It is recorded in local history that the historical city of Melaka was established in 1400 with Parameswara as its leader, and together with the sea-faring Orang Laut, he and his descendants built Melaka from a port-of-call of choice to the then center of Malay civilization and Islamic learning.
The Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum, said to be a scaled down replica of the Sultan of Melaka’s grand palace, as sourced from old texts and manuscripts. (@all rights reserved)Remnants of A Famosa, the fort built by the Portuguese after the downfall of Melaka in 1511. It is stated that the fort was built from the materials gained from the destruction of the homes of Melaka noblemen as well as Muslim places of worship and learning eg mosques etc.(@ all rights reserved)
Being strategically located in the Straits of Melaka, it is therefore of no wonder that it is a much sought after prize. Since its establishment, it has been colonised by the Portuguese (1511), the Dutch (1641), the British (1826), the Japanese (1942) and the British (again) in 1946 before achieving Independence as part of the Federation of Malaya (or Persekutuan Tanah Melayu) in 1957.
The ‘Old Quarter of Melaka’ (@ all rights reserved)The Cheng Hoon Teng temple at Jonker Walk. First built in 1645 by Kapitan Lee Wei King, with its main hall built later in 1704 Kapitan Chan Ki Lock, and was rebuilt in 1801 by Kapitan Chua Su Cheong. It was built then to serve the local Hokkien community. (@ all rights reserved)The Kampung Kling Mosque was first built of wood in 1748 and later of brick in 1872. It is one of the traditional mosques in Melaka and still retains its traditional design. It was originally built to serve as a place of worship by the Indian Muslim community in the area. (@ all rights reserved)The Sri Poyatha Moorthy Temple, one of the few Chitty temples in existence in Malaysia. It was built in 1781by Thavinayagar Chitty, leader of the Chitty community, and is part of the triumvirate of houses of worship (the Kampung Kling Mosque and the Cheng Hoon Teng Tenple being the other two) in the Jonker Walk area. (@ all rights reserved)
Today, Melaka is a city full of bustling confidence, combining the old and the new, with industrial parks to house its many manufacturing industries, new and tall buildings sculpting a new skyline for the city, shopping malls for avid shoppers as well as a place to hang out.
Food at one of the more well-known local kopitiams (or coffee shops) at Jonker Walk. (@ all rights reserved)Decorative bamboo trees – an added attraction to a souvenir shop at Jonker Walk. (@ all rights reserved)One of the more recent watering holes making an appearance in Melaka at Jonker Walk (or Jalan Hang Jebat). (@ all rights reserved)
Springing up also are hotels and lodging houses, offering a comfortable night’s sleep and wonderful stay in the city for those venturing the streets of Melaka, not to mention new watering holes for the avid tourist, sampling a bit of the life that is Melaka city.
A view of the Melaka River, taken from a bridge leading to Jonker Walk (or Jalan Hang Jebat). (@all rights reserved)The Windmill of Melaka. Remnants of the Dutch? (@ all rights reserved)
The remnants of history are still evidently there everywhere in the historical city of Melaka, for all to see.
The Waterwheel of Melaka River (@all rights reserved)A Day out in Melaka – The Family (@ all rights reserved)
It can be said that history lives on in this city, for there is always something old to see or long forgotten places to visit. And not forgetting the smells and tastes of Melaka!
Worth the trip, I’d say and definitely worth another trip or two, to say the least.
