Melaka

Melaka

The beautiful city of Melaka is located on the western coast of the Malaysian peninsula. A melting pot of many religions, races, cultures and languages, Melaka occupies a central position on the Strait of Malacca. Besides, its strategic importance Melaka also boasts of a rich history that has been colored by many foreign influences. However, everything and everyone in Melaka has blended together into a fine harmonious set up that is proudly displayed to everyone who visits this wonderful city in Malaysia.

This former trading center does not offer any beaches to its visitors but has many other attractions that more than make up for this shortcoming. Visit the Red Square in Melaka, the focal point of the city, which offers easy access to all interesting sites in Melaka. The square itself boasts of many attractions like the Victoria Fountain, Clock Tower, the 340-year-old Stadhuys hall, the Ethnography Museum and the Historical Museum. The other attractions in Melaka include the Christ Church, St.Paul's Church, the A Famosa gate, Melaka Sultanate Palace, the Maritime museum, the Chen Hoon Temple and Kampong King's Mosque.

Melaka is a wonderful place to tickle your taste buds with some very delectable food. Catering to every palate, the restaurants and stalls in Melaka offer everything from Indian to Portuguese food. So, food buffs will really have a great time during their stay in Melaka. If you have forgotten about shopping, lets remind you that Melaka is a nice place to shop for antiques and souvenirs. Besides, shopping centers are good places to go on a buying spree.

Some of the famous events and festivals in Melaka include the Chinese New Year and the Thaipusam. Besides, Melaka is a good base for the F1 grand Prix enthusiasts if they are not willing to dole out money to book hotels in Kuala Lumpur that hike their rates during that season.

Temples in Melaka

Malacca has been a trade port since its beginning. Arabs, Bengalis, Malabarese, Persians and Tamils from the west; Javanese, Sudanese and the Sulu people from the archipelago; Burmese, Chinese, Khmers, as well as Thais, came to this land for trading. In return, each of them left a part of their culture. Perhaps one of the best things they left in return were their temples. Temples are located throughout Malacca, and some of the distinguished ones include:
The Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple
Built in 1781, this is one of the very first temples built in the whole country. The temple was built on land that was conferred by the Dutch and till this date has served as an active spiritual and social center for the Hindu community. It is a great place to visit if you have a fascination for old temples.


Directions

This temple is located at the junction between Jalan Tukang Emas and Jalan Hang Kasturi.
Nearby Attractions
Other places worth visiting near the temple include the Kampung Kling Mosque, the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, the Hang Kasturi Mausoleum, and the Hang Jebat Mausoleum.

The Cheng Hoon Teng Temple

Referred to as the 'Temple of Evergreen Clouds', the Chen Hoon Teng Temple is one of the oldest Buddhist Chinese temples in Malaysia. It was constructed in 1646 with building materials shipped directly from China. It houses the statue of Kuan Yin (The Goddess of Mercy). The mythological figures, beautiful carvings and nice lacquer work of this temple make it unique and definitely worth a visit. What's more, the temple received the distinction of being cited in the UNESCO list for the Award of Merit for its Culture Heritage Conservation.

Directions

This temple is located at Jalan Tokong near Hang Kasturi's Mausoleum. The temple is within walking distance from famous Jonker Street.

Nearby Attractions

Other places worth visiting near the temple include the Hang Kasturi Mausoleum, the Kampung Kling Mosque, and the Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi temple.

Poh San Teng Temple

Founded by Kapitan Chua Su Cheong, this is a graveyard temple of Poh San Teng. The main god for this Chinese temple is 'Tua Pek Kong'. The temple serves as a place of prayer for all those people buried in Bukit China so they could be guided properly.

Directions

This temple is located at Jalan Munshi Abdullah near Hang Li Poh's Well.
Nearby Attractions
Other places worth visiting near the temple include the Hang Li Poh's Well, the Palace Hotel, and Bukit China.