MALACCA
Malacca ( "The Historic State" ) is the third smallest Malaysian state after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, next to the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilanto the north and Johor to the south. The capital is Malacca City, which is 148 kilometres (92 miles) south east of Malaysia's capital city Kuala Lumpur, 235 kilometres (146 miles) north west to Johor's largest city Johor Bahru, and 95 km (59 miles) north west to Johor's second largest city, Batu Pahat. This historical city centre has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 7 July 2008.
Although it was the location of one of the earliest Malay sultanates, the monarchy was abolished when the Portuguese conquered it in 1511. The head of state is the Yang di-Pertua Negeri or Governor, rather than a Sultan.
Porta De Santiago (A Famosa)
Location
The Porta De Santiago (A Famosa) is one of the most popular sites that you can find when visiting Malacca. It is a major historical landmark and is probably the most photographed structure in Malacca. The A Famosa is located just next to the Stadthuys building. The fort of Porta De Santiago (A Famosa) is one of the oldest surviving European architectural remains in the whole of Asia. This tiny gate which we call A Famosa or Porta de Santiago is the last remains of what used to be a mighty fortress.
Overview
Porta De Santiago (A Famosa) which translates to 'The Famous' in Portuguese is one of the few oldest surviving remnants of European architecture in the whole of Asia. It was built in 1511 under the command of Alfonso de Albuquerque. The fortress was built to consolidate their gains in Malacca after they defeated the armies of the Malacca Sultanate. At that time, the Portuguese believed that Malacca would someday become a vital port which links Portugal to the spice trade from China. The Porta De Santiago (A Famosa) that we see today was once made up of long ramparts and four major towers. One of the towers was a four-storey keep while the other housed the residence of the captain, officers' quarters and an ammunition storage room. The fort changed hands in 1641 when the Dutch successfully drove the Portuguese out of Malacca. After the Dutch got their hands on the A Famosa, they placed their company logo, the 'VOC' coat of arms about the gates of Porta De Santiago (A Famosa). 'VOC' is the abbreviation of Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie.
Even today,if you look at the Porta de Santiago, you can still see the VOC coat of arms on the shield carried by the soldier on the right side of the logo. The Dutch then handed the fort over to the British in the early 19th century. The English, being wary of maintaining the fort gave orders to the British Governor of Pahang to demolish it. The fort was saved by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1810 as he stopped the demolishing and saved what we see today. There are many other attractions around the Porta De Santiago (A Famosa) such as the Islamic Museum of Malacca, the Architecture Museum of Malacca, the Malacca Sultanate Palace and the St Paul's Church. With so many places to visit, do consider staying over at any hotels in Malacca. There are many hotels to choose from so do not worry about the accommodation here.
Al-Khawarizmi Astronomy Complex
Location
Al-Khawarizmi Astronomy Complex is a place to study and explore the mystery of Universeand the complex is situated in Kampung Balik Batu and along the Melaka. It's the effort of the Melaka State Government to generate public awareness of the important of astronomy, as well as support the growth of astronomy via tourism activities. This complex is named after renown astronomer called Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Musa, a.k.a Al-Khawarizmi
Overview
There's an annual Astronomy Day Celebration at Al-khawarizmi Astronomy Complex , held in the month of April and May. So if you are in town, do not miss the chance to participate in the activities organize by the complex for the celebration! This RM 20 Mil complex has much to offers! There are 3 main buildings in the complex, namely the Observatory, the Planetarium and the Training Centre. There are exciting activities in the Observatory and the Planetarium where you can experience the Night Sky Observation and 3D show respectively. Despite the heavy cost for construction of the complex, the entrance fee is kept to a minimal of RM 1.00 per entry. Movie tickets are sold at separate cost range between RM 1-3. For movie schedule and ticketing, kindly refer to the website stated above. Do note that the complex is managed by Muslim scholars where descent dress code is advisable.
After quenching your 'astronomy thirst', there are much more to see in Malacca. For pets and animal lover, Zoo Malacca is not to be missed. It is the second largest zoo in Malaysia, housing to more than 1,200 animals of over 200 different species. The rare endangered Sumatran Rhinoceros and Gaur can also be found in the compound. Zoo Malacca is easily accessible via bus terminal and its located just 13 km from MalaccaCity. You can also experience house and elephant rides during the weekends. For more educational activities, you can also visit theMaritime Museum where you can experience the busy trading zone where the world's traders meet.
After all the information, you should head down to Jonker Street for some local delights as well as some souvenir shopping. After which you visit the Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum to enjoy the colourful heritage as a result of intermarriages between the locals and the Chinese. The ever famous Dutch building, The Stadthuys , is standing tall in the Malacca/Melaka Town Square, was built for nearly 20 years, using only material imported from the Netherlands. Lastly, it will be nice to enjoy a hearty seafood meal at the Portuguese Square , facing the sea.
