Malacca (or locally Melaka) is one of the Malaysia states which enriched with the most valuable historical values. It is also dubbed as “The Historical State” or “Historic City” of Malaysia. Malacca state’s capital is Malacca Town. On July 7, 2008, Malacca Town was inscribed on the UNESCO Cultural World Heritage List on 7 July 2008 together with George Town, the capital of Penang. Other major towns of Malacca are Alor Gajah, Masjid Tanah, Jasin, Merlimau, Batu Berendam and Ayer Keroh.
Malacca is located on the Western Coast of Peninsular Malaysia in the southern region facing the Straits of Malacca. It is sandwiched between the states of Negeri Sembilan to the north and Johor to the south, about 148 km south of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia and 245 km north of Singapore. Malacca State has a land area of 1,650 square km, which is the third smallest state of Malaysia after Perlis and Penang. The state is divided into three districts, namely Central Malacca (or locally Melaka Tengah), Alor Gajah and Jasin. The offshore Pulau Besar (Malacca), Pulau Upeh and Tanjung Tuan are also parts of Malacca.
Malacca has a population of about 760,000, mainly Malays, followed by Chinese including the Peranakan community, Indians, and Kristang (people with partial Portuguese ancestry). The Peranakan, also known as the Straits Chinese or Baba-Nyonya, are the descendants of the early Chinese immigrants to Malacca as well as to Penang and Singapore. They have partially adopted Malay customs and speak a Chinese-Malay creole.
Melacca Christ Church
A Famosa
The core focus of Malacca attractions is its heritage tourism. Several places of historical interest are Fort A Famosa, St.John’s Fort, St. Peter’s Church, St. Paul’s Church, Christ Church, Francis Xavier Church, Stadthuys, Jonker Street, Portuguese Square, and Cheng Hoon Teng Temple. Melaka is also blessed with a number of unique and special local delicacies, attributed by the Malays, Chinese, Indians, Portuguese, and Baba-Nyonya. It is practically common for some visitors to drive all the way from places like Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, just to experience the amazing local food, which couldn’t be found else where.
How To Get There
By road, Malacca is connected to the North-South Expressway. The Ayer Keroh exit is the main entry to Malacca. There are two additional exits along the North-South Expressway, namely the Alor Gajah and Jasin exits. The Melaka Sentral is the main Malacca bus station. It has air-conditioned waiting areas and separate areas for buses plying the town routes and for buses plying the intertown routes with regular bus services to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, and other places in Malaysia. Malacca is yet to have its own train station, though the terminal at Tampin, Negeri Sembilan is easily accessible. It has a domestic airport terminal located in Batu Berendam, which mainly serves chartered flights from around the region. It is now refurbished into a brand new international Airport for the state of Malacca.
Accommodation
Malacca has many hotels, resorts and budget hostel located within short distance from the centre of the town. Major hotels like Century Mahkota Hotel Malacca, Emperor Hotel, Grand Continental Hotel, Golden Legacy Hotel, Renaissance Hotel Malacca, and Straits Meridian Hotel. Major Resorts like Air Keroh Country Resort, Air Keroh D’Village Resort, Klebang Beach Resort, Riviera Bay Resort, and Tanjung Bidara Beach Resort. Budget hotels like Accordian Hotel, Baba House, Belmount Hotel, Bentona Hotel, Coastal Park Hotel, Grand Southern Hotel, Lotus Inn Hotel, Metropole Hotel, Mimosa Hotel, Pacific Inn, Palace Hotel, Semabok Inn Melaka, and Tan Kim Hock Hotel.
Place of interest:
- History of Malacca Malacca was founded by Parameswara (or Raja Iskandar) the last...
- Jonker Street Malacca Jonker Street is also known as Jalan Hang Jebat. This...
- Kuala Lumpur, The Largest City in Malaysia Kuala Lumpur (or simply KL) is the capital and...
- Malaysia National Monument The National Monument (or locally Tugu Negara) is located...
