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| ETHNIC GROUPS |
| MELAKA'S RICH CULTURAL HERUTAGE COMES FROM ITS VARIOUS ETHNIC GROUPS WHO ARE PROUD OF THEIR HISTORICAL LINKS TO THE PAST. |
| THE MALAYS |
| THE MALAYS CONSTITUTE THE LARGEST GROUP OF MELAKA'S POPULATION. ISLAM PARVADES THEIR WHOLE WAY OF LIFE, INCLUDING THEIR CUSTOMS OR ADAT. THE SOCIAL SYSTEM OF THE MALAYS IN MELAKA IS BASED ON ADAT TEMENGGONG, WHICH EMBRACES A PATRIARCHAL TRADITION. NORMALLY THEIR LIVE IN VILLAGE AS TIGHT KNIT COMMUNITIES. THEY SPEAK MALAY, PRACTICE ISLAM AND BEAR ARABIC NAMES AND ARE STEEPED WITH TRADITIONS. THIS COSTUM SPREAD SUBSEQUENTLY TO OTHER STATES IN THE PENINSULAR. |
| THE CHINESE |
| THE CHINESE COMMUNITY FORMS THE SECOND LARGEST ETHNIC GROUP IN MELAKA AND MOST OF THEM ARE INVOLVED IN BUSINESS AND TRADING ACTIVITIES. THE CHINESE ARE USUALLY PREDOMINANT IN THE CITIES. DESPITE PASSAGE OF TIME AND PRORESS THIS RACE COMPRISING OS VARIOUS DIALECT GROUPS SUCH AS HOKKIEN, CANTONESE, HAKKA, TEOCHEW AND HAINANESE RETAIN THEIR LEGACIES AND STILL PRACTICE THEIR VARIOUS TRADITIONAL FESTIVITIES AND RELIGIONS RITES. |
| THE INDIANS |
| THE INDIANS ARE ANOTHER IMPORTANT GROUP IN MELAKA'S COLOURFUL RACIAL MIX. DEEPAVALI IS THE MAIN CELEBRATION OF THE HINDU INDIANS AND THAIPUSAM BEING THEIR RELIGIOUS EVENT WITH SEVERAL RITUALS INCLUDING A PROCESSION FROM ONE TEMPLE TO ANOTHER. |
| THE BABA-NYONYAS / PERANAKANS |
| MELAKA IS ALSO WHERE THE BABAS AND NYONYAS OR PERANAKANS ORIGINATE. THEY ARE DESCENDANTS OF THE CHINESE WHO ARRIVED IN MELAKA AND MARRIED LOCALS. DESCRIBED AS 'CHINESE IN SPRIT AND MALAY IN FORM', THEY RETAIN MANY CHINESE CUSTOMS BUT MALAY IS THEIR MOTHER-TONGUE. THEY HAVE ADOPTED THE MALAY-STYLE OF DRESSING. |
| THE CHITTYS |
| THE MELAKAN CHITTYS ARE STRAITS-BORN INDIAN. THEY ARE DESCENDANTS OF WEALTHY TRADERS FROM SOUTH INDIS'S COROMANDEL COAST WHO VISITED MELAKA DURING THE 15TH CENTURY AND MARRIED LOCAL WOMEN. THIS RESULTED IN A UNIQUE CULTURE WHERE THEY SPEAK AND DRESS LIKE THE MALAS BUT RETAIN THEIR RELIGIOUS PRACTICES. THE CHITTY WOMEN WEARS 'SARUNG' JUST LIKE THE NYONYAS AND TRADITIONAL MALAY WOMEN. |
| THE PORTUGUESE-EURASIANS |
| THE PROTUGUESE-EURASIANS COMMUNITY NUMBER ABOUT 10,000 IN MALAYSIA. ABOUT 2,600 LIVE IN MELAKA IN THE PORTUGUESE SETTLEMENT WHICH DATES TO 1930. THEY SPEAK CREOLE, AN ARCHAIC PORTUGUESE DIALECT, AND ARE ROMAN CATHOLICS. THE SETTLEMENT IS A HIVE OF ACTIVITY DURING THE FESTA SAN JUANG AND FESTA SAN PEDRO CELEBRATIONS. |
| TENGKERA MOSQUE |
| THIS 150-YEARS OLD MOSQUE WAS INSPIRED BY SUMATRAN-ARCHITECTURE AND IS CHARACTERISED BY ITS PYRAMID-SHAPED ROOF. WITHIN ITS GROUND IS THE TOMB OF SULTAN HUSSAIN OF JOHOR WHO SIGNED THE CESSION OF SINGAPORE TO SIR STAMFORD RAFFLES IN 1819.** |