Accommodations in Malacca is easy accessible with a great variety of stay. Heritage guesthouse is available along Jonker Street, otherwise conventional Malacca hotel is also widely available and ranges from RM60.00 to RM300.00 per night
Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum
Location
The Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum Melaka is located at Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock and Heern Street which is of 10.66km from Zoo Melaka. The museum is located parallel to Jonker Street, Malacca, is just 0.22km away from the renowned Jonker Walk. Across the street, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock or better known as the Millionaire's Row is near to Cheng Ho's Cultural Museum that takes about 0.26km away. The central location of the heritage museum is near to Kampung Hulu's Mosque and St. Paul Hill (A'Famosa).
Overview
Baba Nyonya is also known as Straits-born Chinese or Peranakan are of Chinese noble descendants which adopted the Malays culture. The interesting unique blend of cultures is born after the intermarriages between the Chinese and the local Malay. The exceptional culture can now be seen and indulge in the renowned Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum. Established in the year of 1896,the museum illustrates the adoption of the lives and traditional of Baba Nyonya in Malacca.The privately owned museum run by the Babas and Nyonyas of the town is wonderfully designed from inside and out. It enables you to learn every bit of the history and culture of Baba Nyonya.Aside showcases the ethnic of the local blend; the museum displays valuable century old Baba Nyonya traditional costume, wood-work art and antique furniture. Each displayed items in the museum has its own story to tell.
The heritage has been a unique attraction for both local and international tourists with its other attractions in the state; St. Paul Hill (A'Famosa) and St. John Fort as the surviving gate of Portuguese in Malacca. The nearby attraction; Portuguese Square is a delightful route to stop for meals and drinks.
Islamic Museum
Location
The Islamic Museum of Malacca is located at a building along Jalan Kota. The building which houses the museum now used to be the office of the Islamic Council of Malacca (Majlis Agama Islam Melaka-MAIM). The Islamic Museum of Malacca is not difficult to find as it just a stone throw's away from the famous Porta de Santiago or A Famosa.
Overview
The Islamic Museum of Malacca was set up not solely for the purpose of exhibiting documents and artefacts pertaining to the Islam religion but also to serve as a center to research on how Islam came to Malacca and how the religion spread to the entire country. When it was decided that the museum is to be placed in this building along Jalan Kota, extensive renovations was done to prepare the space for the museum. The renovation efforts were a mixture of the finest traditional Islamic arts and also local and international craftsmanship. There are eight main exhibition areas with is in accordance with its theme. The overall exhibitions are executed in a chronological manner to incite visitors with the sense of time and the arrival of Islam in Malacca and how the religion spread all across Malaysia. The fee to enter the museum is RM1 per adult and RM0.50 per child. It opens daily from 9am to 5.30pm.
The Islamic Museum of Malacca is strategically located at the most visited areas in Malacca. It is very near to theMalacca Sultanate Palace which is a replica of palace during the Malay Sultanate. The palace is located at the foot of the St Paul's hill. Also close by is the St Paul's Church. which is located on the hill of the same name. Getting to the church will require some walking as the church is on top of the hill. Along the walk up, you will come across two museums. They are the Architecture Museum and the Stamp Museum.After coming down from the hill, you can make your to the Maritime Museum Of Malacca or also known as the Flor De Lamar. The Maritime Museum is actually also a replica of the Portuguese ship that sank off the coast of Malacca while it was on its way to Portugal. Works on the replica started in 1990 and was finally opened to the public in 1994. Since there are just so many places to visit in Malacca, why not stay another night or two at hotels in Malacca. There are many budget hotels around is you are on a high budget. There are also five-star hotels which you may consider as well.
Maritime Museum of Malacca
Location
The Maritime Museum of Malacca is located just ahead of the Stadthuys. It is exactly opposite of the Medan Samudera which is a handicraft and local produce building. The best way to get to the Maritime Museum from the Stadthuys is by walking as you can appreciate better the museums, galleries, mosques, churches and other historical fort around Banda Hilir.
