The Historical City of Malacca or Melaka is a fascinating UNESCO World Heritage site and a unique place where different cultures meet and fuse creating a unique architectural and cultural townscape unparalleled anywhere in East and Southeast Asia.
Malacca is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula and is right next to the Straits of Malacca.
With a such strategic position, Malacca was once a well-known international trade center in the East. Many traders from Europe, Arabia, China and India traded at the port of Malacca and from there were born many of the descendants that exist in Malacca to this day such as the Baba Nyonya.
One of the best places to learn more about the history of Malacca is the Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum. The palace is a wooden replica of Sultan’s15th-century palace. It showcases the regions’ rich history.
Cheng Hoon Teng Temple is one of the main attractions in Malacca set along Jonker Street. It’s the oldest Buddhist temple in the country and and one of the most lavishly decorated with sculptures and golden paintings.
The temple was awarded a UNESCO award for outstanding architectural restoration in 2003.
St.Paul’s Church is a historic church building in Malacca, Malaysia that was originally built in 1521, making it the oldest church building in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
It is located at the summit of St. Paul’s Hill and is today part of the Malacca Museum Complex comprising the former Portuguese fortress A Famosa and the oldest -surviving Dutch building in the East, the Stadthuys.
The Stadthuys is the iconic landmark in Malacca also known as the Red Square. It was the official residence of the Dutch Governor and his officers. Now it’s home to the History and Ethnography Museum which displays the traditional costumes and artifacts throughout the history of Malacca.
Jonker Walk is the Chinatown street of Malacca, famous among the travelers because of its bustling open-air market on weekend nights. The market is well-organized and has a wide array of stalls, polite and friendly hawkers, bargains stores, as well as live music coursing throughout the street.
Jonker Street is also a haven for antique collectors and bargain hunters.
