langkawi island The other legend is that the name derives from Langka (beauty) Wi (many) which is probably a better description of the cluster of islands. I heard a few other explanations as well, but soon my interest drifted from the origin of the name to all the legends associated with the islands. Then of course, once you get there, it is just so beautiful, that everything else fades away and one is left with just the experience of the senses. 
The most interesting (and consistent) legend is the one associated with the Mahsuri—the princess who cursed the island to doom and despair for seven generations, because she had been wrongly accused of adultery. This is believed to be true because langkawi has only recently come on the map of development and become a hot tourist destination. The warm embrace of Malaysian tourism replaced Mahsuri’s curse and the island has never been the same since 
Langkawi is the main island, and although it has retained much of its natural beauty and kept the monsters of over-commercialization at bay, the signs of that happening are already apparent. So, the next couple of years would be the best time to experience this little paradise. The main island is the best base, and you could visit the other islands from there. The easiest way to get to Langkawi is by air. We took a connection on Malaysian airlines. It is a short flight from Kuala Lumpur. Once you get there, you could take a cab to the hotel. If you call the hotel ahead of your arrival they will usually arrange for the airport transfer. Once you are there, you will find that taxis or rented cars are the only way to get around. As long as you have a fair idea of what it costs to get to a particular place, it is highly unlikely you will be overcharged. I stayed at the Mutiara Bay resort, which was perfect. The Berjaya resort is right next door and it one level up. My friends stayed there when they went and loved the place. When you are trying to decide on the hotel, you could perhaps keep the following things in mind
- Decide on the beach first. The location is the first aspect. For this , you need to be familiar with a map of the island
- What are the basic commutes to most of the places you want to see, which means you need to figure that out as well
- How much luxury is enough, and how basic is basic?
Once you have this figured out, you would be able to narrow down the search
Kuah is the hub of langkawi and the most commercialized place. It is the center of activity, but personally, I would not recommend staying there, unless you really need to be bang in the centre of noise. There are no views to speak of- Pantai Cenang, 18 kms from Kuah, is the most happening beach and where you find the cheapest accommodation. Do not try finding it on the internet; you will get great deals when you get there, unless it is peak season. All the nightlife, sporting activity, restaurants and entertainment zone is here. Nice place to be, but definitely not quiet
- Pantai Tengah is half a kilometer south of Cenang, and although a little quieter, the water was not very great. If you are here, you may as well be in Cenang.
Pantai Kok is about 25 kms from Kuah and has fairly secluded beaches and many good resorts. It is on the western side of the island and in close proximity to Gunung Mut Cincang (the mountain), Seven Wells and the Oriental
Village. I liked this entire belt, and you can decide the luxury level of resorts you want to stay in, after checking the beaches.
Pantai Teluk Burai is the western tip and has beautiful beaches, and near the Burau Island, full of migratory birds. It is also near the Telagu Tujuh waterfall
If you can afford it stay at the Pantai Teluk Datai—either at the super luxury Datai resort or the Andaman. I would recommend driving there just to experience the beauty of the place, and it has an amazing golf club not too far from the Temurun waterfall. Definitely worth a visit. The beach faces the island of Anak Datai
Pantai Tanjhung RHu is in the northern part of the island, and has lvely beaches. The beaches are secluded, the place is breathtaking beautiful and you should stay at the Tanjung Rhu Resort. Sheltered in the bay’s curve this place is really peaceful and recommended for those who want a relaxed vacation far from the crowds.
There are a few other beaches on the island, but these would the ones with most of the hotels/resorts.
