Malacca Culture & Heritage

Malacca Baba Nyoya, Peranakan, Portuguese

While Malacca has a multi-racial population of Malays, Chinese and Indians reflecting the overall racial make-up of Malaysia, it is the Peranakan and Portuguese culture that is still practised by a few descendant communities that attracts visitors.

The Peranakan and Portuguese descendants in Malacca today are the result of the state's long history with trading and colonisation by Oriental and Western powers.

The Baba Nyonyas

Peranakans are descended from Chinese migrants who first came to Malacca many centuries ago. Adopting Malay customs and cultures, theirs is a unique heritage unlike any other. Peranakans are also referred to a 'Straits Chinese'.

It is still a subject of debate whether the Peranakans actually intermarried with the local Malay population or maintained a pure bloodline, but most are said to be of Hokkien ancestry. 'Babas' refer to male Peranakans while 'Nyonya' refer to females. Often Nyonya is used to substitute the term 'Peranakan' as well. Peranakans also settled in Penang, the only other state than Malacca.

In terms of dressing, the women wear traditional Malay costumes, notably the 'Baju Kebaya' a form of blouse woven with silk. Foot-binding, a practice carried over from China, used to be common among the affluent folk but over the centuries, it is no longer practised and for good reason. Perhaps the Peranakan's most famous legacy is Nyonya food, a fusion of Malay ingredients with Chinese cooking styles. Some of the most popular dishes include 'Belacan', 'Assam Laksa', 'Cendol' and 'Kuih Talam¡'.

Peranakans speak a dialect of the Malay language called 'Baba Malay' which has some elements of the Hokkien language. Their most notable musical entertainment form is the 'Dondang Sayang'; or 'Love Song' where Babas and Nyonyas exchanged poems in a humorous style, accompanied by a violin, accordion and traditional instruments; the Rebana and Gong. Many Malaccans, regarded less of their ethnicity, often indulge in Dondang Sayang; such is its popularity.

Opening Hours: 10am - 12.30pm, 2pm - 4.30pm
Address: Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock
Tel: (606) 283 1273‎

The Portuguese

When the Portuguese conquered Malacca in 1511 and ruled for 130 years, a few stayed behind and formed a fishing community that has lasted till today. As devout Catholics, they celebrate various festivals dedicated to their religion which can be witnessed throughout the year in their settlement the Portuguese Square.

Over the years, the Portuguese intermarried with the local population and are now collectively referred to as Portuguese-Eurasian or 'Kristang', but they still maintain their traditional surnames such as 'Sequiera' and 'Lopez'. Usually, they speak a distinct language which is a Creole (fusion of two languages) based on Portuguese and Malay.

The Portuguese community in Malacca are a merry bunch, often celebrating with loud dances, music and song. Their most famous tune is the 'Jinggling Nyonya', a happy dance-song routine. They've also brought their food; 'Curry Debel¡' is among the most famous of their dishes.

In June, the Portuguese Suare becomes abuzz with activity as the villagers celebrate a feast in honour of their patron saint. It is truly a sight for visitors to behold and a great chance to get to know this special 3,000-odd group of people in Malaysia.

Malacca Nature Discovery

Malacca Rainforests, Hot Springs, Zoos, Parks

Malacca, although a small state, still has some adventures in nature to offer. Choose from recreational parks in rainforests to concept farms that display the latest technologies and methods of agriculture.

You can also visit the Crocodile Farm, Butterfly Park or Zoo to see some of Malaysia's unique wildlife.

Air Keroh Recreational Forest

Malacca's most famous recreational rainforest is a tranquil haven for wildlife and natural scenery. Covering an area of about 320 hectares, Ayer Keroh enables you to learn, as you walk through the trails, the marvellous diversity of plant life and animals that inhibit this range.

Other activities you can do here include jogging, biking and hiking besides the customary jungle treks. There are also tree houses in the area to give you a bird's eye view of the surroundings and chalets to camp overnight.

Opening Hours: 8am - 6pm
Address: Ayer Keroh, Melaka
Tel: (606) 232 8401‎

Air Keroh Lake

The Ayer Keroh Lake is another tranquil spot to relax by. Those into water sports can rent boats and canoes to paddle around in the lake. The lake also holds excitement for anglers as there are prized game fishes such as grass carps and snake head fish living in its waters.

Facilities such as a jogging path, playground and eating kiosks are available for you and your family to enjoy a fun picnic.

Address: Jalan Ayer Keroh, 15 km east of Melaka Town Melaka, Malaysia
Tel: (606) 283 6538

Sungei Udang Recreational Forest

The Sungai Udang Recreational Forest is a relatively new park open for the public's relaxation. Around the main entrance, there is an administrative centre, food stalls, parking lots, playgrounds and other facilities.

Certain fishing spots have been marked along the river and there are trails deeper into the jungle for trekking or camping in the forest at night.

Agropark

The Agropark, also located in the vicinity of Sungai Udang, is just 20 km away from Malacca city. Sprawling over 65 acres of green terrain, the park is dedicated to teaching the public about the agricultural industry.

