Malacca (Malaysia) – the southern city of the Malay peninsula on the coast of the Strait of Malacca. Founded in the early 15th century, it survived the colonization of the Portuguese, Dutch, French and English, being in close proximity to China and India. The result of this location and historical past was a mix of not only peoples, languages and cultures, but also entire civilizations, which affected both the half-million population of the city, and its architecture, local traditions and features.
Today, Malacca and its attractions are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here are the most beautiful temples in Asia, ancient fortresses, Protestant and Catholic churches. In Malacca, you can go diving, go on a river cruise, enjoy picturesque views or delicious national cuisine – every traveler will find an interesting feature in it.
What is unusual in mysterious Malacca, whether it is suitable for a beach holiday and what sights should be visited first of all – we will tell you everything you need to know before traveling in this article.
General information
The city was founded in 1400 by the Sumatran Prince Parameswara (also known as Iskandar Shah). For centuries, it has flourished as a major commercial port due to its central location between the major powers of the region. From the very beginning, Chinese, Indian and Arab merchants traded and settled here, leaving indelible traces of their cultures.
In the 16th century, the Portuguese invaded, followed by the Dutch, who eventually sold Malacca to the British. European rule turned a booming economic port into a seedy backwater, and the conquerors were unable to maintain the cosmopolitan openness that brought it success.
Today, Malacca is thriving again. This is largely due to foreign visitors who come to enjoy the city’s mix of cultures. In 2008, UNESCO declared the historic center a World Heritage Site, citing a well-preserved mosaic of architectural styles that includes elements of Portuguese, Dutch, British and Peranakan (Chinese born in the Strait).
The city has a population of 579 thousand people. There are several small fruit and coconut farms around Mallaka in Malaysia, but their main export products are rubber. Rubber production has been highly commercialized due to the fact that Malacca started trading abroad at an early stage. The Malaccan Chinese were the first to engage in industrial rubber production (1898), and now there are large Chinese estates and small farms in the region.
About water and weather: why don’t people go to Malacca to sunbathe on the beach?
Despite the fact that the water temperature is kept at +30°C all year round, Malacca is not the most popular place among beach lovers. The fact is that there are no beaches in the city, but only a small river in which you can not swim because of the constant movement of ferries. In the vicinity of Malacca (Malaysia), there are several beaches that can attract the attention of travelers. Most of them, once known for their cleanliness and unusual landscapes (Tanjung Kling, Pantai Klebang, etc.), were privatized for the construction of hotels and residential buildings.
Puteri Beach
The beach is located 9 km north of the city along the road. Pureti is about 300 m long and 15-20 m wide. The beach is covered with fine light sand, clean. The entrance to the water is gentle, the waves are small, suitable for children. You can sit on a towel in the shade of trees. There are several toilets here.
On the beach there are several cafes, gazebos, it makes sense to come here for the whole day. Most of the people are locals, the girls are dressed in fully closed swimsuits with sleeves and covered knees.
Pantai Siring Melaka
Another beach near Malacca where you can cool off on a hot day is called Siring. It is located 15 km south-east of the city. Theoretically, you can swim here, but almost no one does it — the water is muddy, the sandy strip is narrow and not the most comfortable. In addition, sand is not everywhere, a significant part of the beach is covered with large stones.
Most people come to Pantai Siring to enjoy freshly prepared seafood or fish in one of the cafes on the beach and watch the sunset. But where to go to Malaysia for a beach holiday, find out in this selection of the most beautiful places in the country.
But don’t rush to put out your bags and hand over your tickets – there are many attractions in Malacca that are worth visiting. This city is a time machine and only here you can see the world through the eyes of a person of the 16th and 20th centuries.
Attractions in Malacca
One of the main features of Malaysia is a mixture of cultures, nationalities and, as a consequence, religions. The official religion of the country is Islam, but since the constitution gives citizens the right to choose a religion, there are Buddhists, Christians and followers of Confucianism among the population. That is why there are so many religious monuments of architecture in Malacca, including mosques, churches and cathedrals.
Masjid Selat
The floating mosque, built on an artificial shore in 2006, is the main symbol of the city of Malacca. In addition to a large prayer hall, the building has an educational center, a library and a spacious terrace with a view of the strait.
Admission is free for everyone, subject to compliance with the established rules. Women are allowed to visit the mosque only in hijabs, and men – in dressing gowns (all this is given out free of charge), while shoes must be left in front of the stairs near the main hall.
It is near the Selat Masjid, on Jalan Pulau Melaka 8 Street, that the most beautiful sunset photos of Malacca are taken. The mosque closes at sunset.
St. Francis Xavier’s Church
This Catholic church was built by the French in the mid-19th century. Unremarkable from the outside, it hides unique curves depicting scenes of the life of Jesus, an ancient organ and several dozen religious sculptures in its walls. Otherwise, the church is quite simple in design.
- The cathedral is open to the public from Monday to Friday from 9: 30 to 17: 30, on Saturday-from 9: 00, on Sunday-from 8 am to 19: 30.
- Located at Jalan Banda Kaba 12.
Chen Hong Teng
The Evergreen Cloud Temple is the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia. It was built in 1646 in honor of the goddess of mercy Guan Yin from materials imported from China. All the decorations, statues and idols in the building are arranged strictly according to the rules of Feng Shui, and the main hall is divided into three parts-for those who profess Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.
