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.
History
Malacca was founded by Parameswara, a Srivijayan prince who left Sumatra in 1396. He converted to Islam in 1414, thus creating a Sultanate of Malacca in order to further his enmity with the Majapahit Empire. 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 on August 24th 1511 by the Portuguese Alfonso d'Albuquerque. In 1641 the Dutch defeated the Portuguese to capture Malacca with the help of the Sultanate of Johore. Malacca was later ceded to the English 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
Malacca is on the south west coast of the Malay peninsula opposite Sumatra, with the states of Negeri Sembilan to the north and Johor to the east.
- Land area 1650 sq km
- Population (2001) 648,500
- State Capital Malacca (town)
Demographics
There is still a Eurasian minority of Portuguese descendants with Catholic denomination in Malacca, who speak an ancient Portuguese dialect called Cristao.
Sights
- A Famosa fortress
- Bukit China cemetery
- Cheng Hoon Teng temple
- Christ church
- Dutch Square
- Saint 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 Saint 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.
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