Malacca

Malacca is a small, friendly city that with many eye-catching sights and attractive modern establishments. It is easy to go around on foot or trishaw to explore the many places that make Malacca unique. As you explore them, you'll learn about the rich heritage and hostory that has shaped the landscape and left a mark on Malaysia's cultural lifestyle.
In fact, the city is a mix of old and new, historical establishments and old shops stand side-by-side with shopping complexes and modern offices. There's just so many colourful sights in the city, but beyond it, you can also explore other cultural places in the outskirts or engage in recreational activities such as golf and jungle-trekking.

ATTRACTIONS

A’Famosa

Although the remains of Porta De Santiago – built by the Portuguese as a fortress in 1511 – are nothing more than a quick photo stop, it is a must for anyone visiting Malacca. The Dutch destroyed most of the fort but what remains today was saved by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1810. The Romanesque architecture as well as the cool breezes wafting through the ruined walls will make your exploration a pleasant one.

Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum in Malacca

At the beginning of the 16th century, merchants and entrepreneurs were lured to Malacca’s shores due to stories of the city’s burgeoning success and wealth. In particular the city saw an influx of Chinese traders who arrived in droves in an effort to escape Manchu rule. These entrepreneurs went on to marry local Malay women – descendents of these marriages were known as Peranakan or ‘Straits-born Chinese’.

Their relative success resulted in these expatriate merchants becoming the principal wealth catalysts of the thriving city. The ‘Babas’ (male Sino-Malays) flaunted their affluence by purchasing Dutch townhouses and transforming them into out-and-out palaces. The interiors of these homes were opulent and stuffed to the tee with Dutch-influenced fixtures including hand-painted tiles and Victorian lamps.

Bukit Cina Melaka

Bukit Cina is the ancestral burial ground of Malacca’s Chinese community. Also known as Chinese Hill, it is the largest and oldest Chinese graveyard outside of China itself with over 12,500 graves. Although it is primarily a graveyard for early Chinese settlers, the cemetery has about 20 Muslim tombs, too.

The oldest grave in Bukit Cina is that of Tin Kap, the first Chinese kapitan (a mediatory position created by the Dutch East India Company which made it possible for them to rule the various ethnic communities). These days the 20ha hill is chiefly used as a jogging track.

Cheng Ho’s Cultural Museum in Melaka

Cheng Ho’s Cultural Museum is a gallery housing exhibits about Chinese Ming Dynasty admiral, Cheng Ho (Zheng He). In a warehouse to the north of the Melaka River, the gallery has exhibits on the admiral’s life.

Opened in 2006, it is believed that the museum sits on the site of Guan Chang, a warehouse built by Cheng Ho about 600 years ago to temporarily store goods he acquired during his travels. Flanking the front entrance of the museum are a drum and a bell tower.

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple in Melaka

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple is one of the most notable landmarks in Malacca. Set near the Hindu temple Sri Pogyatha Vinoyagar along Jalan Hang Lekiu (in Jonker Street) this Chinese temple is billed as the oldest Buddhist place of worship in the country. Built in 1646, it is also known as the ‘Merciful Cloud Temple’.

The temple is dedicated to Kuan Yin, Goddess of Mercy. A black, gold and red-robed statue of the goddess stands in the central prayer hall. Cheng Hoon Teng temple was constructed by Chan Lak Koa, son-in-law to Captain Li, Malacca’s second Chinese kapitan (a mediatory position created by the Dutch East India Company which made it possible for a non-white to govern Malacca’s diverse ethnic communities.)

Christ Church Melaka

Christ Church built by the Dutch when they took possession of Malacca from the Portuguese, it's one of Malacca’s most defining structures. Situated along Jalan Gereja (also known as Church Street) it is an instantly recognizable brick-red building with a huge white cross at the top. Sitting opposite the Stadhuys, Christ Church was built in 1753 to celebrate a century of Dutch occupation. The interior of the cathedral has 200 year-old handmade pews, decorative fanlights and plaques that honour Dutch soldiers and locals.

Crocodile & Reptile Park in Malacca

Crocodile & Reptile Park is set opposite the Melaka Zoo. It is home to more than 200 species of crocs including Siamese, African Dwarf, Humpback and Indian Marsh crocs. It does not compare to Langkawi Crocodile Farm, which has over 1,000 reptiles, but it is still a good place to spend an afternoon.