According to granite tablets, the temple was carefully planned so that both sides had views of the river and hills.
There are many religious sculptures throughout the temple, and in the back of it there is a “stone garden” with two dozen figures with the goddess of mercy in the center.
- The attraction is located in the old center of Malacca at Jalan To’kong 25.
- Opening hours: daily from 7 am to 7 pm.
Church of Christ
It was built in 1753 to commemorate the centenary of the capture of Malacca. One of the few Protestant churches in Malaysia, it is still open to the public from 9 am to 5 pm.
The attraction is painted pink, which makes it visible and popular. As a rule, there are many tourists who want to take a photo against the background of one of the symbols of Malacca.
Services in English are held in 8:30, 10:30, 16:30 and 17: 00.
Museums
On the map of Malacca, museums are allocated in a separate category of attractions, which is not surprising, since there are more than 25 of them in the city. It is home to Malaysia’s largest international family, a museum of Chinese culture, toys, the navy and kites. Each of them is worthy of your attention, but if you have only a few days to explore all the sights of Malacca, first of all you should visit the following ones.
Baba Nyonha Heritage Museum
This museum tells the story of 7 generations of a mixed family of Chinese and Malaysians. Baba Nyonya is not just the name of a tribe of immigrants who came to the country in the 19th century, but a whole culture inherent in the entire west coast of Malaysia and Malacca in particular.
The house-museum looks luxurious and elegant both outside and inside. Its main features are unusual architecture, antique furniture, old paintings and other decorative elements made in different parts of the world and collected by the Baba Nyonya family in one place. Also, among all the exhibits, national costumes and kitchen utensils of the 18th and 20th centuries stand out.
- You can visit the attraction from Monday to Thursday from 10 to 17: 00 and from Friday to Sunday from 10 to 18.
- The entrance fee is 16 ringgit for adults and 5 ringgit for children aged 5-12 years.
- Do not worry if you do not have time to arrive on time – the house has a round-the-clock cafe “1511”, which serves delicious traditional dishes of Babanoni cuisine.
- Address of the complex: Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock 50.
Red Square and Stadhuis Town Hall
Dutch heritage, this square is a complex of ancient buildings that were used as the administration of the colonial government since 1650. The Stadhuis Town Hall, located in the center of this complex, is the oldest colonial building in all of Malaysia. Since the beginning of the two thousandth years, it has been operating a museum of history and ethnography with thousands of unique exhibits.
- A visit to the town hall will cost you 10 ringgit.
- It is open every day from 9 to 17: 30.
- Located in Bandar Hilir district.
Palace of the Sultans of Malacca
The House of Sultan Mansur Shah today is a museum with several hundred ancient exhibits. Here are samples of weapons from the 15th and 16th centuries, national costumes, ancient musical instruments and traditional jewelry. The building is surrounded by a small well-groomed beautiful park.
A fact from history! At the end of the 15th century, the palace burned down in the aftermath of a severe lightning strike and was fully restored only in 1985. Due to the lack of resources, its size was reduced (the original building was 18 times larger than the modern one), and the walls and roof were not decorated with precious metals.
- Opening hours: 9 am to 5 pm every day except Monday.
- Ticket price: 5 ringgit for adults and 2 ringgit for children.
- Located in Bandar Hilir district.
Under the open sky
The Melaka Walk is a tour of different countries and times.
Jonker Street
Long established by the Chinese, it is the main artery of the city. Here you can enjoy a delicious meal in one of the cafes, look at the temples and mosques, buy old antiques or taste durian cookies cooked in front of your eyes. The street starts from the central bridge over the river and has a total length of about 500 meters.
Important! Jonker Street is not a pedestrian zone, there are always cars and motorcycles driving here. The safest time to walk is on a Friday or Saturday evening, when traffic stops due to the night market.
Chinatown
Historic Chinatown with many cafes and unusual shops. Here you can taste delicious street food, buy a unique souvenir (for example, a secret potion or shark fin), visit the temple.
Promenade
You can not ignore the city’s embankment, which is surrounded by flowers and greenery all year round. Here you can take great photos, sit in a restaurant, take a pleasure boat ride or look at unusual graffiti that has recently taken its place among the city’s attractions.
For small travelers
Malacca is a unique city that offers entertainment even for toddlers.
Coral Wonderland Melaka Aquarium
Located in the Dataran Pahlawan Megamall shopping center, the oceanarium offers tourists several dozen pools with exotic sea inhabitants: sharks, corals, seahorses and various fish. The entrance fee is 40 ringgit for an adult, 30-for children.
Planetarium
Space lovers should visit the city’s Planetarium Adventure Science Center with a modern model of the solar system, spaceships and satellites. It shows 3D films every hour about innovative inventions in the space sector and the history of the universe. The center is open from 9 to 18 every day, and the ticket costs 10 ringgit for adults and 8 ringgit for toddlers.
Important! Many tourists who have visited Malaysia talk about the huge observation wheel Eye on Malaysia. Please note that although it was moved from the capital of the country to Malacca, it is currently not working. This structure was dismantled in 2010.
Malacca (Malaysia) is a unique city for lovers of a rich holiday. Visit it to experience the culture of Malaysia and discover what the country has been like for the past five centuries. Have a good trip!
Batu Caves – a unique temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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