Melaka - The Red City of Malaysia
By Nowal Khan
Melaka is the oldest capital city in the state of Malaysia and it is the center of Malaccan history as well. There are
many preserved landmarks that represent the essence of Malaccan history right from the occupation of Dutch,
Portuguese, British and Japanese. Today, Melaka has been established as one of the UNESCO world heritage sites and
shouldn't be missed when visiting Malaysia.
Most of the interesting travel spots in Melaka are concentrated in the center of the city. The famous Jonker
Walk or Jalan Hang Jebat is known for its extensive antique pieces and great food options. New cafes and specialty
stores nicely dotted the area which only added charm to this amazing lane. Peranakan architecture is very apparent
in Jonker Walk.
Melaka tourism is largely dependent on its cultural heritage hence they preserve it as much as they can. Here,
you can find many remarkable museums especially in Bandar Hilir area. A Famosa Fort and St. Paul Hill can also be
found in this area. These remnants dated as far as 500 years ago and very captivating to see.
Melaka Sultanate Palace museum is situated at the foot of St. Paul's Hill. Although this is not the original palace,
it is now home to Malacca Cultural artifacts. Climbing up the hill of St. Paul, you will find ruins of St. Paul's
Church, another heritage structure of Melaka.
A'Famosa Fort is among the oldest existing European architectural remains in Asia. It was once an enormous and
powerful structure and only the tiny gate survived overtime. It was built by Portuguese commander Afonso de
Albuquerque who believed that Melaka would become a port linking Portugal and China.
Stadthuys on the other hand, is the big red building that stood next to the stairway of St. Paul's church. It was the
official residence of the Dutch Governor and has been an important landmark in Melaka, Malaysia. Today, it is home
to two museums, the Historic Museum and the Ethnography Museum where travelers can find large collection of
traditional bridal costumes and Malacca's relics. At the back is yet another museum, the Literature Museum.
Northeast of Malacca town, travelers can find the largest Chinese cemetery outside of China. Bukit China's tombs
dated back to Ming Dynasty and are well kept by Melaka community.
One of the oldest landmarks in Malacca, is the Kampung Keling Mosque. It was built by Indian Muslim traders in
18th century and it features the unique architectural influence of Sumatra while the Cheng Hoon Teng temple is
believed to be the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia. It is a Buddhist temple richly decorated with mythological
figures and breathtaking wood carvings and furnishings.
Melaka also offers sandy beaches off shores, the two main islands to visit are Pulau Besar which is a beach haven and
Pulau Upeh, a nature lover's paradise. Pulau Upeh is also home to the rare Hawksbill turtle. These islands can be
accessed by taking a ferry from Jeti Anjung Batu in Umbai.
There are many fascinating tourist spots here in Melaka, Malaysia aside from the above mentioned. Melaka is a
compact town filled with many tourist attractions which delight tourist all over the world. Going around town is
made simple with Bas Panorama Melaka which operates all throughout Melaka, giving tourists the convenience of
getting to one place and another.
Truly, a Melaka travel is like a walk back in time with its rich and preserved culture you will not find anywhere else
in the world. It is truly amazing how the Melaka community cared for their heritage and managed to cater to its
multicultural history.
Nowal has been a freelance travel writer and photographer for almost 10 years now. His expertise lies in Asia Travel
Guides. Melaka Travel Guide is his recent addition, which focuses on travel and tourism information of the straits of
Malacca, Malaysia. Find out more about his recent Melaka Travel Guide at: melakamalaysiatravel.com
