Malacca

Malacca (or Melaka in Malay) is a state of Malaysia, located in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. The state's capital is also called Melaka or Malacca.

Table of contents

1 History 2 Geography 3 Demographics 4 Sights 5 Transportation 6 External link

History

Malacca was a Malay sultanate founded by Parameswara in 1396. What started as a fishing village then grew into the most important port in the region, serving as a stopping point for China-India trade during the two monsoon periods.

The cultural result of the vibrant trade was the Peranakan people, who spread to other major settlements in the region.

The Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier spent several months in Malacca in 1545, 1546 and 1549.

Malacca was occupied by the Portuguese and the Dutch before it was ceded to the United Kingdom in the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824.

From 1826 to 1946 Malacca was governed by the British East India Company as part of the Straits Settlements, together with Singapore and Penang. After the dissolution of this crown colony, Malacca and Penang became part of the Malayan Union, which later became Malaysia.

Geography

Land area 1650 sq km

Population (2001) 648,500

State Capital Malacca (town)

Demographics

There is still an Eurasian minority of Portuguese origin and Catholic denomination in Malacca, which speaks an ancient Portuguese dialect called Cristao.

Sights

• A Famosa fortress
• Bukit China cemetery
• Cheng Hoon Teng temple
• Christ church
• Dutch Square
• Francis Xavier church
• Hang Jebat mausoleum
• Hang Kasturi mausoleum
• Kampong Hulu mosque
• Kampong Keling mosque
• Poh San Teng temple
• Sri Poyyatha temple
• St. John's fort
• Ruins of St. Paul's church - where Francis Xavier was temporarily buried from March 22, 1553 to December 11, 1553
• St. Peter's church
• Sultan's well
• Tranquerah mosque

Transportation

• Tampin, a town 30km north of Malacca town, is the nearest train station that serves Malacca.
• The North-South highway in Malaysia's closest exit to Malacca is the Ayer Keroh exit.
• Malacca has a bus station with regular bus services to Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and other places in Malaysia.

External link

• Official Melaka website