Malacca - "Malaysia's historical State"
Malacca (Melaka) is a famous historic port strategically located on the straits of Malacca. It was found by a Sumatran Prince named Parameswara and therefore flourished under the Malacca Sultanate. The state was known as the Vence of the East when it was the center of spice trade in the region.
Before the arrival of the Sultan, Malacca was just a small fishing village of local Malays. Its long history has made Malacca a veritable treasure trove of the past and a cultural melting pot.
The arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century start the formation of a large Curosian community. The Portuguese turned the city into a massive walled fortness complete with a tower bristling with cannon.
Tourists are inevitable drawn to its historical precinct, containing the well-preserved 17th century Dutch Stadhuye and the remains of the Portuguese A'Famosa.
Malacca's rich historical background earned it a World Heritage Site designation in July 2008.
Malacca's Highlight's - Heritage area:
Stadthuys
Completed in 1660 and nowadays, its houses are historical museum. Stadthuys is on of the oldest Dutch buildings in the east.
Christ Church
The Christ Church was build 1741 to 1753 and replaced a Portuguese church, which was shattered. On the floor of the church, find Dutch tombstones. The Christ Church is the oldest protestant church in Malaysia.
The Red Square
Red Square is a beautiful square around Christ Church and the Stadhuys with the famous Tang Beng Swee Clock Tower, which was build in 1886.
Porta de Santiago
Around St. Paul's Hill find the remains of the old Portuguese fort A Famosa on Jalan Kota, with his mostly Dutch reconstruction, bearing the VOC coat of arms.
St Paul's Church
Originally, build in 1521 by the Portuguese the Nossa Senhora da Annunciada (Our Lady of Annunciation) became a fortress in 1567, until 1596. After the Dutch siege, it became St Paul's and has been used a burial ground for the Dutch.
Muzium Budaya - Melaka Cultural Museum
The Muzium Budaya a reconstruction of the istana of the sultan was build in 1985.
Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum
The Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum is an actual Peranakan heritage town house and views a great example of Peranakan culture.
Jonker, Heeren and adjacent streets
Jonker Heeren is the residential heart of Old Malacca just west of the Malacca River, with narrow winding streets, beautifully decorated houses, tiny shops, mosques and temples. The whole area is undergoing a renaissance with restaurants, hotels and new shops. The Harmony Street also known as Temple Street or Jalan Tokong contains the prayer houses of Malaysia's three main faiths - the Cheng Hoon Teng Chinese temple, the Sri Poyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Hindu Temple, and the Kampung Kling Mosque.
Cheng Hoon Teng Temple
The Cheng Hoon Teng Temple is the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia and has an inscription dating 1685 commemorating the deeds of by Kapitan China Li Wei King.
Masjid Kampung Hulu
The Masjid Kampung Hulu, build in 1728, is one of the functioning mosques in Melaka beside Masjid Kampung Kling and Masjid Tengkera (Tranquerah) with a mix architecture of Chinese, Javanese and Arab on the minarets and the roofs.
Yeetea house
The Yeetea House is a famous local tea shop, which sells range of tea from China and Taiwan as well as offering tea ceremony classes.
Bukit China
Bukit China is the one of the largest Chinese cemetery outside of mainland China. Many graves go back to the late Ming dynasty and the earliest grave dated to 1622. Today Bukit China is a famous jogging spot for locals and jogging tracks are allover the hill. The top of the hill gives a nice view of the town,.
King's Well
The legends say that Hang Liu was a Chinese princess from the Ming dynasty was send to Malacca to married Sultan Mansor Shah in the 15th century when the Malacca Sultanate was at its zenith She had 500-flowerer who stayed at Bukit China and this well, at the foot of the hill, was where they received their water.
Poh San Teng Temple
The Poh San Teng Temple is located at the foot of Bukit China and next to the King's Well. Capitan China Chua Su Cheong found this temple in 1795 as a graveyard temple with his main deity is Fu-te Zhen Shen. The temple was build to allow the descendants who buried on Bukit China to conduct prayers to their ancestors away from the heavy rain and strong winds.
Geok Hu Keng Temple
Geok Hu Keng Temple can look of a history of 130 years.
Kampung Morten village - a village of traditional houses on the west bank of the Malacca River.
Recreational Forest Ayer Keroh - A 359 ha (887 acre) Ayer Keroh Recreational Forest offers peace and tranquility within its cool green surroundings.
Melaka Zoo - a reserved forest where the animal enclosures more resemble the animals' natural habitat. The trees within the zoo compound provide ample shades during hot and sunny days.