Legend of Mat Cincang and Mat Raya

The two most prominent mountains in Langkawi Gunong Machinchang (Mat Cincang) and Gunong Raya (Mat Raya) tell the tale of the fight between families of giants.

The story tells the tale of a wedding - with Mat Raya's son wanting to marry Mat Cincang's daughter. During the wedding feast, a fight broke out between the two wedding parties. Pots and pans were flung at each other.

A large pot of gravy (kuah) was broken and the contents flowed onto the ground. Where the gravy spilt, became know as Kuah (the largest town on Langkawi island) and where the crockery (belanga) was broken (pecah) was location of the village Kampung Belanga Pecah (belaga pecah means broken crockery). The gravy seep in (kisap) through the land at the village named Kisap.

A couldron of hot water (air hangat) was also spilled on the ground Air Hangat Village (Hot Water Village). Where the engagement ring (cincin) was hurled became known as Tanjung Cincin (Cape of the Ring). All these sites are found on Langkawi island. The straits now separates Langkawi from Terutau Island in Thailand.

The fight between the two families went on until it was intervened by Mat Sawar and ended. Both Mat Raya and Mat Cincang apologised for the damage incurred. In remorse, they chose to be transformed into mountains, immobile and benign.

Today, Gunung Mat Cincang and Gunung Raya stand facing each other. As if separating the two, Bukit Sawar (Sawar Hill) lies in the middle. If you look at the two mountains today, you will notice that little Mat Sawar Hill is wedged in between, probably to prevent another fight between the two.

The marriage turned out to be a prosperous one, for Mat Raya's son turned over leaf and became a devoted husband.