Dayang Bunting (Lake of the Pregnant Maiden)

The island is best known for the 4,354-hectare natural lake in its southwest, known as Lake of the Pregnant Maiden. The mostly-freshwater lake is steeped in mystical legend and said to boost fertility in women who swim in or drink its waters.

Visitors must tackle a 15-minute walk up and down 289 steps stretching 300 meters to reach the oval-shaped lake, encircled by lofty mountain peaks. Those donning life jackets can swim in the cool 14-meter-deep waters or explore the surface in a kayak or paddleboat.

Most tourists visit the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden as part of an island-hopping tour, unaware there is more to explore in Dayang Bunting's populated north. Those who sail around to the island's northern jetty can spend a day exploring marble rock and terra rosa (red clay) formations, caves filled with stalactites and stalagmites, local villages, and unique flora and fauna including hornbills, kingfishers, and macaque monkeys.

Look Around

Long jetty to ticket booth

Arrival jetty

Monkeys on the jetty

Boats waiting for tourists to return

Ticket office

Arriving at Dayang Bunting

Narrow walkway

Signage about native wildlife

Marble rock

Steep staircase leading to the lake

Signage about geological landscape

Steep staircase on the way back to the jetty

Walking path to the lake

Approaching the lake platform

Life jackets must be worn by all swimmers

Lake of the Pregnant Maiden

Facing south towards the cave wall separating the lake from the sea

Facing west, with other islands in the background

Facing north

Remnant of limestone cave wall between jetty and lake

Aerial view of the lake

Who Will Like Dayang Bunting

Nature Lover

Take an island-hopping tour to witness beautiful and geologically significant rock formations in the area, like towering islands, mustard-colored singa rock on Snake Island, and marble rock on Dayang Bunting. Walk down to the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden to admire the still waters that once formed the bottom of a massive cave.

Wellness Pursuer

Take a swim in the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden for improved wellbeing. Local legend accredits this to a celestial princess who lost a child, while scientists say overall health may be improved due to the lake's high alkaline content.

Bucketlist Bandit

Take an island-hopping-tour that includes Dayang Bunting to swim in the mystical lake.

Photography Whiz

Bring a wide-angle lens to capture the outline of a pregnant maiden lying down as you approach the island, then keep your camera handy to photograph playful monkeys and sections of marble rock along the walk to the lake. The lake itself will require a panorama to capture its size, equivalent to 2 football stadiums.

Culture Buff

Soak up the waters of the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden to live out a local legend. Next, take a boat around the island to see semi-developed Malay villages and buy handicrafts from local women.

Fun Expert

Slowly make your way down to the lake, watching cheeky macaque monkeys along the way. Hire life jackets for a quick swim in the lake then jump in a paddle boat to float along its vast surface with your family.

Insider Tips For Dayang Bunting

• The Lake of the Pregnant Maiden is a freshwater natural lake with very low to no levels of saline. As such, there is no added buoyancy to help you float like in the sea or a swimming pool. It is mandatory for all swimmers to wear life jackets while in the water. Swimming is only allowed within the roped-off area near the floating platform.
• Life jackets hire costs RM5 (USD$1.20) if you wish to swim.
• Paddleboats and kayaks can be hired for RM10 (USD$2.39) including life jacket hire. These should be booked at the ticket counter before climbing down to the lake.

Ticket desk

Life jackets for hire

Kayaks and paddle boats for hire

Restrooms near ticket booth

Ticket desk, life jackets, kayaks, and restroom facilities

• Some small kiosks are located on a floating platform that sell drinks and offer foot massages.
• Toilets are located near the ticket booth and cost RM1 (USD$0.24) per person per use.
• Boat tours can be booked in advance or bought directly at Pekan Rabu Pier in Kuah. Pricing will depend on your negotiation skills.
• The populated northern region of Dayang Bunting can be reached via boat at Jeti Kg Selat Bagan Nyior or via road bridge from Tuba Island. Popular attractions on the island's north include seafood restaurants, jungle trekking, and caves.
• Dayang Bunting is a popular stop on island-hopping tours including a series of other islands, like Tuba Island and Snake Island.

Video

How To Get There

Dayang Bunting signage

Jetty to boats

Boat to Dayang Bunting

Pekan Rabu Pier, Kuah

Tech & Photography

Food & Drink

• Dayang Cafe - Simple café located near the main jetty, before the ticket booth, selling soft drink and light meals like burgers, french fries, and spring rolls. Be mindful of sneaky monkeys who try to steal food from the tables.

French fries & spring rolls

Hungry monkeys watching diners from the trees

Dayang Cafe

Backstory

Thousands of years ago, the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden was a large limestone cave until its roof collapsed due to the chamber's inability to carry the bedrock's weight. The collapse created a doline, or sinkhole, which over time filled with rainwater. Due to the cave's thick limestone walls, no seawater could leak into the lake leaving it completely fresh with high alkaline content.

According to local legend, the lake was the favorite bathing pool of celestial princess, Mambang Sari. When a prince fell in love with her, he tricked her into marrying him. They soon had a child who died of a mysterious illness at 7 days old. The grieving princess left the child's body in her beloved lake and returned to the skies. The legend says barren women who bathe in the lake are endowed with a child.

The lake has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Langkawi, receiving over 400,000 visitors each year.

Most of Dayang Bunting is made of metamorphic marble rock, which was transformed from limestone after being exposed to heat from magma underneath the earth. The process is said to have occurred 220 to 200 million years ago.

Dayang Bunting Marble is white in color and said to be of higher quality than highly-coveted Italian marble. The valuable rock was mined during the 1970s, but the quarry was closed in the early 2000s as part of Langkawi's UNESCO Global Geopark accreditation.

Dayang Bunting is one of 4 inhabited islands in Langkawi's archipelago. Locals reside in the northern half of the island and are mainly fishermen, farmers, and craftswomen.

Etiquette

Monkeys along the walking path

A cheeky monkey 'helped' maintenance workers with red paint

Dayang Bunting monkeys

Scorecard

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