Malacca, Malaysia Tourist Sites

Malacca is located in the southern part of Malaysia, between Negeri Sembilan and Johor. It boasts an interesting heritage that includes past colonization by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British. These foreign influences are still present today in Malacca and can be seen in many of the area's tourist attractions. Here are a few interesting highlights of this Malaysian marketplace's history.

Malacca, Malaysia: The local folklore

The local legend tells an interesting story of the settlement of Malacca in Malaysia. According to the folklore, Prince Parameswara was banished from his homeland of Sumatra. He arrived at the town weary of wandering and rested under a Malacca tree. While he was resting, Parameswara watched his dog attack a deer. The deer would not relent, driving the dog backward into the sea water. The Prince was so inspired by the deer's fight that he decided to stay at this new location and build up his own trading post. He named the city after the Malacca tree he was sitting under.

Malacca, Malaysia: A great location

Whether or not the ancient legend is true, Malacca's location in Malaysia was ideal because of its place on the spice route between China and India. This made it a natural stopping point for all of the ships traveling the spice route. Prince Parameswara required a duty payment for any ship passing through the area, giving him the funds to build up his new city. Unfortunately, Malacca's newfound riches attracted many invaders from Europe.

Malacca, Malaysia: The battle for control

The first European power to colonize the city of Malacca were the Portugese in 1511. Their reign over Malacca lasted for over a hundred years, giving way to the Dutch in 1641. The British took over in 1824 and their own reign lasted another hundred-plus years. The Dutch influence on Malacca can still be felt today. The center of the town is still known as the Dutch Square because of the original government building that is housed there. Known as the Stadthuys, it was built in 1650 to serve as the center of the Dutch government in Malacca. Thought to be the oldest Dutch building in all of Asia, the Stadthuys now houses an Ethnography and History museum. The massive Christ Church is another of Malacca's ancient buildings that should not be missed on a visit to Malaysia. Built in 1753, the entire wooden building was constructed without a single nail, screw, or joint. Some of the original pews still rest in the Church's interior at this unique tourist attraction in Malacca.