| KAMPUNG KLING MOSQUE |
| THIS IS ONETHE OLDEST MOSQUES TN THE COUNTRY WITH SUMATRAN ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES. IT HAS A THREE-TIERED PYRAMID-SHAPE ROOF AND A PAGODA-LIKE MINARET, PORTRAYING A MIXTURE OF EAST-WEST ARCHITECTURE INFLUENCES. IT IS THE SITE OF THE MANDI SAFAR OR BATHING FESTIVAL CELEBRATED BY INDIAN MUSLIMS DURING THE MUSLIM MONTH OF SAFAR.** |
| KAMPUNG HULU MOSQUE |
| THE KAMPUNG HULU MOSQUE WAS BUILT IN 1728 AND IS ONE IF MALAYSIA'S OLDEST MOSQUES. LOCATED IN CHINATOWN, ITS UNIQUE ARCHITECTURE STYLE IS NOT TRACEABLE TO ANY OTHER IN THE COUNTRY.** |
| CHENG HOON TENG TEMPLE |
| BUILT IN 1646, IT IS THE OLDEST CHINESE TEMPLE IN MALAYSIA. REFLECTIVE OF SOUTHERN CHINESE ARCHITECTURE, IT FEATURES MYTHICAL FIGURES, ANIMALS, BIRDS AND FLOWERS OF PORCELAIN AND GLASS. THE MAIN HALL IS DEDICATED TO TAOIST DEITIES. THE TEMPLE HAS AN INDCRIPTION COMMEMORATING THE FIRST VISIT OF ADMIRAL CHENG HO, THE MING EMPEROR'S EMISSARY TO MELAKA.** |
| OPERATIONS HOURS : 7am - 7pm |
| SRI POYYATHA VINAYAGAR MOORTHI TEMPLE |
| ONE OF THE OLDEST TEMPLES IN THE COUNTRY, IT WAS BUILT IN 1781 ON THE SITE OF THE CHITTY'S FIRST SETTLEMENT. THE LAND WAS DONATED BY A CHITTY HEADMAN BY THE NAME OF THAIVANAYAGAM CHITTY. THE TEMPLE SERVES AS A VENUE OF WEDDINGS AND FESTIVALS.** |
** VISITORS ARE ADVISED TO DRESS APPROPRIATELY AND TO OBTAIN PERMISSION TO ENTER FROM MOSQUE / TEMPLE OFFICIALS.
| THE BABA AND NYONYA HERITAGE MUSEUM |
| THIS MUSEUM WAS THE ANCESTRAL HOME OF THREE GENERATIONS OF THE BABA-NYONYA FAMILY. LOCATED AT JALAN TUN TAN CHENG LOCK THE BUILDING WAS CONVERTED INTO A MUSEUM TO PRESERVE ITS UNIQUE LAGACY. THE BUILDING IS TYPICAL OF THE BAROQUE-STYLE HOMES OF WEALTHY CHINESE FAMILIES. AN OPEN AIR COURTYARD IS SITUATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOUSE TO LET IN SUNLIGHT. FURNITURE IS MADE OF CHINESE ROSEWOOD IN A MIXTURE OF CHINESE, VICTORIAN AND DUTCH DESIGNED. |
OPERATION HOURS : 10pm - 12.30pm , 2pm - 4.30pm
ADMISSION FEES : ADULT - RM8 , CHILD - RM4 |
| CHITTY MUSEUM |
| THE CHITTY MUSEUM IS A NEW ENTERPRISE OF THE CHITTY COMMUNITY TO DOCUMENT THEIR UNIQUE HERITAGE. AMONG THE EXHIBITS ARE COLUORFULLY-DESIGNED TRADITION WATER-POTS, MULTI-TIERED BRASS OIL-LAMPS, SERVING TRAYS, SCULPTURES, HANDCRAFTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS. |
OPERATION HOURS : 10pm - 12.30pm , 2pm - 4.30pm
ADMISSION FEES : ADULT - RM8 , CHILD - RM4 |
| PROCLAIMATION OF INDEPENDENCE MEMORIAL |
| THE MUSEUM IS HOUSED IN A 1912, BRITISH VILLA WITH MOGUL-STYLED DOMES. THE BUILDING WAS ONCE THE MELAKA CLUB, A BASTION OF COLONIALISM. INSIDE THE MUSEUM ARE MANUSCRIPTS, VIDEO TAPES, FILMS AND SLIDES DEPICTING EVENTS LEADING TO MALAYSIA'S INDEPENDENCE IN 1957. |
