Melaka is located on the southern part of the Malaysian peninsula and north of
Johor. Also known as Malacca, it is the third smallest state in
Malaysia. Melaka’s land area maybe small, but it has the richest history in
Malaysia. Melaka is said to be the center of Pernakan culture.
Founded by a Hindu prince, Parameswara,
Melaka is believed to be over 600 hundred years old. A lot of legends circulate as to Melaka’s origins. One legend says that Melaka was born when Parameswara witnessed a mouse deer defeat a dog. The mouse deer’s courage and victory inspired the prince to lay the foundation of Melaka. Under the prince’s rule, the fishing village became an international port. Eventually, the strategic location catapulted Melaka into a trading hotspot. This paved the way for economic development and cultural enrichment. Indian traders came to do business. Also, Chinese settlements began and increased in the area. Soon, the Chinese intermarried Malay locals giving birth to the Pernakan culture.
There are no train stations in
Melaka. The nearest train station at Tampin. Land travel is the most common way of getting to Melaka as there are no domestic flights going in and out of the city-state. Currently, the Batu Berendam Airport is not serving domestic flights. The main route to Melaka is through the Lebhuraya (North-South Highway) which links
Johor Bahru to
Kuala Lumpur. Melaka Sentral is the main bus station in the city. It is wide and modern but is located far north. There are a lot of express buses en route to
Singapore and
Kuala Lumpur from Malaka. Hourly trips are bound for
Singapore,
Johor Bahru, and
Kuala Lumpur. Boats enter Malaka via the Malaka Port. Ferries voyage from Melaka to Dumai, Sumatra.
A must see place in
Melaka is Pulau Besar, an island enveloped with countless legends and beliefs. Pulau Besar boasts of its unspoilt natural beauty. The Big Island, as it is sometimes called, is a great place for lovers of crystal-clear waters and warm sun. It also offers various recreational activities like snorkeling, fishing, and jungle trekking. To understand the history of the island, visit the Baba Nyonya (Pernakan) Heritage Museum. It showcases unique Baba Nyonya heirlooms, Chinese ceramics and pottery. Animal lovers could get up close with crocs at the Crocodile Farm, the largest crocodile farms in
Malaysia and is designed to mimic the natural environment of the reptiles. Melaka is also home to the Malaysia’s largest water theme park, the A Famosa Water World.
Indeed,
Melaka has a rich history as seen in its buildings and its people. Melaka has been one of the most visited places in
Malaysia. Truly, Melaka is moving forward from being a historic city to a premier city in the future.
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