Spread across more than three hectares, the crocs are kept in secure enclosures: suspended platforms overhead allow you to get unobstructed views of the reptiles as they whip themselves into a feeding frenzy during feeding hours. Fairly interesting are the performances every Sunday where trainers wrestle/ play with the animals. It may not be as wildly entertaining as watching Steve Irwin flirt with them, but since you can’t experience that anymore, then this is the next best thing.

Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary in Malacca

Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary is a tourist attraction in Ayer Keroh, about 15km northeast of Malacca town. Also known as Taman Rama Rama, it is home to a collection of animals ranging from beautiful butterflies to snakes, lizards, crocodiles, koi fish and even a pair of gorgeous golden leopards.

Spread across an 11ha jungle area, the complex is part secondary jungle and part landscaped park. The well-maintained sanctuary was opened in 1991 and is divided into five sections: the Koi River Valley, Butterfly Garden, Reptile Aviary, Wild Photo Lane and Nature’s Art Centre.

D Paradise Malacca

D-Paradise is a concept tropical fruit and aboriginal village cum retreat in Malacca. This park has a host of attractions, while being conveniently located near the highway. While most would visit Malacca for a historical lesson and culture, a visit to D-Paradise promises an education of a different sort – a look at the plantation industry of Malaysia as well as its fauna heritage.

Some of the attractions here include the world’s largest collection of pumpkins, cactus and ‘monkey cups’; which are pitcher plants, a dragon fly sanctuary, anteaters; a unique furry mammal that has a nose-like appendage to suck up termites and ants for food, a biscuit hut; where delicious local pastries are made and much more.

Dutch Square in Melaka

Dutch Square Malacca is the most picturesque along Jalan Kota. It's also a colourfull trishaw pickup point, it is distinguished by a group of bright, terracotta-red colonial Dutch buildings, built between 1660 and 1700, with louvered windows and chunky doors with wrought iron hinges.

A central fountain dominates the area: it is an ornate Victorian marble addition, erected in 1904 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. One of the oldest surviving parts of Malacca, Dutch Square’s most prominent building is the Stadthuys. Presiding over the entire south side of Dutch Square it was completed in 1660 and is said to be the oldest-existing Dutch building in the East.

Hang Jebat Mausoleum

Hang Jebat Mausoleum is a burial ground along Jalan Kampung Kuli in Malacca dedicated to the legendary warrior Hang Jebat. Also known as Makam Hang Jebat, the crypt clearly predates the 1512 Portuguese occupation, but its exact date of construction (as well as its authenticity) remains a mystery.

The well-maintained grave is an Acehnese-style tomb usually used to mark the burial grounds of sultans and high-ranking ministers. Jawi writings above the front entrance of the crypt mark it as the ‘actual’ burial ground of Hang Jebat: but there is another crypt in Terendak Camp, an army base northwest of the state billed as Hang Jebat’s final resting place as well.

Melaka Maritime Museum

Melaka Maritime Museum is a replica of the Flor de la Mar, a Portuguese ship said to have been carrying loot plundered from Malacca when it sank off the coast of Malacca on its way back to Portugal. Opened to the public in 1994, this unique museum is an enlightening trip back into Malacca’s past.

The 34m-high, 36m-long and eight-metre-wide structure is located at Quayside Road (right beside the. Set 10 minutes away from the Dutch Square, the Melaka Maritime Museum is divided into the different eras that Malacca has gone through, from the Melaka Sultanate period, to Portuguese, Dutch and British rule.

Masjid Tranquerah in Malacca

Masjid Tranquerah is one of the oldest mosques in the country. Featuring a Sumatran-style façade similar to Masjid Kampong Kling’s the current brick structure is more than 200 years old. It is set approximately two km towards the road leading to Port Dickson, northwest of Malacca town.

Locals call it Tranquerah Mosque and the original 18th-century structure, made of timber brought from Kalimantan, Indonesia, was built in 1728. In 1780 the mosque underwent its first renovation project: an extensive rebuilding that left only the original minaret, a freestanding octagonal structure with Chinese-style embellishments, untouched. Today, the main complex resembles most Malaccan mosques with a main prayer hall featuring a three-level roof and Malay, Chinese and Indonesian decorative elements.

