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Malacca City is the capital city of the Malaysian state of
Malacca. The
Seri Negeri, the State Administrative and Development Centre which houses
the Chief Minister's Office, the State Secretary's Office and the
Legislative Assembly Hall are located in Malacca City. It was listed as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site together with
George Town of
Penang on 7 July
2008.
The city of Malacca is located on both sides of the Malacca River near its
mouth into the Strait of Malacca. The historic central area of the city is
located near the old coastline, includes St Paul's Hill with the ruins of
the Portuguese fortress, A Famosa and the Dutch Square on the right
(eastern) bank of the river, and the old Chinatown on the left (western)
bank. The modern city has grown in all directions from this historic core,
including to the south (because the present coastline of the Strait of
Malacca is somewhat farther down to the south than its original location
due to land reclamation).
The "Chinese Hill" (Bukit Cina), where a large old Chinese cemetery is
located, was formerly located to the northeast of the town, but now is
surrounded by the city on all sides. Malacca River winding its way through
the old town and the city centre.
The site where the city of Malacca stands today was the center of Malaccan
history. It was the capital of the Malacca Sultanate and was the centre of
the Malay world in the 15th and the 16th century after the Malays moved
over from Sumatra and was the most prosperous Entrepôt and city of the
Malay Archipelago before it fell to the hand of Portuguese in 1511.
Centuries of colonization by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British as well
as development of Straits Chinese (Peranakan) culture have influenced the
architecture of the town, notably the Portuguese A Famosa, Dutch Stadthuys,
and the Dutch, Chinese and British influenced traditional town houses.
Currently Malacca City is accessible via highway, railway, or Federal
route/coastal road. Malacca City is approximately 130 km from
Kuala Lumpur
and 200 km from
Singapore. People who wish to go to
Malacca by train
should board the
Singapore-bound train in
Kuala Lumpur Sentral and alight
at Tampin station, where shuttle buses to and fro places such as Jonker
Street, Melaka Sentral and AEON Bandaraya Melaka Shopping Centre are
available.
There was a railway line from Tampin to Malacca City before World War II
but was dismantled by the Japanese troops to build the infamous Death
Railway in Burma. The railway line was never re-built after the British
returned.
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