Melaka
MELAKA – The site of both the first settlement on the peninsula in the 1400s, and of the declaration of independence in 1957, Melaka can truly be called the birthplace of Malaysia.
Background
In the late 1300s, Melaka was a small settlement of sea gypsies, scraping a living as fishermen and farmers. Then a Malay prince, Parameswara, arrived fleeing from his own invaded domain of Palembang, Sumatra. While out hunting in the area, he encountered
a tiny kancil (mousedeer), which managed to intimidate his dogs; he
took this as a sign that this should be the site of his new capital. By the
end of the 15th century, Melaka had become the centre of a great trading empire and held an undisputed claim over the southern Malay Peninsula, as well as east Sumatra opposite. From every seafaring nation they came Persians, Arabs, Tamils and Bengalis from the west; Javanese, Sundanese and Sulus from the archipelago; Chinese, Thais, Burmese and Khmers in search of profit through trade, piracy or plunder.
Main Attraction
A Famosa, Jonker Street Night Market, Chris Church Melaka, St Paul's Church, Stadthuys, Baba & Nyonya Heritage Musuem, Melaka River, Melaka Straits Mosque, ENCORE Theatre.
