Silabur Caves or known as the Jade Caves is about one and a half hours' drive from Kuching, Sarawak.
The legend of Silabur Caves
According to legend, Silabur Caves was originally a three-longhouse community that turned into a cave overnight.
Long ago, Kampung Bi Sitria-uh used to be two longhouses and due to overpopulation, the headman, Babeh Legan (Orang Kaya Bunga) decided to build the third longhouse.
Image source via twitter/@ninidragQueen
Upon completion, the headman invited a shaman from the nearby village to conduct a 'miring' ceremony. He invited Bunga mang Laman from Kampung Daha to conduct the 'miring' ceremony. The ceremony was conducted all the way till midnight and the whole village participated. Everyone was happy with the unlimited tuak (rice wine) in the ceremony, and Bunga mang Laman got drunk and passed out.
While the shaman was sleeping, his grandson, Sok, was still out drinking and eating with the villagers. Sok was offered a bowl of Kasam (preserved meat) which he liked it so much that he devoured the whole bowl and a lot more!
The village got tired of 'serving' Sok, they decided to mixed the Kasam with rubber. Sok, when he tried to chew it, he was unable to. So he woke up his grandfather to cut the Kasam for him. Bunga mang Laman woke up and tried to cut it but to no avail but not long after he realised that is rubber. Oh man, was he furious!
Bunga mang Laman decided to punish the whole village for being ungrateful. He told the villages to beat the 'gong' (drum) as he wanted to 'bilanggi' (dance). Bunga also requested sarong (traditional cloth) to wrap around his puppy, Biruang and tied a bell on its legs. Bunga then releases the puppy and the villagers were entertained by it and some laugh at how comical the puppy was.
The shaman then took Sok and quickly leave the village in wee hours. When they reach a resting area not too far away, he began to chant and cast a spell. Heavy rain started to fall in Kampung Bi Sitria-uh and the rain turned into rocks.
"The rock will rise from the ground to reach the sky," the villagers heard a loud voice say.
Shocked, the villagers quickly escape to the river but the water was so cold that they are forced back onto the land. They immediately find themselves getting 'wrapped' by the rocks and slowly turned into stones.
For the villagers who did not laugh at the puppy, they were safe from the curse. When the dawn came, the rocks stopped growing.
The nearby villagers of Kampung Siturub were shocked when they saw that Kampung Bi Sitira-uh has turned into a rocky mountain overnight. They were not sympathetic to the fate though as they were not invited to the ceremony.
Till today, it became known as the Silabur Caves.
Image source via dayakdaily.com
About Silabur Caves
The caves are located approximately forty-minute drive from the town of Serian. From there, it takes about one hour trek and hikes to Silabur Caves through the luscious and rocky trails.
The cave's chambers are divided by the curtains of ancient limestone formation. The chambers' walls would remind you of massive cathedral walls found in Europe.
Image source via feelmalaysia.com
The sun rays are channelled into the caves through the cracks illuminating the wall. The moss walls seem to shine in different colours of green, blue and purple - hence, the Jade caves.
To explore the caves, you will probably take about one and the half-hour not including a secret chamber that is off-limit to the public because it is too dangerous.
If you are feeling adventurous, you could trek all the way to the summit of Mount Silabur, known as Sky Park for extra three hours.
Tips For Visitors
- You will need a guide to explore the caves which cost approximately RM80 each person if you engage the local villages.
- You will be charged an additional RM10 per entry to the caves.
- Good torchlight or headgear is needed to explore the caves.
- Bring along packed meals and water.