Overview
The Maritime Museum or the Flora de Lamar is a replica of the Portuguese ship which sank in the coast of Malacca while on its way to Portugal. The replica is a staggering 34 meters in height and 8 meters in width. The main focus of the museum is the maritime history of Malacca and the golden ages of Malacca’s Sultanate as the Emporium of the East. There are also paintings which displays how the Straits of Malacca was a strategic location for traders from both the east and the west stop by at Malacca/Melaka and conduct their businesses while waiting for the monsoon winds to change direction. The museum has myriads of exhibits of articles such as porcelain, silk, textile and spices used by the seamen of the yesteryears and even come sunken treasures hauled from Diana, another shipwreck. Other than exhibits on the history of the Malaccan Maritime, the museum also showcases the different eras that Malacca has gone through starting from the Malacca Sultanate era to the Portuguese era, Dutch era and ending with the British era.
For ship fanatics, there are also a collection of different ship models that are on display at the museum. You will be able to learn more about the types of ships and their functions from the collection. You can also climb up to the upper deck of the ship to view the diorama of the captain cabin. Admission into the museum is RM3 per adult and RM1 per child. It is open daily from 9am to 5.30pm. While you are here, do not waste the opportunity to visit the other museums in the area. If you go up the St Paul's Hill to get to the St Paul's Church, will you pass by two museums along the way. They are the Architecture Museum and the Stamp Museum. There is also the Islamic Museum of Malacca which is a tad further away from the Maritime Museum. If you are done with absorbing all the history of Malacca and the delicious food at Jonker Street, you can head over to Dataran Pahlawan for someshopping. There are many shops in it and also some restaurants which serve good food.
On the top floor of Dataran Pahlawan is a cafe named Nadeje which sells the best layered cake in Malacca. The cakes come in various flavors and are about RM8.50 per piece. If there isn't enough room to fit all the delicious food in your stomach, why not extend your stay? You can stay at any of the hotels in Malacca. There is no need to worry about accommodation as there are plenty around.
St.Paul's Church Malacca
Location
The St Paul's Church is the church ruins that sit on the top of the St Paul's Hill. The hill was originally named as Malacca Hill. It was then changed to Monti Ali Maria or Mary's Hill after the Portuguese took over the hill. The St Paul's Church was originally a chapel and was known to the Portuguese in Malacca as the Chapel of Mother of God (Madre de Deus) or Our Lady of the Hill (Nossa Senhora do Oiteiro).
Overview
Making your way to the St Paul's Church on the St Paul's Hill may take much longer than you have anticipated. You will be easily distracted by the various museums along the way up to the church. As you proceed with your journey up the hill, you will pass by the Architecture Museum Malacca, Islamic Museum of Malacca and the Stamp museum Malacca. Beyond these museums, you will come to the historical monument of Malacca which is thePorte De Santiago or more commonly known as A Famosa among the locals. The A Famosa is a fortress which was used in the war last time and has many historical values.
However, much of the fortress has been demolished. As you move on from the A Famosa, you will see a white flight of stairs along the slope. These are the stairs which will take you to the St Paul's Church. The church can be reached easily by climbing up the stairs for about 5 to 10 minutes depending on your speed of walking. Upon reaching the top of the St Paul's Hill, you will be blown away by the breath-taking view of the city of Malacca and its coastline. The St Paul's Church was built by Duarte Coelho, a Portuguese Captain in 1521 AD. The church was formerly a chapel for the Portuguese and was named as 'Nosa Senhora' which means Our Lady of the Hill. Although what remains of the church are now only ruins, the strong and thick bricks are a reminder that this chapel used to be a magnificent piece of architecture at that time
However when the Dutch colonized Malacca, the church's fate changed. It was no longer used as a place of worship. After the Dutch's Chrish Church was completed, the St Paul's Church was turned into a burial ground. After your visit to the church, you can drop by at the Malacca Sultanate Palace which is at the foot of the St Paul's Church. The Malacca Sultanate Palace is a replica of the Malacca Sultan's palace during the Malacca Sultanate period. There are many other attractions in the historic city of Malacca. You can choose from various hotels in Malacca in order to visit all the interesting places here.
Malacca Sultanate Palace
Location
From the A Famosa or Porta de Santiago, you will pass by a gravesite for the Dutch colonist before reaching at the Malacca Sultanate Palace. It is situated at the foot of the famous St Paul's Hill. All these famous landmarks are all very close by each other, so it is impossible to miss the Malacca Sultanate Palace.
Overview
The Malacca Sultanate Palace is actually a replica of the structure which was built by the already extinct sultanate of Malacca. The sultanate of Malacca was the ruler of the city before the arrival of the Portuguese in the 1500s. The plan of the palace was based on the Malay Annals' account of Sultan Mansur Shah's palace. Sultan Mansur Shah was the nobleman who ruled Malacca from 1456 to 1477. The Malacca Sultanate Palace is one of its kind in Malaysia as it offers a rare glimpse of the ancient Malay kingdom which once flourished in Malacca.