Melaka Wonderland Theme Park

The best way to cool down on a hot and sticky day in Malacca is to do some splashing around at the spanking-new Melaka Wonderland Theme Park & Resort. Built in Ayer Keroh – Malacca’s tourist attraction-laden quarter – the highlights of this multi zone park are its high-speed water slides and thrill rides

Melaka Sultanate Palace

The Melaka Sultanate Palace is a wooden replica of a Sultan’s palace during the ruling era of Sultan Mansur Shah. Housing a cultural museum, it was built based on description taken from the Malay annals of the original 15th Century palace. Apart from the building’s unique design and ornate wood carvings, visitors can also marvel at the numerous dioramas portraying the true palace atmosphere of the era.

Proclamation of Independence Memorial
The Proclamation of Independence Memorial was built in 1912. Visitors will be able to view a collection of exhibits – displayed in chronological order and divided into several sections – including manuscripts, videotapes and other audio and visual collections which all document Malaysia’s struggle to achieve its independence from the British colonial rule.

St John's Fort
The Fort was originally built as a chapel by the Portuguese but it was eventually renovated into a fort by the Dutch.

Sitting on top a hill, the fort is unique in the sense that it was built to defend from inland invaders, rather than the sea. Hence, the canons are faced rather awkwardly towards inland as visitors shall see

Stadthuys

This imposing salmon-pink town hall and governor’s residence is Malacca’s most instantly recognizable landmark. Believed to be the oldest Dutch building in the East, it was built shortly after Malacca was captured by the Dutch in 1641. Visit the extensive History & Ethnography Museum, Governor Museum, Admiral Cheng Ho Gallery, Democratic Rule Museum and the Literature Museum.

St. Paul’s Church

The ruins of St. Paul’s Church are at the summit of St. Paul's Hill. Built on the site of the last Malaccan sultan’s istana (palace), it was constructed by Portuguese fidalgo (nobleman) captain, Duarte Coelho, in gratitude to the Virgin Mary for saving his life during a storm at sea.

Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple

Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple is one of the first Hindu temples built in Malaysia. Opened in 1781, the rectangular-shaped temple is on a plot of land that was donated by the religiously tolerant Dutch back in the day and features a Dutch architectural style.

Taman Mini Malaysia & ASEAN

Located in Ayer Keroh, the Taman Mini ASEAN is a theme park dedicated to showcasing the culture of Southeast Asian countries including Malaysia.

Visitors can view replicas of traditional Malaysian houses and other Southeast countries as well as handicrafts, costumes and models of world-famous monuments and scenery

CUISINE

Malacca offers a broad range of flavours. The adventurous gourmet will be spoilt for choice with a selection including Malay, Western, Chinese, Indian, Thai or a rich melange of cuisines. Malacca is also the birth place and home to Peranakan cooking, that exotic blend of Chinese and Malay savoury cuisines. Piquant Portuguese dishes are also exclusive on local menus, reflecting this community’s indelible influence on the state’s rich culture and cuisine. So, it’s a must to relish every bit of everything, when in Malacca.

Famous Local Melakan Food and dessert
1. Satay Celup.
2. Chicken Rice Ball
3. Cendol (dessert)
4. Baba Nyonya Food. (Pong Teh, Itik Tim and Acar)
5. Nasi Lemak Kukus
6. Nyonya Laksa

HOTELS & ACCOMMODATION

Century Mahkota Hotel Malacca
Jalan Merdeka, 75000 Melaka
Tel : (606) 281 2828
Fax : (606) 281 2323
The Emperor Hotel Malacca
123, Jalan Munshi Abdullah 75100 Malacca, Malaysia
Tel : 606-2840777 |
Fax : 606-2838989
Hotel Equatorial Melaka
Bandar Hilir 75000 Melaka Malaysia
Tel: +60 6 282 8333
Fax: +60 6 282 9333
Avillion Legacy Hotel
Jalan Hang Tuah 75300 Melaka, Ma-lay-xi-a
Tel: 606-281-6868
Straits Meridian Hotel
No.1, Jalan Malinja, Taman Malinja, Bukit Baru, 75150 Melaka, Malaysia
Ayer Keroh Country Resort Melaka
Lebuh Ayer Keroh, 75450 Ayer Keroh, Melaka, Malaysia
Tel : +606 232 5211
Fax: + 606 232 0422
D'Village Resort
75450 Air Keroh Melaka
Tel: + 606 232 8000
Fax: 606 232 7541
Accordian Hotel
114, Jalan Bendahara Malacca, 75100
Tel: +606.2821911
Fax: +606.2821333
The Baba House SDN BHD.
121-127, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 Malacca, Malaysia.
Tel: +606-2811216, +606-2812168
Fax: +606-2811217

