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Melaka has transformed from a little fishing village to an entrepot to an abandoned outpost and the recent a resurgence as a tourist jaunt. Melaka and George Town, Penang were named as UNESCO World Heritage Sites based on their history trails of trade dating back 500years. However, the 2 historical towns were not only listed because of its architectural and historical multi cultural as well as colonial influences BUT more importantly for their living heritage.
These are the criterion in which Melaka and George Town were included in the prestigious list of World Heritage Sites:
Criterion (ii): Melaka and George Town represent exceptional examples of multi-cultural trading towns in East and Southeast Asia, forged from the mercantile and exchanges of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures and three successive European colonial powers for almost 500 years, each with its imprints on the architecture and urban form, technology and monumental art. Both towns show different stages of development and the successive changes over a long span of time and are thus complementary.
Criterion (iii): Melaka and George Town are living testimony to the multi-cultural heritage and tradition of Asia, and European colonial influences. This multi-cultural tangible and intangible heritage is expressed in the great variety of religious buildings of different faiths, ethnic quarters, the many languages, worship and religious festivals, dances, costumes, art and music, food, and daily life.
Criterion (iv): Melaka and George Town reflect a mixture of influences which have created a unique architec¬ture, culture and townscape without parallel anywhere in East and South Asia. In particular, they demonstrate an exceptional range of shophouses and townhouses. These buildings show many different types and stages of development of the building type, some originating in the Dutch or Portuguese period.
* taken from http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1223
The fact that both Melaka and George Town are thriving urban areas, there is always a pressing need for the private, public and government sectors to improve, develop and re-adapt to the current trends and demands. With the renewed interest in these historical towns/cities , there is always a desire to find a fine and delicate balance between gentrification and retaining the values that earned them a World Heritage Site status in the first place.
These are pressing issues and they are even more apparent in Melaka due to the intense pressure to accommodate the desires of the tourism sector.
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Melaka Town - the Stadhuys on the right was the admistrative office and the Governor of Melaka's dwelling. Built in 1650 under the Dutch rule and was subsequently taken over by the British where visiting guests were housed. Now a museum, it is interesting to learn that there is a private staircase that used to run from the Governor's room to a bathroom in the gardens. The bathtub has now been covered up for fear visitors would fall into it.. ? Opening Hours Saturday - Thursday: 9.00am - 5.30pm . Friday: 9.00am - 12.15pm & 2.45pm - 5.30pm * Closed on Mondays. Entrance fee: RM5 for Adults; RM2 for Children
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For many, it's a little difficult to imagine the fort having once been strategically positioned by the sea to protect the town. After years of extensive land reclamation, the fort sits almost 1km inland. But of course, this one here is a reconstruction of the original fort wihich had been blowned to bits by the British Resident of Malacca, William Farquhar in 1807. Scattered around the old section of Malacca town are excavations of the old fortress foundations but unfortunately have not been very well managed and information on site is sorely lacking.
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The Melaka Islamic Museum , located along Jalan Kota, at the foot of St Paul's Hill is housed in the former office building of the Melaka Islamic Council. It's open daily from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm. Entrance fee is RM1.00 for adults and RM0.50 for children . Along the way there are quite a number of museums to visit and are great places for shelter from the sweltering afternoon heat or from a torrential monsoon downpour.
