The Myth of the Cursed Newlyweds in Gua Puteri, Lenggong

Gua Puteri is actually located within the limestone complex at Bukit Kepala Gajah, Lenggong. The coordinates 5.126000, 100.980000 mark the actual location of this cave, which sits at an elevation of 94 meters above sea level. The rock formations within Gua Puteri are truly fascinating to behold.

For our loyal readers at orangperak.com, many stalactites and stalagmites have been recorded within Gua Puteri. Among them are formations resembling the map of Malaysia, a couple sitting on a wedding dais (bersanding), an elephant's head, a mosquito net (kelambu), and many more. With the existence of various naturally formed stalactites and stalagmites in Gua Puteri, it is common for mysterious stories and myths to emerge as part of local folklore. This was the norm in our society's culture in the past, where storytelling served as entertainment in ways we can hardly imagine compared to our modern era.

Perak is very popular for the legends of Sang Kelembai's curses. Gua Puteri is no exception and is often linked to this mythical creature. Two stalagmites inside the cave are believed to be the princess and prince who guarded it. Local residents claim that if anyone climbs these stalagmites, they will fall ill and eventually pass away.

Legend has it that long ago, Sang Kelembai cursed the newlyweds—the prince and princess—turning them into stone. After a long time, Sang Kelembai was eventually tricked by a young man who sacrificed himself for the villagers by persuading Sang Kelembai to marry him.

Sang Kelembai agreed to the young man's proposal. One day, the young man took Sang Kelembai to Gua Longnai for a date. While they were alone inside the cave, the villagers, who had conspired with the young man, arrived and blocked the cave entrance with large boulders, trapping them inside.

Thus, Sang Kelembai and the young man remained trapped in the cave to this day. The aforementioned Gua Longnai can no longer be found as it has been submerged by a lake due to the construction of a dam on the Perak River.

With the submergence of Gunung Longnai from the face of Perak, all the secrets within that cave have been hidden forever. Perhaps one day in the future, the various treasures that may lie within the cave will be uncovered.