RESTAURANT

Restoran Nyonya Makko
123 Jalan Merdeka, Taman Melaka Raya, Off Jalan Parameswara, Bandar Hilir, 75000.
Tel: (606) 283 0737
Wok & Pan East Meets West Cuisine
No. 22 G, Jalan PM 4, Plaza Mahkota, 75000.
Tel: (6017) 673 8896
Nadeje Patisserie
G-23 & 25, Jln PM4, Plaza Mahkota, 75000 Melaka.
Tel: (606) 284 3469
Restoran Ban Lee Siang
45 Jalan Ong Kim Wee, 75300.
Tel: (606) 284 1935 or (6012) 651 5322
Amigo Steak & Grill
21-23 Jalan Melaka Raya 8, Taman Melaka Raya, 75000.
Tel: (606) 283 2684 or (606) 283 2686
Medan Ikan Bakar Muara Sungai Duyung Melaka
KM 4-5, Jalan Padang Temu, Permatang Pasir, 75460.
Tel: (6010) 225 8741
Nadeje Patisserie
G-23 & 25, Jln PM4, Plaza Mahkota, 75000 Melaka.
Tel: (606) 284 3469
Café Botanikal
Taman Botanikal Melaka, Lebuh Ayer Keroh
Tel: (606) 232 3116 or (606) 232 3118
Kedai Kopi Chung Wah
28-30 Jalan Hang Kasturi, Off Malacca City, 75200 Melaka.
Tel: (606) 286 0121
Calanthe Art Café
No 11 Jalan Hang Kasturi, 75200.
Tel: (606) 2922 960
Eleven Bistro & Restaurant
No. 9 – 11, Jalan Hang Lekir, 75200.
Tel: (606) 282 0011
To Be Korean Café & Restaurant
58, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75000.
Tel: (606) 286 4317 or (6016) 635 6301
Bert’s Garden Seafood
2078 C, Jalan Kg. Pinang, Tanjung Kling, 76400.
Tel: (606) 315 2213 or (6019) 668 6623
Cliff’s Sunset Retreat
3854-C Batang Tiga, Klebang Besar, 75200.
Tel: (606) 315 5598 or (6012) 635 5596 or (6012) 656 5596
The Seafarer
1516, Batang Tiga, Tanjung Kling, 76400.
Tel: (606) 315 2698 or (6012) 638 9226

GETTING THERE

Situated about 150 kms away from Kuala Lumpur towards the southern-west of Peninsular Malaysia, Melaka is easily accessible by bus, train and car. Air travel is also possible but not very convenient as there isn’t an airport in Melaka and you still need to transfer two hours from Kuala Lumpur Airport.

By bus: travelling to Melaka by bus is very convenient and is the most popular means of transport from nearby areas. There are many long-distance buses connecting Melaka state with major cities like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and other cities in Peninsular Malaysia. Located about 3kms from the historic city centre, Melaka City’s Melaka Sentral is a major bus station that receives express buses from several locations in the state and other neighbouring countries.

By train: getting to Melaka by train can be very slow but the experience is truly rewarding as travellers can admire scenic views of lovely countryside along the way. However, the nearest station to Melaka is at Tampin, which is about 38kms to the north of Melaka City. From there, passengers can easily take a bus or wave down a taxi to their destination in Melaka.

By car: simply follow the signboards on the North-South Highway and choose to exit at the Alor Gajah-Tampin (Simpang Ampat), Ayer Keroh or Lipat Kijjang (Jasin). Ayer Keroh exit is the nearest to Melaka City. Melaka City is located on the Coastal Trunk Road (Federal Route 5) so if you are on the Main Trunk Road (Federal Route 1), turn off at Simpang Kendong or Tampin, which is about 40 kms from Melaka City.

By air: without its own airport, travelling by plane to Melaka is not very easy. The nearest airport is Batu Berendam Airport which is about 10kms from Melaka City. There are no domestic flights but Riau Airlines operates flights to Pekabaru and Sumatra.

The best way to travel around in Melaka is on foot as you can take time to admire this charming city. Cycling is also another good option while taking a trishaw ride to major tourist attractions is enjoyable and eye-opening (with a trishaw rider being your guide). Those who want to take a bus, make sure you have exact amount of money for tickets as the drivers do not give change.