Cheng Ho Cultural Museum , located along Lorong Hang Jebat (opposite the Stadthuys across the Melaka River). It's open daily from 9.00am to 6.00pm. Entrance fee is RM20 for adult and RM10 for child. www.chengho.org/museum . For more on Admiral Cheng Ho, visit our page on historical malacca
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Melaka Sultanate Palace , located at the foothill of St Paul's Hill is a replica of the Melaka Sultan's palace during the period of the Melaka Sultanate. The construction of this replica was completed in 1984 and information and data obtained from the Malay Annals. These historical documents had references to the construction and the architecture of palaces during the era of Sultan Mansur Syah, who ruled from 1456 to 1477. It's open Tuesdays till Sundays from 9.00 am - 6.00 pm (Closed on Mondays). Entrance fees: Adults RM2.00; Children/Students RM0.50
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Governor's Museum, located on top of St. Paul's Hill, next to the ruins of St. Paul's Church . This building was the official residence and office of the Dutch Governor of Melaka when the Dutch ruled Melaka during the 17th century. When the British arrived and colonised Melaka, the building continued to serve as the residence and office of the British governor of Melaka and later, the Governors of Melaka since independence of 1957 right until 1996 when a palatial building was built in Alor Gajah and the Governor's Residence and Office relocated. 'The location of the old residence and its limited space was inadequate to meet the demands of the office in a fast developing Melaka State.' quoted from http://www.virtualmuseummelaka.com/tyt.htm
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St. Paul's Church and St. Paul's Hill are worth a walk round. It is also a venue for arts and performances. One such is Mapfest ie Melaka Arts and Performance Festival. For more go here at http://www.melakafestival.com/
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Maritime Museum Phase I (Flor De Lamar) , located at Quayside Road near the Melaka River estuary. The Maritime Museum is also a replica of the 'Flora de La Mar', the Portuguese ship under the command of Alfonso de Alburquerque which sank off the coast of Melaka . Along with it sank a lot of Melaka's historical riches and work of arts. The replica is 34 metres high, 36 metres long and 8 metres wide and was completed and opened to public in 1994. It's open from 9.00 am - 6.00 pm (Closed on Tuesdays). Entrance fees: Adults RM2.00; Children/Students RM0.50
Maritime Museum Phase 2 , located at the old Guthrie warehouse after it was extensively renovated by the Public Works Department. The building is next to the replica of the Flora de La Mar . This is a modern museum with lots of visual presentations focusing on maritime themes such as maritime life, exploration of the oceans and seas, treasures from the sea etc. It's open from 9.00 am - 6.00 pm (Closed on Tuesdays). Entrance fees: Adults RM2.00; Children/Students RM0.50
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The Stamp Museum is a great place for stamp collectors. Not too long ago, kids had healthy hobbies such as stamp collecting, coin collecting, writing to pen pals etc and this is one museum worth visiting just to reminisce the past. The building itself is a treasure. It was occupied by the Westerhout family for 300 years until 1930. The museum showcases stamp collections, history of stamps and its covers, postmen’s uniforms changed through generations, (have you seen the 2010 revamped version of our postman's uniform?) unreleased stamps, specific themed stamps and many more. It's open daily from 9.00 am - 5.30 pm . Entrance fees: Adults RM1.00; Children/Students RM0.50
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Baba and Nyonya Museum , located along Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock. This is a private museum that features the lifestyle of a privileged Baba / Nyonya family or ‘Straits-born Chinese’ or ‘Peranakan’ during the late 19th century. The house was built in 1896, and is stuffed with old wares and furnitures collected over a century. This museum though has had a long history of unfriendly guides so don't take it to heart if they aren't too keen to entertain to your questions. For more on peranakan , try this site at http://www.peranakanlife.com/ . It's open daily: 10am - 12.30pm, 2pm - 4.30pm. Admission Fee RM8
For more on things to see in Melaka...
Melaka & Surrounding Day Tours ~ Malacca
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Melaka Tours |
Hrs |
Day of Operations |
Departure |
Min adult |
Include |
Rate (Nett) |
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AM |
PM |
Adult |
Child |
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Historic City Tour Itinerary |
3 |
Daily |
10.00 |
2.00 |
2 |
Transport, driver / guide |
85 |
75 |
Ayer Keroh Tour Itinerary |
3 |
Daily |
10.00 |
|
4 |
Transport, driver / guide. *Excludes entrance fees. |
90 |
80 |
Cultural Heritage Tour Itinerary |
3 |
Daily |
10.00 |
2.00 |
2 |
Transport, driver /guide, entrance fees |
95 |
80 |
Vanishing Trades Trail (Walkabout Tour) Itinerary |
3 |
Daily |
10.00 |
|
4 |
Transport, driver / guide |
80 |
70 |
Melaka Night Tour Itinerary |
4 |
Friday, Saturday & Sunday only |
- |
6.30 |
4 |
Transport, driver / guide, dinner |
110 |
105 |
Melaka Tours |
Hrs |
Day of Operations |
Departure |
Min adult |
Include |
Rate (Nett) |
||
AM |
PM |
Adult |
Child |
|||||
Historical Malacca (Itinerary) |
8 |
Daily |
9.30-9.45 |
- |
2 |
Lunch |
120 |
80 |
Johor Muar Tours |
Hrs |
Day of Operations |
Departure |
Min adult |
Include |
Rate (Nett) |
||
AM |
PM |
Adult |
Child |
|||||
10 |
Daily |
8.30 |
- |
2 |
transport , guide , river cruise , entrance fees |
200 |
200 |
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10 |
Daily |
8.30 |
- |
2 |
transport , guide , river cruise , entrance fees |
200 |
200 |
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Please Note:
~ The seat-in-coach can only be conducted with the minimum number of person/adults required
~ Pick-up and drop-off service from major hotels at Melaka town centre (not applicable for tours departing from locations outside of Melaka)
~ Services of an English Speaking Driver cum Guide
~ Touring by air-conditioned car, van or coach (depending on the group size)
~ Rates are not inclusive of entrance fees to places of visit (unless stated otherwise)
~ Child age between 4-12 years old
~ Any unused services are non-refundable, non-exchangeable and non-deductible
~ 100% cancellation charge applies for NO SHOW OR CANCELLATION within 48-hrs
~ In the event of unforeseen circumstances, the local operator reserves the right to alter, amend or withdraw the package anytime with or without prior notice.