Visitors can visit fruit orchards, vegetable farms or relax by lakes, ponds and gardens. There are also playgrounds and a site for camping.

Address: Sungai Udang Block A, Level 1, Wisma Negeri, Jalan Hang Tuah, 75300 Melaka
Tel: (606) 353 1353

Butterfly Farm

The Butterfly farm doesn't just stock more than 200 species of butterflies, but an impressive collection of 400 rare insects.

Some of the prominent butterflies you'll see her include the Rajah Brooke and massive Birdwing. There are also bird and mammals on display, from Cockatoos to Barn Owls and Giant Squirrels to Estuarine Crocodiles.

Opening Hours: 8.30am - 5.30pm
Address: 75450 Ayer Keroh, Melaka.
Tel: (606) 232 0033

Crocodile Farm

One of the largest crocodile farm in the country, the Malaccan farm has over 200 crocodiles of various species including the Siamese, African Dwarf, Humpback and Indian Marsh.

Covering an area of 3.2 hectares, visitors can view the crocodiles from suspended platforms and watch them whip themselves into a feeding frenzy during feeding hours.

Opening Hours: 9am - 6pm
Address: Pusat Pelancongan Ayer Keroh, 75450 Melaka.
Tel: (606) 232 2349

Melaka Zoo

The Melaka Zoo is Malacca's official zoo located in Ayer Keroh. Established since 1963, the zoo has over 1,200 live specimens of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

Visited by almost half a million people each year, the Malacca zoo will be an insightful discovery of the richness of Malaysia's wildlife. Visitors can view Malaysian tigers, wild oxen, rare primates and other wonderful creatures.

Opening Hours: 9am - 6pm
Address: Jabatan Perhilitan, 75450, Ayer Keroh, Melaka.
Tel: (606) 232 4053

Gadek Hot Spring

Located in the district of Alor Gajah, the hot springs in Gadek was in fact discovered not by locals, but English soldiers during the war.

It is believed that the hot spring's waters have healing properties. Regardless, a dip in the water is certainly relaxing and therapeutic for the body. There's also a restaurant and playground to provide additional facilities for visitors.

Opening Hours: 7am - 9pm
Address: Alor Gajah, 78000 Melaka.
Tel: (606) 283 6538

Malacca Beaches & Islands

Pulau Besar , Tanjung Kling, Pantai Kundur

While Malacca may not have rich rainforests or long stretches of warm sand, it does have a few magical islands and beaches to discover.

Perfect for a weekend getaway, the beaches and islands of Malacca will allure you with thaeir serenity and comfort under a tropical sun.

Pulau Besar

Located near Umbai and 10 km south of Bandar Melaka, Pular Besar or ‘ Big Island' is a mysterious island that has many fables and legends behind its origin. Some say that the island resembles the shape of a pregnant woman, due to a story that a princess who, heart-broken because of her husband's death, jumped into the seas and consequently, her body floated and took the form of an island. As she was pregnant at that time, Pulau Besar, with a landscape resembling a belly, was born.

On the island, one can find a cave which is believed to be used by ancient warriors for practising magical arts. Yet another sight is a giant rock called ‘Batu Belah' or Split Rock. Legend has it that a magician trapped his apprentice inside the rock by splitting it in half and then rejoining it with the apprentice inside.

Today, most people would enjoy the recreational activities on the island. There are resorts, a yacht club and a host of water-sport facilities. Visitors can also enjoy evening strolls on the sand, swimming in the calm waters or snorkelling the seabed.

Tanjung Kling

The beach of Tanjung Kling is one of the more recent developments of the Malacca tourism industry. Located 15 km away from Malacca Town, Tanjung Kling is a pleasant stretch of white beach lined with coconut palms and sea shells, perfect for a quick jaunt.

Pantai Kundur

On this peaceful beach lies a small fishing village, approximately 17 km from Malacca Town. Locals often frequent this beach which is popular for swimming and picnicking. Rows of casuarina trees provide shade as visitors frolic in the water and play on the sand. At night, fishermen

head out in boats to ‘Kelongs' (Platforms built on stilts on the sea) and fish for squid and other marine creatures.

Tanjung Bidara

Located approximately 20 km from Malacca Town, the beach of Tanjung Bidara has lush vegetation and a tranquil atmosphere. The beach is more for relaxation or recreational activities that exclude swimming, as the waters are a little murky. Many hawkers line the beach peddling food and there are amenities such as parking lots, playgrounds and showers.

Pulau Upeh

The tiny island of Upeh is located near Klebang town in Malacca. During the War, it was used as a scouting point for invading ships in the Straits of Malacca. Also the island was often a nesting ground for pirates.

Of course, the pirates have now long been cleaned out, and today, Pulau Upeh is a peaceful getaway for locals and tourists. There is a resort and water-sport facilities are available. Visitors can also visit an ancient well and view relics from World War Two scattered around the island.

Perhaps most attractive about Pulau Upeh is that it doubles up as a sanctuary for nesting Hawksbills, one of the rarest species of sea turtles. During the egg-laying season between March and June, visitors can come here to catch a glimpse of Hawksbills coming on the beach to nest.

