Kubur lama (image by Nurzulfakar)
Tanah perkuburan Islam bersejarah (image by artmelayu)
Nisan batu belimbing (image by Tun Teja)
Kain kuning pada batu nisan(image by merahsilu)

Keistimewaan Nisan Belimbing? Ahli arkeologi tempatan dan luar negara menyokong pendapat yang mengatakan terdapat satu-satunya batu nisan yang unik di Malaysia. Terletak di Kampung Chohong Jasin dahulunya tidak dihiraukan tetapi kini tempat tersebut dijadikan tempat bersejarah untuk dikunjungi penduduk tempatan di Malaysia selepas penduduk kampung secara tidak sengaja menemui batu nisan lama ketika mereka sedang bergotong-royong. Ada yang mengatakan batu nisan itu berbentuk belimbing malah ada yang mengatakan ia berbentuk bunga lawang tetapi lebih jelas bentuknya sama dengan buah belimbing. Pelik dan menarik bentuknya? Batu nisan berbentuk belimbing yang ditemui diperbuat daripada batu merah atau laterit dan proses untuk dilakukan agak sukar dan mengambil masa yang lama.

Berikutan dengan penemuan makam nisan belimbing, ahli arkeologi, Dr Mohd Nasrudin Rahman berkata “Tamadun Melayu mula berkembang di penempatan ini dengan kewujudan batu nisan belimbing yang telah lama bertapak di sini”. Wujud kisah mistik? Di kawasan Makam Nisan Belimbing, terdapat seorang individu yang dipercayai menjaga dan membersihkan tanah perkuburan tersebut namun katanya sering mendapat mimpi pelik sebaik selesai membersihkan kawasan tersebut. Tidak hairanlah ia berlaku kerana kawasan situ dikenali sebagai hutan belukar di mana terdapat satu-satunya tanah perkuburan lama yang berusia ratusan tahun lalu. Dr Zainah Ibrahim selaku Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Warisan Negara telah menyatakan “Ia adalah kubur orang Islam dan boleh dilihat ukiran halus yang dipamerkan pada batu nisan yang dikhaskan untuk orang kenamaan”. Justeru, tempat ini perlu dipelihara agar kekal sebagai tempat bersejarah di Kampung Chohong, Jasin.

Alamat: Km 40, Kampung Chohong, 77000 Jasin Melaka

Waktu operasi: 24 jam setiap hari

Local and foreign archaeologists support the opinion that there is only one unique tombstone in Malaysia which was hundreds of years old, and that is the Nisan Belimbing mausoleum. Located in Kampung Chohong Jasin, the site was not known to public and the locals. Nowadays however, tourists frequent the site once it was officially preserved as a historical site after villagers accidentally found the old tombstones while they were foraging in the deep forest. Locals say that the tombstones looked like a starfruit, hence the tombstones were named after the fruit. Mystery surrounds the tombstones as no one knows who they belong to or what history it hides from the public.

The tombstones were made from red stone or laterite and the process to do so was quite difficult and takes a long time. Archaeologist, Dr Mohd Nasrudin Rahman said “Malay civilization began in this settlement with the existence of starfruit tombstones which had been there for a long time”. Now, Nisan Belimbing Mausoleum has a caretaker that cleans the cemetery who claims that he often has strange dreams after every clean up. Perhaps the area has mystical history that no one knows of. Dr Zainah Ibrahim, the Director General of the National Heritage Department stated “It is a grave of Muslims as Arabic fine carvings can be seen on the tombstones and it was reserved for dignitaries”. This preserved area will definitely give visitors a chill during every visit.

Address: Km 40, Kampung Chohong, 77000 Jasin Melaka

Operation hours: Daily 24hours