OPERATION HOURS : 9am - 5.30pm
(CLOSED ON MONDAY EXCEPT DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS)
ADMISSION FEES IS FREE |
| THE PEOPLE'S MUSUEM |
| THE MUSEUM DOCUMENTS THE NATION'S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT FROM INDEPENDENCE TILL THE PRESENT TIME. MELAKA'S ROLE IN INDEPENDENCE AND THE STATE'S DEVELOPMENT OVER THE DECADES ARE GIVEN SPECIAL FOCUS. |
OPERATION HOURS : 9am - 5.30pm
ADMISSION FEES : ADULT - RM2 , CHILD - RM0.50 |
| MALAYSIAN YOUTH MUSEUM |
| THE MUSEUM IS SITUATED NEXT TO CHRIST CHURCH. THE BRITISH COLONIAL BUILDING WAS FORMERLY A POST OFFICE. ON DISPLAY ARE DOCUMENTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWING THE WORK OF THE MALAYSIAN YOUTH COUNCIL AND OTHER YOUTH GROUPS. |
OPERATION HOURS : 9am - 5.30pm (CLOSED ON MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS
ADMISSION FEES : ADULT - RM2 , CHILD - RM0.50 |
| MELAKA SULTANATE PALACE (CULTURAL MUSEUM) |
| AT THE ROOF OF ST. PAUL'S HILL LIES THE WOODEN REPLICA OF A 15TH CENTURY MALAY PALACE. THE BUILDING HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A CULTURAL MUSEUM. A HUGE DIORAMA DEPICTS A SULTAN'S COURT WHILE THE MAIN EXHIBITS RELATE TO MELAKA CULTURE. THERE ARE ALSO EXHIBITS FROM AOTHER PARTS OF MALAYSIA INCLUDING CLOTHING, WEAPONRY, STONE INSCRIPTIONS, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND PHOGRAPHS. |
OPERATION HOURS : 9am - 5.30pm
ADMISSION FEES : ADULT - RM2 , CHILD - RM0.50 |
| MARITIME MUSEUM |
| LOCATED ALONG JALAN QUAYSIDE, THE MARITIME MUSEUM IS HOUSED IN A REPLICA OF THE FLORA DE LA MAR, A PORTUGUESE VESSEL THAT SANK OFF THE MELAKA COAST. THE MUSEUM TRACES THE HISTORY OF MELAKA FROM THE SULTANATE OF MELAKAIN THE 14TH CENTURY TO THE PRE-INDEPENDENCE ERA. INSIDE THE MUSEUM ARE MODELSOF SHIP AUTHENTIC MAPS, OLD IRON CHESTS AND CHARTS. |
OPERATION HOURS : 9am - 5.30pm (WEEKDAYS) , 9am - 9pm (WEEKENDS)
ADMISSION FEES : ADULT - RM2 , CHILD - RM0.50 |
| PORTUGUESE SQUARE |
| THE PORTUGUESE SQUARE IS LOCATED WITHIN THE PORTUGUESE SETTLEMENT, 3KM FROM THE CITY. BUILT IN THE LATE 1980s, THE SQUARE IS INSPIRED BY THE PORTUGUESE MERCADO. IT IS THE VENUE FOR LOCAL CULTURAL SHOWS PERFORMED EVERY SATURDAY EVERNING. LOOK OUT FOR THE 'BRANYO', THE LIVELY PORTUGUESE DANCE. |
| TRADITIONAL MELAKA HOUSE |
| A TYPICAL TRADITIONAL MELAKA HOUSE STANDS ON 12 TO 16 MAIN PILLARS, USUALLY TWO METRES HIGH. THE DECORATIVE FLOWER-MOTIF TILES STEPS ARE ITS MOST STRIKING FEATURE. IT IS INSPIRED BY THE ARCHITECTURE-STYLE OF THE BABA-NYONYA. TRADITIONAL MELAKA HOUSES CAN STILL BE SEEN IN RURAL COMMUNITIES WITH THE MOST FAMOUS LOCATED AT BUKIT PALAH |
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