Ayer Keroh Attractions

What to See in Ayer Keroh

Established by Parameswara in the 1390’s, Malacca is Malaysia’s historical pride and joy. Under his rule, it thrived, emerging as a successful international port so esteemed that Portuguese writer Tome Pires once said ‘Whoever is Lord of Malacca has his hand on the throat of Venice’. This port lured Javanese, Indian, Arab and Chinese traders and soon caught the interest of expansionist Europeans. As time went on Malacca gained its freedom – along with the rest of Malaysia – and nowadays boasts beautiful architecture and good fare.

Ayer Keroh – located on Malacca’s outskirts – is a sleepy backwater with scanty activity options and is simply a visitor’s complex of hotels and trivial attractions. Although it has been publicised as a key Malaccan tourist site, since it is home to a hotchpotch of attractions such as the Melaka Zoo and the Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary, this area is mostly rural. There’s not much dining, nightlife and shopping but the few parks here are must-see sightseeing attractions.

Melaka Wonderland Theme Park & Resort

The best way to cool down on a hot and sticky day in Malacca is to do some splashing around at the spanking-new Melaka Wonderland Theme Park & Resort. Built in Ayer Keroh – Malacca’s tourist attraction-laden quarter – the highlights of this multi zone park are its high-speed water slides and thrill rides. Read more...

Book Village Malaysia Melaka

Located in the Melaka Botanical Garden, the Book Village Malaysia Melaka, is only the second of its kind in Malaysia and is part of the International Organization of Book Towns. The place is surrounded by lush green forests and has over 15,000 books in its collection. Here it’s really peaceful to just curl up on a couch and read.

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 15:00 Tuesday to Thursday; 09:00 – 12:30 Friday; 09:00 – 18:00 Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.
Address: Taman Botanical, Ayer Keroh, 75450
Tel: (606) 251 9181

Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary

Just across from the zoo is the Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary which has a collection of exotic creepy crawlies, snakes and some rather sad-looking crocodiles at the reptile aviary. With more than 30 species of butterflies and exhibiting the largest collection of reptiles as well as two golden leopards, this animal haven is much more beautiful than its unassuming exterior suggests.

Opening Hours: 08:30 – 17:30 everyday
Address: Lebuh Ayer Keroh, 75450.
Tel: (606) 232 0033

Melaka Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens – formerly known as the Hutan Rekreasi Ayer Keroh – was established in 2006 and is encircled by a forest that contains over 300 species of fauna and flora. The cheesy yet cute thing about this park is the collection of giant stone carvings of prehistoric animals – that were indigenous to this area – scattered all around the park.

Address: Lebuh Ayer Keroh, 75450
Tel: (606) 231 6095

Melaka Zoo & Night Zoo

Kids will enjoy the luxuriantly landscaped Melaka Zoo, the second-largest zoo in the country. With more than 1,200 animals of over 200 different species, it is also the first in the region to display the endangered Sumatran rhinoceros of Gaur and serves as a centre for conservation breeding and wildlife study. The best time to go is at night when the nocturnal animals are up and about.

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 18:00 everyday
Address: Hang Tuah Jaya, Ayer Keroh, 75450.
Tel: (606) 232 4053

Taman Mini Malaysia & ASEAN

The main attraction in Ayer Keroh is the Taman Mini Malaysia/ASEAN, a large theme park that has examples of all 13 Malaysian state houses as well as neighbouring ASEAN countries. Each abode is furnished with life-like figures 'inhabiting' each charming home that features authentic arts and crafts items which represent the customs of its particular state.

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 18:00 everyday
Address: Lebuh Ayer Keroh
Tel: (606) 232 1331

Jonker Street Attractions

What to See in Jonker Street

Jonker Street is a small street in Chinatown in the city centre. Along Jonker Street there aren’t a lot of sightseeing opportunities unless you count the noisy Chinese New Year song-and-dance show that takes place this time of year. In fact the only attraction worth getting a quick glimpse of is the historic mausoleum of Hang Jebat – named after the second most skilful of a band of five warriors. The exact age of this grave is unknown but its Acehnese design shows that Jebat was given a warrior’s burial despite his murderous rampage and inglorious death at the palace.

Hang Jebat Mausoleum

Hang Jebat was once the second most skilful member of a band of five warriors, who was unceremoniously killed in a duel of honour by his best friend Hang Tuah. His mausoleum is located along Jalan Hang Jebat near Jonker Street.

Address: Jalan Kampung Pantai Melaka, 75200.
Tel: (606) 283 6538

Baba-Nyonya Heritage Museum

East meets West in the Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum – established in 1896 – and arranged to look like a typical 19th-cenutry Baba-Nyonya residence with Chinese hardwood furniture featuring a blend of Victorian and Dutch designs with mother-of-pearl inlay. The best parts of this tour are the guides who tell stories of the times of yore with conspicuous Peranakan wit.

Opening Hours: 10:00 – 12:30 & 14:00 – 16:30 Monday - Saturdays
Address: 48-50 Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200.
Tel: (606) 283 1273