MELAKA

Strategically situated on the famous Straits of Malacca, about 147km south of Kuala Lumpur, Malacca (Melaka) is a place with a proud past. However, not much is known about the state until the 15th Century as there were no proper records prior to this period. According to the annals of history, it was founded by an exiled Hindu prince, Parameswara, from Palembang in Sumatra in 1402. Melaka then grew slowly but steadily to become a major trading center and port-of-call for ships from the four corners of the world. Among them were Indian-Muslim traders from India whose wealth attracted Parameswara. Not too long after, he too embraced Islam and came to be known as Megat Iskandar Shah. Hence began the Melaka Sultanate.

In 1409, Admiral Cheng Ho, "the Three-Jewel Eunuch", an envoy of the Ming Emperor, helped forged links between the state and the Middle Kingdom. Hence the beginning of a long relationship between Melaka and China. The descendants of Chinese settlers from this period came to be known as "Baba Nyonya" (Straits-born Chinese), products of a unique fusion of traditional Chinese origins and the Malay environment.

The Melaka Sultanate flourished to become the emporium of the East and its prosperity soon made it a target for the growing Portuguese empire. In 1509, a Portuguese galleon headed by De Sequeira landed at Melaka. Overwhelmed by the State's beauty and wealth, he tried to overthrow the Malay Kingdom but was thwarted by Sultan Mahmud, the leader then. However, the Sultanate eventually fell in 1511 after a Portuguese army attack lead by Alfonso De Albuquerque.

The Portuguese continued to rule Melaka against all odds until they were outclassed by the ambitious and more powerful Dutch in 1641. The Dutch spread their sovereignty and destroyed much of the Portuguese heritage in the state. But their reign was short lived as the British wrestled control in 1795. The London / Anglo Dutch Treaty of 1824 conceded the state to the British for good. Thus begun a period of British rule until the country's independence in 1957.

Despite the recent appearances of modern buildings and hotels on the periphery of the old town, Melaka still remains a historical goldmine. All cultural and architectural relics of the respective colonial eras can still be seen today.

Getting There

Melaka is easily accessible from major points of the country by road, rail, or sea. However, the most recommended means would be by road (private or public transport such as express bus services and taxis), in order to enjoy the scenic experience of traveling through tropical greens of rubber estates and palm oil plantations.

The Stadthuys

The Stadthuys (Town Hall) was completed in the 1650s and functioned as the official residence of Dutch Governors and their officers. The edifice is a fine example of Dutch architecture and is the oldest standing Dutch building in the orient. This building, perhaps the best preserved of the colonial structures, now houses the Malacca Historic and Ethnography Museum. Its exhibits trace the city's history from the time of the ancient Malay kingdoms through Portuguese, Dutch, and British occupation.

Christ Church

Built in 1753, this testimony to Dutch architectural ingenuity remains standing as it has always been. Take note of the church's handmade pews. The ceiling beams were shaped from a single tree and held together without a single nail! There is also a brass bible dating back to 1759 and believed to contain scriptures from the first verse of St. John. Furthermore, there is a tombstone written in Armenian and "Last Supper" in glazed titles.

Portuguese Square

Perhaps the right phrase to infer strong affinity to Portugal would be "Mini Lisbon". Located within the Portuguese Settlement, the square is the culmination of Portuguese culture in its full splendor and colors.

St. Francis Xavier Church

Known as the "Apostle of the East", this church was built by a Frenchman in 1849. It is dedicated to St. Francis Xavier who is well-remembered for his missionary work in spreading Catholicism to Southeast Asia in the 16th Century.

A Famosa

After the Portuguese captured the city, they built a fortress to defend their position and called it A' Famosa. All that remains of it now is the entrance. The fortress itself suffered severe damages during the Dutch invasion. The Dutch later went about destroying remains of the walls. Hence, the visitor today sees only the entrance to what was once an imposing structure that defended the city from attacks.

Proclamation of Independence Memorial

What was once the Melaka Club now stands preserved as the Proclamation of Independence Memorial where the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, read the historic document in February 1956. The building was constructed in 1912 and now houses exhibits of the country's struggle for independence in the form of relics, manuscripts, videotapes, films, and slides.

Maritime Museum

The museum was constructed after " Flor De La Mar", the Portuguese ship that sank off the coast of Melaka on its way to Portugal. With its hull laden with invaluable treasures seized from Melaka, the ship was doomed from existence had it not been for the efforts to revive its symbolic significance to Melaka's heritage. At the museum, visitors can get a closer look at Melaka from the famed Melaka Sultanate of the 14th Century to the periods of colonization by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British. There are exhibits of foreign ships that had once called at the Port of Melaka during the height of its maritime hegemony.

Pulau Besar

Pulau Besar (Big Island) is an exotic tropical island off historic Melaka. Long associated with fascinating legends and myths, it now has an added dimension of a throbbing holiday destination with the opening of the Pandanusa Island Resort. This island is one of the unspoiled corners of the globe and with its vast span of white sandy beaches and emerald green waters, it is ideal for swimming, fishing, snorkeling, and even jungle walks.

Bullock Cart Ride

Once a major means of transportation for the rich, the features that separate the bullock cart of Melaka from that of the other states are the pointed roofs in the shape of bull horns, the trappings, and colors.