Museums, Melaka

The Baba Nyonya culture came about from from the intermarriage between early Chinese settlers in the Malacca straits and local Malays. This private museum showcases the heritage of the Baba Nyonyas with its richly decorated interior and where each facet of the house has an interesting story to tell. Heeren street was where, during the Dutch times, the high officials lived, and later on where the wealthy Baba Nyonya merchants had their residence. The museum was actually lived in by the owners and was only quite recently turned over to become wholly a museum. Worth visiting, and spending a leisurely one hour in.

Be sure to catch the guided tour, as one can easily miss details and the meanings and uses associated with certain objects. Taking photos are not allowed, and note that the museum closes for lunch break between 1230 and 2pm. Entrance tickets cost the equivalent of about 1 euro. There is a small souvenir shop in the museum, but the souvenirs are the low-value kind.

As the proclamation of Malaya's indepedance from British rule was held at Padang Bandar Hilir, Melaka by the nation's first Prime Minister Tengku Abdul Rahman Putra, the Proclamation of Independence Memorial is a fitting tribute to this occasion.

The Memorial is housed in a historic building which used to be the club house for the 'Malacca Club' during the colonial days. The building is just opposite the Padang Bandar Hilir where the Proclamation of Independance was made on 20 February 1956. The building was built in 1911 and its architectural design is a mixture of both local and British influence.

The Proclamation of Independence Memorial was officiated by Tengku Abdul Rahman Putra himself on 31 August 1985 when Melaka hosted the National Level Independance Day celebration . The exhibits in the Memorial cover the period of the Melaka Sultanate till the achievement of Independence in 1957 with the emphasis on the subject of struggle for self-rule and independence.

Free entrance.
Opening hours:
Tuesday - Thursday: 9.00 am to 6.00 pm
Friday - 9.00 am to 12.00 noon and 3.00 pm to 6.00
Closed on Monday except during school and public holidays

In my research on Melaka I hadn't picked up on this tip. This ship looked just lovely. It was later that I found out that it is the Maritime Museum. Now I'm not big on Museums however I wish that we could have had a look......but again, no time.

Reading about it - the ship is a replica of the 'Flora de La Mar', a Portuguese ship that sank off the coast of Melaka while on its way to Portugal, carrying loot plundered from Melaka.

The more I learn about Melaka the more I am interested in the history of the place. So next time this Museum will be on my 'must see' list.

4 more images

The Sultanate Palace is an exquisite piece of Malay architecture and is a replica of the original 15th century palace of Malacca's extinct Sultanate. The palace was built between 1984 and 1986 without the use of any nails based on sketches found in the ancient Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals). It houses the Malacca Cultural Museum which is well worth a visit that exhibits many Sultanate scenes, costumes, jewellery, musical instruments and display dioramas on the different traders that used to visit here.

Open: 9am-5.30pm. Admission: RM2.

1 more image

The Maritime Museum is housed in the Flor de la Mar, a 34m tall replica, built in 1990, of a Portuguese vessel that sank on its way back to Europe in the 16th century.

Open: 9am-6pm daily. Admission: RM3 (which also Royal Malaysian Navy Museum just across the street)

4 more images

The Maritime Museum along Jalan Quayside by the banks of the Malacca River, is housed in a life-size replica of the Flor de la Mar, a Portuguese galleon which sank in the Malacca Harbour in the 16th century.

Inside this museum are dioramas and intricately designed ship models. Apart from giving detailed descriptions of Malaccan history, there is also a map featuring charts dating back to the times when the Portuguese were a seafaring nation that conquered the world.

Open: 9am-6pm daily. Admission: RM3 (which also Royal Malaysian Navy Museum just across the street)

4 more images

This museum sits opposite the Maritime Museum which is included in the admission price. It exhibits model ships from the Royal Malaysian Navy plus uniforms, a helicopter, radio equipment, weapons and some very big guns! Outside is a decommissioned Royal Malaysian Navy Patrol Boat.

4 more images

Of all the museums at the foot of St Paul's Hill, this is the one you should visit. Housed in Bastion House, built in 1910 for the British rubber company Dunlop, the museum exhibits Malayan textiles, clothing, an incredible array of jewellery and a vast collection of old irons plus musical instruments and weapons.

Open: 9am-5.30pm. Admission: RM1.