Malacca - Malacca Beaches & Islands

While Malacca may not have rich rainforests or long stretches of warm sand, it does have a few magical islands and beaches to discover. Perfect for a weekend getaway, the beaches and islands of Malacca will allure you with thaeir serenity and comfort under a tropical sun.

Located approximately 20 km from Malacca Town, the beach of Tanjung Bidara has lush vegetation and a tranquil atmosphere. The beach is more for relaxation or recreational activities that exclude swimming, as the waters are a little murky. Many hawkers line the beach peddling food and there are amenities such as parking lots, playgrounds and showers.

The beach of Tanjung Kling is one of the more recent developments of the Malacca tourism industry. Located 15 km away from Malacca Town, Tanjung Kling is a pleasant stretch of white beach lined with coconut palms and sea shells, perfect for a quick jaunt.

Pantai Kundur, On this peaceful beach lies a small fishing village, approximately 17 km from Malacca Town. Locals often frequent this beach which is popular for swimming and picnicking. Rows of casuarina trees provide shade as visitors frolic in the water and play on the sand. At night, fishermen head out in boats to ‘Kelongs' (Platforms built on stilts on the sea) and fish for squid and other marine creatures.

• Pulau Besar Located near Umbai and 10 km south of Bandar Melaka, Pular Besar or ‘ Big Island' is a mysterious island that has many fables and legends behind its origin. Some say that the island resembles the shape of a pregnant woman, due to a story that a princess who, heart-broken because of her husband's death, jumped into the seas and consequently, her body floated and took the form of an island. As she was pregnant at that time, Pulau Besar, with a landscape resembling a belly, was born.
• Pulau Upeh the tiny island of Upeh is located near Klebang town in Malacca. During the War, it was used as a scouting point for invading ships in the Straits of Malacca. Also the island was often a nesting ground for pirates. Of course, the pirates have now long been cleaned out, and today, Pulau Upeh is a peaceful getaway for locals and tourists. There is a resort and water-sport facilities are available. Visitors can also visit an ancient well and view relics from World War Two scattered around the island.

Malacca - Butterfly Reptile Park

Butterfly Reptile Park is located 0.5 kilometre away from Leboh Ayer Keroh; 0.6 kilometre away from New Air Keroh Highway; 0.8 kilometre away from Expressway E2 Nse; 2.9 kilometre away from Jalan Gapam; 3.1 kilometre away from Orna Golf Club; Butterfly Reptile Park is geographically located at latitude (2.2958 degrees) 2° 17' 44" North of the Equator and longitude (102.3142 degrees) 102° 18' 51" East of the Prime Meridian on the Map of Malacca - Melaka.

Malacca - Hang Tuah Well

The Hang Tuah well is located in the town of his birthplace, Kampung Duyung. Born in Pulau Bentam, Sumatra, Hang Tuah was brought up in Kampong Duyong just 5 kilometers away along with his four good friends, Hang Jebat, Hang Kasturi, Hang Lekir and Hang Lekiu, who were also warriors in the Sultan’s court. Being the Sultan’s favourite, Hang Tuah’s loyalty and determination to the Sultan is unquestionable.

Malacca - Zoo Melaka

Located in Ayer Keroh, along the main road from the Ayer Keroh toll plaza to Melaka town. One of the best, if not the best, zoo in Malaysia. Even better than the National Zoo. The zoo is located in a reserved forest where the animal enclosures more resemble the animals' natural habitat. The trees within the zoo compound provide ample shades for visitors during hot and sunny days.

Pemuda BN - Jelajah One Malaysia

Yours truly is currently in the entourage of Jelajah One Malaysia #JOM, a people centric programme initiated by Pemuda BN. Basically in this series of JOM, BN Youth will go on a whirlwind tour of 5 states (Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan) taking part in various community based programmes.

So today, were going to witness one of the most interesting event that is rarely seen these days in cities and towns but alive and well in rural malay village a typical kampung mass circumcision. Circumcision is a medical procedure in which the foreskin of a penis is removed and is practiced in the Islamic faith. It’s also a coming of age procedure for a young male muslim by which it is considered the first step in a transition into manhood.

Malacca - Duck tour of Malacca

“Quack Your Way Around Melaka Historic City”

Malacca - Museums in Melaka

Malaysia Youth Museum

Malay & Islamic Worlds Museum

UMNO Museum

Samudera Museum

Agricultural Museum

Malacca - Kampung Hulu Mosque

The mosque, built in 1728 during the Dutch Occupancy, is the oldest mosque in the country. Its unique architectural style is a unique blend of Sumatran, Hindu and Western architecture.

All of the building's original wooden structures except the four main pillars and the roof structure were replaced with concrete. Within the mosque compound, you can find the grave of Sayyid Abdullah Al-Haddad, a famous religious teacher, whom many regarded as a "Wali" (Saint).

A good way to see the Kampung Hulu Mosque is to include it as part of your walking tour of nearby Jonker Street. The Mosque is set just one street back from the famous street.

Malacca - Melaka River

Melaka River is a river which flows through the middle Malacca Town in the Malaysian state of Malacca. It was once an important trade route during the heyday of Malacca Sultanate in the 15th century. It has lost most of this function in the present and is a mere tourist attraction.

Malacca - ASEAN Malaysia Mini Park

The Taman Mini Malaysia cultural park is located a few kilometres outside of Melaka, near the town of Ayer Keroh. If you have an interest in traditional architecture and ways of life, this is a great place to go exploring. Each of the homes represents the architectural style of the 13 states in Malaysia and is furnished with various items, arts and crafts which depict the culture of each state.

