Malacca in Peninsular Malaysia is also spelled Melaka and is one of the most interesting parts of the country. Malacca has a varied history, having been colonized by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British. All in all, Malacca offers a serene yet fascinating glimpse into the history of Malaysia and is a top spot for anyone looking to explore a different side of the country.
Visit Sultanate Palace
The Sultanate Palace is actually a model of the original wooden palace that belonged to Sultan Mansur Shah who would have been the ruler of Malacca from 1456 to 1477. The home has now been transformed into a cultural museum which is flanked by pretty gardens and what makes the building even more impressive is that it was made without using any nails to hold it together.
Instead the structure stands as a result of some clever engineering and a series of wooden grooves and slots and the reconstruction was done after taking detailed notes of how the original palace would have looked according to the Malay Annals.
Walk around Stadthuys
Stadthuys is one of the most famous landmarks in Malacca and you will recognize it immediately thanks to the crimson façade. The building dates from 1650 which makes it the oldest of its kind that was built during the Dutch colonial period and is modeled on the Stadhuis or town hall in Hoorn in the Netherlands. This used to be the local town hall and residence of the governor but nowadays it houses the History & Ethnography Museum.
Malacca River Cruise Tour
The Malacca River is one of the highlights of the city and the best way to experience it is to take to the water on a scenic river cruise. Back in the days of old the river would have been one of the most important trade routes in the area and nowadays tourist can cruise past important spots such as Kampung Morten and enjoy all the sights of the city. There are also nighttime river cruises which offer tourist the chance to take in the city illuminations and the journey usually takes around 45 minutes to an hour.
Visit the Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum
The Baba & Nonya Heritage Museum is the place to come if tourist want to learn more about the Peranakan culture in Malacca. Also known as Straits Chinese, the Peranakans came from China and settled in Malaysia where they mixed their traditional culture with Malay traditions to create a unique new way of living in Malaysia.
tourist can see this firsthand at the museum which is located in a typical Baba & Nonya townhouse which is adorned with gorgeous period decorations and gives you a glimpse of how people would have lived in the days of old in Malacca. tourist can take a guided tour of the residence and the guides will fill in on all the history of the building.
