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MALACCA
Calling Code: +60
If the ultra-modern architecture and forward-looking citizens of Kuala Lumpur symbolize Malaysia's hopes for the future, then the quiet, seaside city of Malacca is the guardian charged to preserve its past. Five hundred years ago, an extraordinary empire rose and fell here in a mere century, suddenly caught off-guard by the dawn of the Colonial Era.
Founded in 1400, Malacca was a major port along the spice-route, and its harbor bristled with the sails and masts of Chinese junks and spice-laden vessels from all over the hemisphere. Because the city was originally built of wood, there are no crumbling and stately reminders of the power once wielded by the Malaccan Sultanate, but along the shores of the Malacca River the scene has probably changed little. Sloping rooftops of traditional Malay houses still hang over the water, and seem to call out sleepily from the past.
Malacca represents a remarkable blend of Chinese, Arabian, Indian, Portuguese, Dutch and British legacy. The Portuguese-built fortress Famosa, the Dutch-erected Stadthuys, Hang Tuah's Mausoleum and many other traditional buildings, all of which date back to the 15th and 16th centuries, recall the glorious days when Malacca city was a world-class trading port.
The Sungei Malacca River splits the city center into two parts - the captivating Chinatown on the western bank and nostalgic colonial remains, which lay on the opposite side. The eastern bank is dominated by the picturesque St. Paul's Hill with the ruins of the 16th century St. Paul Church, built by the Portuguese. Another part of colonial Malacca is the so-called Dutch Square. The most impressive remnant of the Dutch epoch in Malacca - the massive pink town hall, Stadthuys, was built here between 1641 and 1660. It is believed to be the oldest Dutch building in Asia and displays all the distinctive features of Dutch colonial architecture. The building is used for government offices and also hosts an excellent Ethnographic Museum.
The city of Malacca is the capital of the smallest Malaysian state of Malacca, famous for its rich historical remnants. This region offers excellent beaches on offshore islands of Pulau Besar and Pulau Upeh, and the coastal strips of Tanjong Kling and Tanjong Bidara. The Ayer Keroh district, located just 14 kilometers north of Malacca city center, provides numerous exciting attractions such as the Butterfly Farm, Crocodile Farm, Malacca Zoo, Auyin Hill Resort and others.
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