|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE |
|
MY MELAKA
|
|
Melaka or Malacca |
|
myMalaysiabooks
brings you Melaka (Malacca) the historical city of West Malaysia. Enjoy
the colourful history of this old port that was founded before1400, and
move around to see her rich history of colonial influence, Malay heritage
and Baba-Nyonya culture.
Welcome to the historical city of Malacca!
UNESCO world Heritage Site
|
 |
|
|
Melaka (old name - Malacca) is a
state in Peninsular Malaysia
which is rich in history and culture.
Her strategic
position at the narrowest part of the Straits of Melaka or
Malacca made her
one of the most important stopover post for ships travelling
from east to west. (Malacca Straits got its name from this
ancient port) The end of the 14th century saw Melaka grow
into a rich trading post and kingdom under the Melaka Sultanate,
gaining a name in the maritime world. Conquered and administered
by the Portuguese in 1511, the Dutch in 1641, and the British in
1824, Melaka is a centre of many diverse cultures, a unique
melting pot of races.
 Location: West Malaysia
Land Area: 1,652 square kilometers
Capital: Melaka
|
|
 Melaka the city
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Today, the architecture of
the old town of Malacca reflects her rich historical past. A visit to
the city of Melaka, will take you through the history of the place.
The urban landscape is a mix old old and new architecture - Dutch,
Portuguese, British and Malaysian. As you walk round
Malacca city, stroll along Jonker Walk (or now called Jalan
Hang Jebat), it is a place to hunt for antiques and interesting
collectables.
There is an astounding mix
of races, cultures and religion. Melaka is know for her Baba Nyonya (Peranakan)
culture - referring to the culture of the Baba community, who
ancestors are a mix of mainly Malay and Chinese parentage. (This mix
of Malay and Chinese cultural practices is unique to Melaka,
Penang
and Singapore). Join in the cultural festivities of the communities that
are scattered throughout the year (check
holidays and festivals
in Malaysia).
|
|
|
Attractions of
Melaka (Malacca) |
|
 |
 |
|
Where to go in Malacca? Some attractions and heritage sights of Melaka
are:
A' Famosa
This is the most
renowned landmark of Melaka. It was built by the Portuguese when they
captured Melaka in 15ll as a fortress. It severely damaged by during
the Dutch invasion of 1641.
The Stadthuys
Built in 1650 as the official
residence of Dutch Governors, it is a typical example of Dutch
architecture of the 17th century. It now houses the Historic Museum
and Ethnography Museum.
St Paul's Church
The Portuguese's 'Our Lady Of The Hill' was built by a
Portuguese Captain by the name of Duarte Coelho. The Dutch it into a
burial ground for their nobles and renamed it St. Paul's Church. St.
Francis Xavier, the missionary who helped spread Christianity here,
was briefly enshrined in the open grave in 1553 before being shipped
to Goa, India.
Christ Church
The church locate right in the city centre was built
in1753. It reflects Dutch architectural ingenuity of handmade pews and
ceiling beams constructed without joints.
|
|
UNESCO World Heritage list
July 2008
Melaka and
George Town, historic cities of the Straits of
Malacca (Malaysia) have developed over 500 years of trading and
cultural exchanges between East and West in the Straits of
Malacca. The influences of Asia and Europe have endowed the
towns with a specific multicultural heritage that is both
tangible and intangible.
read more..... |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
St. Peter's Church
Located at the end of Jalan Bendahara, This is the
oldest Roman Catholic Church in Malaysia. It was built in 1710, during
the Dutch occupation. Its facade and decor combines Eastern and
Western architecture.
St. Francis Xavier's Church
This gothic style church dedicated to St. Francis
Xavier was built in 1849. St Francis Xavier was known as the
'Apostle of the East' and is well-remembered for his missionary work
in South East Asia in the 16th Century.
Melaka Sultanate Palace/ Cultural Museum
This wooden palace was built based on the description
as written in the Malay Annals. It is located at the foot of St.
Paul's Hill.
Cheng Hoon Teng Temple
This temple built in 1646, is noted as one of the
oldest Chinese temple in the country. The temple is dedicated to the
goddess Kuan Yin. The architecture is typical of Chinese temples built
during that period by the early Chinese immigrants to Malays.
Baba & Nonya Heritage Museum
This museum, located at Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lok is a
private museum that display some of the heirloom unique to the Baba
and Nyonya or Peranakans of Melaka. The Peranakans were also called
'Straits-born Chinese' and refer to the decedents of Malaysian of
Chinese decendents whose ancestors intermarried the Malays in the 18th
and 19th century or Chinese who later adopted many of the local
cultural practices. The community that evolved, developed their own
cultural practices that is a mix of Chinese and Malay. Peranakan
culture is predominate in Penang, Melaka and Singapore. The Babas and
Nyonyas of Melaka speak in their unique Malay dialect, unlike those in
Penang and
Singapore who speak in Chinese (Hokkien dialect).
Hang Tuah Mausoleum
Hang Tuah was a famous Malay warrior who served as an
admiral in the Melaka navy and successfully defended Melaka.