Inside each house, you can find a range of genuine handicrafts originating from each state or county. The life-like figures 'inhabiting' each charming home on stilts are garbed in their respective traditional costumes.

Other attractions in the park include weekly cultural shows and traditional games. Basically, this is an opportunity to see all Malaysian architecture and heritage in a short all-encompassing outing. And it's a nice break from the hustle and bustle of nearby urban Melaka.

Malacca - Taming Sari Tower

The latest addition to Malaysia"s stable of skyscrapers. The 110m-tower seats 66 people at a time, taking them on a 7-minute ride offering breathtaking 360-degree views of the historic city and the coastline.

Malacca - St. John Fortress

Malacca's other fortress located on top of St John's Hill in Bandar Hilir, south of the city. Pretty views of the surroundings from the top.

Malacca - The Stadthuys Municipal Hall

The Stadthuys is located at what is now called the Dutch Square, on Jalan Kota. In front of the Stadthuys is the Clock Tower, Victoria Fountain and nearby is the famous Christ Church. The Stadthuys is one of the most famous tourist spot in Melaka. The word Stadthuys stands for ‘Municipal Town Hall’ in Dutch language.

Built by Dutch in 1650s, after having taken over from the Portuguese, this architectural structure is the oldest Dutch building in the East. The Dutch were first to introduce bricks of well burnt clay. The British, however, replaced Dutch Bricks with British Bricks in their constructions.

The Stadthuys, Melaka

The Dutch used this building as official residence of their Governors and important government officers. One can find in the building a nice antique furniture, like Dutch blackwood cupboard made bearing the monogram of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Just beneath the Stadthuys building is a superb drainage system that flows into the nearby Melaka River. Only the underground drainage system beneath the building is of the Dutch origin. Dutch arranged and planned the drainage system before they started to build the Stadthuys building. A well made of sea stones was discovered beneath the building. Another well was discovered outside the building. One well constructed by the Dutch and a building site was also discovered adjacent to the Stadthuys. THE RESTORATION OF THIS STADTHUYS CITY – CLERK The Stadthuys is located at what is now called the Dutch Square, on Jalan Kota (Kota Road).

Malacca - St. Paul Hill (A' Famosa)

The Portuguese colonised Melaka from 1511 to 1641. The first thing they did was build a fort overlooking the river, calling it A'Famosa. As Melaka was the centre of struggles between super powers of the time, and suffered the constant threat of attack, the A'Famosa fort was critical in Portugal maintaining its colonial foothold in the Far East. Within the fort walls were housing and food stores, a castle, a meeting room for the Portuguese Council and five churches. A seven-month attack by the Dutch just about destroyed the entire fortress, leaving only the entrance façade and the structure of a church at the top of the hill.Go for a stroll up St. Paul's Hill on a cool late afternoon and wander among the majestic trees and historical remnants. Here, you can almost imagine the glories and miseries of the besieged lives the Portuguese would have led right here all those years ago...

Malacca - Malaysia's Historical City

Malaka is known as a historical rich state and is recognised as one that epitomised the spirit of a nation, forged through the crucible of a tumultuous and intricate history.

Malaka was founded by Parameswara (or Raja Iskandar) the last Malay ruler of Temasik (ancient Singapore) in 1396 when he and his followers retreated up the straits to Muar, then tu Sungai Ujung before settling at Bertam near the estuary of Malaka River.

Finding the place is of strategic location, he decided to make a permanent settlement there, naming it "Malaka" after the name of the tree he leaned against.

The Malaka Sultanate occupies a special position in the history of Malaysia. Its inauguration marked the beginning of the emergence of a new Malay empire. The birthplace of the Malay Sultanates and Malaysia's historic city, Malaka provided the stage on which the Portuguese, Dutch and English played out their roles in shaping history.

Malaka emerged as a strong maritime trading state under the industrious Parameswara and his chiefs. Malaka also began to be noticed by Muslim traders from West Asia and India, who until that period, had been concentrating their activities in Aru, Pedir and Pasai en-route to the East, especially China. Because of its strategic location straddling the Straits of Malaka, it thrived as a port-of-call and a centre of entrepot trade with ships and merchants from China, Japan, India, Arab and South Africa.

In 1511, it fell to the hands of the Portuguese, followed by the Dutch in 1641 after a fierce battle. In 1795, Malaka was given to the British to prevent it falling to the French when the Netherlands was captured during the Napoleonic Wars. It was returned to the Dutch in 1818 under the treaty of Vienna but was later exchanged by the Brisith for Bangkahulu, Sumatra. From 1826 onwards, the British East India Company along with Singapore and Penang governed it, under the Straits Settlement administration in Calcutta.

The Dutch, who held Malaka for over a century, left many fine buildings marking their heritage. The most imposing relic of the Dutch period is the Stadthuys, a strikingly pink town hall which is today the oldest Dutch building in the Far East. Right next to it stands the bright red Christ Church, constructed with pink bricks imported from Holland and covered with local red lacerite. Today, these buildings together with the ruins of the Portuguese built A' Famosa and St. Paul's Church are the most prominent reminders of the Europeans presence in Malaka.

After World War II, anti-colonial sentiment bred in the country among the nationalists, the result of which was the proclamation of Independence by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, Malaysia's first Prime Minister, at the Padang Pahlawan (Warrior's Field) at Bandar Hilir, Malaka on 20th February 1956.