Redemption Instructions :
~ 24 hours prior to travel date, please call our local tour representative (during working hours) to reconfirm your booking details. Pick up time is required 30 minutes prior to tour departure time.
Postponement of Trips:
* Please be advised that the trip will not be allowed to be postponed unless we are advised of any changes at least 3 working days before trip commencement date
Tour descriptions :
Melaka, where it all began. Known as the “VENICE OF THE EAST”, she was once the richest port in the WORLD ! On this tour you shall be visiting interesting and historic places such as the The Dutch Square (The Stadthuys, Tan Beng Swee Clock Tower, Queen Victoria Fountain, Christ Church), Heeren Street/Jonker Street (Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum-optional), Street Of Harmony (Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, Kampong Kling Mosque, Sri Vinayagar Temple), St. Paul’s Hill Complex (Independence Memorial, Porta de Santaigo, Ruins’ of St. Paul’s Church, Replica of Palace of Malacca Sultan) and Portuguese Settlement (Portuguese Square). Shopping at Tan Kim Hock local food product centre before we return to the hotel.
Ayer Keroh…. Malacca’s recreational playground. The Recreational Forest, Crocodile Farm, The Zoo, Mini Malaysia & Mini Asean, The Recreational Lake and Golf Courses are all located here. At Mini Malaysia & Mini Asean, view the 13 different types of traditional Malay Houses from the 13 states of Malaysia and houses of some of the Asean Nations. On this tour we shall visit Mini Malaysia & Mini Asean and one other attraction only.
Entrance fees : Mini Malaysia & Mini Asean – RM4.00 per adult/ RM2.00 per child
Malacca Zoo – RM10.00 per adult/ RM4.00 per child
Crocodile Farm – RM8.00 per adult/ RM5.00 per child
This tour will enlightened you on the different lifestyles and cultural aspects of the various ethnic groups in Malacca. Termed as the " Peranakans ", these various ethnic groups comprising of the Malacca Malays, Babas & Nyonyas, Portuguese Eurasians and the Chittys have lived harmoniously in Malacca even before the arrival of the Dutch in 1641. You shall be fascinated with the different ways of life ranging from their unique cuisine, ceremonies, adobes and their spoken languages.
Vanishing Trades Trail (Walkabout Tour)
“ A MALACCAN TRAIL WITH A DIFFERENCE ” …….. we bring you deeper beyond the realm of the tourist.
After six centuries of existence, Malacca has a lot to offer the visitor. All it takes for anyone to really feel the pulse of this old charming town is to walk with our experienced and knowledgeable guides. On this walkabout tour, you will be exposed to Malacca’s old charms. It also serves to bring the point home that cultural co-existence had brought about the intermingling of the various races living as one tolerant society.
The sight of all the traders, merchants and vendors, who have been carrying out the same businesses for generations in the same premises as their forefathers. The aromatic smells of the Chinese medicinal shops, the bustling bazaar with the proprietors calling out to potential customers will arouse all your senses. A rare treat will be to observe two old and quaint enterprises ; one is a bamboo basket weaver and the other, a wooden clog maker. This tour is definitely off the beaten track. It will also be a good chance for you to pick up some souvenirs at good bargains
Meet and greet at the lobby of your hotel and commence the Melaka Night Tour. We shall first visit the Taming Sari Tower (Menara Taming Sari). This is the first revolving ‘Gyro Tower’ in Malaysia. She stands at 110 metres high. Dinner will be at a popular Nyonya restaurant. Nyonya cuisine is from one of the unique ethnic groups of Melaka. Enjoy the assimilation of various styles of cooking that brings about the Nyonya food. After dinner, we then proceed to the embarkation/disembarkation point for the River Cruise. When we complete the cruise, we shall end the tour with a visit to Jonker Walk (on Fridays to Sundays) / Mahkota or Dataran Shopping Complex (Mondays to Thursdays).
**Please Note that there will be a non-refundable handling charge on payment made. Conditions apply.
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Accommodation and Packages to Melaka ~ Malacca town , Ayer Keroh , Tanjung Kling & surroundings
More on Old Malacca
Getting There and Away
Best Time to Go
Melaka (Malacca) accommodation & packages
Malaysia Cities,Towns & Villages