What to eat in Melaka: Nonya or
Nyonya food, Portuguese food, Chicken ball rice, satay celuk,
cendol, devil's curry, etc.
|
|
|
Melaka History |
|
 The history of Melaka is
often told from the foundation of the settlement by an exiled Hindu,
SriVijayan prince, Parameswara. From a small fishing settlement, Melaka or
Malacca (old name) grew to become one of the most prominent trading post in South
East Asia from the 15th century.
According to a local legend, while out hunting one day, the Sumatrian
prince, Parameswara
was resting under a tree when one of his dogs encountered a mouse
deer. In self-defense, the mouse deer pushed the dog into the river.
Impressed by the courage of the deer and taking this as a sign of good
omen, Parameswara selected the spot he was sitting to build his
kingdom or empire. He named it Melaka (Malacca) after
the tree which he had taken shelter. He ruled as a Hindu ruler
until 1414 when he converted to Islam and became known as Sultan
Iskandar Shah.
The strategic position of Melaka attracted many traders, who used the
port to await the changing of the Monsoon winds. The hinterlands also
provided local and jungle produce for the traders. Settlement of
Chinese began in the 15th century, many settling in Bukit China. The
Melaka Sultanate became one of the most renowned Malay kingdom and
soon overshadowed the importance of Kedah - the kingdom at Bujang (See
history at
Kedah)
The prosperity of Melaka also
attracted the Siamese but development of relations between China and
Melaka helped wad off Siamese dominance. The importance of Melaka as a
maritime kingdom was noted by China's notable admiral and explorer,
Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho), in the 15th century. Chinese influence grew when
Sultan Mansur Shah married a Chinese princess, Hang Li Po. Melaka
(Malacca) also became an outpost for China after the visit by Zheng He. The Chinese men soon intermarried
with the local Malays forming a unique community called the Peranakans
(Babas and Nonyas) [ also similar as in
Penang]
The growth of Melaka brought the Europeans clamouring
for control of her wealth and trade. Malacca was conquered on
1511
by
Afonso de Albuquerque, a
Portuguese
viceroy of India,
and it became a strategic base for
Portuguese in the
East Indies.
Sultan Mahmud Shah, the last Sultan of Melaka fled and later
died in Sumatra. The Portuguese controlled Melaka for 130 years. In 1641, the Dutch captured Melaka from the Portuguese and ruled Melaka until 1795. When British
colonized much of Malaya, the Dutch ceded Melaka to the
British in the
Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824, in exchange for
Bencoolen, Sumatra.
Melaka was first governed by the
British East India Company. Then In 1826, Melaka together with
Singapore and
Penang, formed part of the
Straits Settlements, under British colonial office in India.
Melaka remained under British control until Malaya gained her
independence in 1957.
 History of
Malaysia |
|
How
to get to Melaka |
|
By Road
The north-south expressway (toll motorway/
plus expressway)
cuts through the State. Exit at Ayer Keroh Interchange and travel
the trunk road that leads you to Melaka city.
From
Kuala Lumpur.
The best way to reach Melaka from
Kuala Lumpur (KL) is to travel
by road. You can also fly but checking in and out of airports and taxis
fares to airports are not cheap - it is more expensive than a bus ticket
from KL to Melaka and total travelling time is longer.
If you fly into KL, from KLIA or
the Express Bus Terminal at Jalan Duta in KL, catch a coach or express
bus that takes you to the city of Melaka. It takes less than 3 hours to
travel from KL to the city of Melaka.....more>>
From Singapore.
If you are travelling from Singapore, the best travel option is also by
road. Daily buses or coaches takes you direct from Singapore to Melaka.
Bus terminal for daily hourly buses from Singapore to Melaka is
at Lavender Street bus station. Numerous tours (free and easy travel) by
air or bus which includes hotel stay are available from a number of
Singapore travel agency. Be sure to book early especially during
school holidays of both Malaysia or Singapore - Melaka is a very
popular tourist destination for Singaporeans......
details on how to
travel from Singapore
From Thailand. If you
are from Thailand or in any of the northern Malaysian towns, you will be
able to find express buses going to Melaka. You can also fly to KL and
travel by bus or taxi to Melaka......details
on how to travel from Bangkok, Thailand
Be sure to book hotels, tours and bus tickets early for
travel to Malacca. It is a popular destination especially with
Singaporeans, many spends their weekends here.
By Air
Malaysia
Airlines flies
to Melaka from the Kuala
Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and AirAsia from KLIA.2 From Thailand, and Sabah or Sarawak, fly to KL and get connecting
flights (which are few).
Check for special airfare to Malaysia here,
or flight details from
Malaysia Airlines
(MAS) or
AirAsia
Malaysia's budget airline. However, it may be faster to travel
by road to Melaka.
By Train
Unfortunately,
the Malayan Railways does not pass Melaka. You can stop at Seremban or
Kuala Lumpur and take a bus or taxi to Melaka.
Details on how to travel to and around Malaysia:
Transportation
in Malaysia
Free Search Tool
Compare hotel Rates Web wide
Hotels search
|
|
|
|
Where to stay |
|
Melaka is a very popular destination for Malaysians and
Singaporeans so be sure to book your stay early! Those travelling from outside Malaysia, should check out
and compare hotel accommodation and travel or tour offers from
travel agencies websites online. As Melaka is a
very popular destination with both locals and foreigners.
Search for Hotels
|
|
|
|
|
|
