Hang Tuah & Hang Jebat – True Mausoleum?

Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat the famous duel in old Malay folklore. Once best friends with a band of five fighters. Hang Tuah was the most skilful and Jebat was the second most skilful. Malay folklore said that Hang Tuah was vanished in Duyong River with his Kris Taming Sari and Hang Jebat was torn apart by Sultan and the Body was thrown away to the Melaka Straits because of his murderous rampage and confrontation against Sultan. Here the story in English I found about the Hang Tuah and friends legend.

Hang Tuah Mausoleum, Tanjung Keling.

But both of them seems to have a resting place and in a form of Mausoleum too. Historian did not know the exact time both of the warrior died but the Mausoleum do exist. Hang Tuah Grave located at Tanjung Keling and historian predict he died pre-date the Portuguese Arrival in 1511. Local Lore said that at that time Malaccans had to hide the identity of the grave owner from the Portuguese as the invaders will wipe out every vestige of the Malaccan sultanate as a show of force. So back then people just called it makam tua (old grave). After Dutch came they allowed for the tomb to be reconstructed and the bricks and plaster used are believed to date from Dutch Era.

Hang Jebat Mausoleum, Jonker Street Melaka.

For Hang Jebat, his grave is in the heart of Melaka Old Town. Flanked by shop houses. One of the old roads in the area before was Jonker Street has been renamed Jalan Hang Jebat. Acehnese design of the grave show that Jebat was given a warrior’s burial despite been openly defiant and even indulged in adulterous bouts in the Sultan’s harem.

Now the mausoleums are another historical landmarks in Melaka. Either the legend true or not depends on what we believed. Visitors are welcomed to observed the grave as no fees or visitors time given. But maybe a bit awkward to visit the grave late at night.

Hang Jebat Mausoleum,
Jln. Kg. Pantai
75200 Malacca
lat 2.196153 long 102.24934663448

— asmaliana