Today, the palace is the home of the Cultural Museum which celebrates the Malay side of the Malacca's history. The museum showcases more than 1300 items of Malacca's past. There items include photographs, weaponry, drawings, musical instruments and gifts from foreign emissaries. All these items are displayed in eight different chambers and in three galleries on the three floors of the palace. Admission into the palace is RM2 per adult and RM0.50 per child. It is closed on Mondays and opens on Tuesdays to Sundays from 9am to 6pm. Since the palace is at the foot of St Paul's Hill, do not miss the chance to visit the St Paul's Church. which is at the top of the St Paul's Hill.
Along the way up the hill, you will also pass by some museums. They are the Architecture Museum Malacca and the Stamp Museum Malacca. Also close by is the Islamic Museum of Malacca where you can view displays of how Islam came to Malacca and spread to the entire country. There certainly are many places of interest to visit in Malacca. A day trip to this wonderful place is not adequate. Do consider staying at any hotels in Malacca as there are hotels of all types which will cater to your every need.
Jonker Street
Location
Jonker Street is located in the heart of the Melaka city. Due to the fact that it is one of the biggest attractions in the state, Jonker Street’s location can be easily found via the various road signs visitors can see along the way when they travel to the place.
Overview
Jonker Street in Melaka is one of the best places for tourists to visit due to the fact that the place is very historical and cultural in its roots. Here, tourists can find various antique buildings which are all being maintained and well-preserved so that visitors can still have a glimpse of the historical stories possess by the state. There are also many shop outlets and stalls such as food stalls, art and craft stalls, souvenir stalls, and clothing stalls here. All these stalls are very much culturally prepared and thus, if guests like to have a taste on the local cultural, Jonker Street would definitely be the best place to be.
Jonker Street is also famous for its nightlife and night activities. Many events are often being held here, especially during the festive seasons. There are also few bars and cafes here for visitors to hang out while they enjoy being indulged in the local culture. In order to ensure that visitors can have a convenient time traveling around the place, various accommodations are being prepared around the place where there are different hotels for visitors to choose from base on their own preferences.
Taming Sari Tower Malacca
Location
Taming Sari Tower located in the popular district of Malacca, Bandar Hilir on Jalan Merdeka, Taming Sari Tower Malacca is 3 minutes away from Dataran Pahlawan Megamall and Mahkota Parade Shopping Complex. The Central location of the tower is just 0.35km away from St. Paul's Hill (A Famosa). Situated near to local popular and renowned attractions, The Stadthuys The Stadthuys and Cheng Ho Culture Museum is located 0.42km and 0.45km away from Taming Sari Tower Malacca
Overview
Opened to public in the year of 2008 April, Taming Sari Tower Malacca, so far is the one and only gyro tower in the country. The name is adapted from Sari Keris, a mythical weapon is said to has the possessive power belongs to the local legendary warrior Hang Tuah. The structure design of the tower follows the shape of the Keris. The tower is 110 meters in height revolves 360-degree that manages to provide a panoramic and interesting view of Malacca state within 7 minutes. The 7 minutes ride will host a great sight of the town such as St. Paul's Hill, Melaka River Cruise, St. JohnFort and Portuguese Square
Apart from that, the tower is built with advanced Swiss technology that could absorb earthquakes measuring 10 Richter scales and able to accommodate 66 people at a time. The Menara Taming Sari ticketing building is fitted with 5 commercial outlets that are facilitated with a cafe, restaurant and souvenirs shops. In addition, the nearby local attractions; The Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum is definitely cannot be missed out in the town. Looking for more? Let's not forget the country's oldest mosques, Kampung Hulu's Mosques near to Taming Sari Tower Malacca.
Tanjung Bidara Beach
Location
Tanjung Bidara Beach is located about 20km northwest of Malacca, en route to Port Dickson. While it's facing the Straits of Malacca, it offers a wide piece of sea and since it's located far from the road, it's quite and calm.
Overview
Tanjung Bidara Beach is one of the beaches on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just about 2 hours away from Kuala Lumpur city. Hence, it's a popular short get-away destination for the city folks. While it's not the best beach available in Malaysia, it's much nearer and easy accessible compared to other islands located on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Therefore it's still a widely visited beach in Malaysia. Though the water is slightly murky, but it's off set by its white soft sandy beach. The main beach is at the Tanjung Bidara Beach Resorts, a comfortable resort where most visitors stayed in.
Apart from the beach front accommodation, there are also many activities around like water sports, beach volley ball and other amenities in the hotel. With just a short drive away, Malacca town is just around the corner where you can enjoy other activities. For food lovers, head down to Jonker Street for some local nyonya cuisine and visits the interesting museums and historical building around.
