The Mahsuri Mausoleum epitomises a beautiful Langkawi legend that mythologically explains the island's complicated fate.
This famous legend tells the story of a young beauty, Princess Mahsuri. The islanders, perhaps out of jealousy of her beauty and marital happiness, accused the innocent princess of adultery. The sentence was cruel - the death penalty. No less cruel was its execution: the beauty was stabbed in the heart with a dagger. Already with the dagger in her chest, the girl, betrayed by her fellow countrymen, cursed the island for seven future generations of its inhabitants. White-coloured blood flowed from the dying woman's chest - proof of her innocence. And many misfortunes fell upon the island. They were caused by aggressive plans of the neighbouring state of Siam, which intended to seize the island, or rather the whole archipelago of islands in the Strait of Malacca, destroying the population. In the battles died and the main enemy of the princess, slandered her.
The power of the curse was in effect for exactly two hundred years - until 31 December 1986. And on 1 January the following year, the island was declared a free economic zone of Malaysia. After many years of calamity, life on the island has improved and it has become one of Asia's best holiday resorts - with magnificent nature and rich underwater world. The famous white sand of the island's beaches is considered a symbol of a murdered innocent girl. On Pasir Hitam beach the sand is black - of volcanic origin. This is also given a mythological explanation - it turned black due to the curse of the princess.
A tomb was erected at the burial place of Princess Mahsuri. A whole complex has been created around it. The museum of the princess exhibits the dagger with which she was stabbed, some of her jewellery. The whole mausoleum is built of white marble, a sign of innocence. In the surrounding garden there is a well, according to the inhabitants, it was dug by Mahsuri herself. The truthfulness of the words is confirmed by the antiquity of the well, as well as the fact that even in drought it is always filled with water. It is said that those who wash themselves with water from the well will be lucky.
As the mausoleum is a favourite place for tourists, a souvenir shop, a restaurant and even a small theatre have been built on its territory.
