Melaka World Heritage Site: The living historic Town in Asia
Melaka World Heritage Site is a recent achievement for us Melakans. I was very proud when Melaka and Penang were awarded as a joint World heritage site by UNESCO on 7th July 2008.
What is World Heritage Site?
So Melaka World Heritage Site becomes a place that has outstanding universal value to all humanity where its continual existence is important for mankind’s cultural and natural heritage for future generation’s common universal heritage.
Introduction of Melaka World Heritage City and George Town World Heritage City
These historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca (Melaka and George Town) are remarkable examples of historic colonial towns. They demonstrate the continuous of historical and cultural influences arising from their former function as trading ports linking East and West. These are the most complete surviving historic city centers on the Straits of Malacca with a multi-cultural living heritage originating from the trade routes from Great Britain and Europe through the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and the Malay Archipelago to China.
Below are citation taken from Malaysian Government booklet:
(a) No other historic port town on the Straits of Malacca or in the East that were used as settlements by the three great European powers for almost 500 years (1511 -1957). Melaka in particular, was occupied by the Portuguese for 130 years (1511 -1641), then by the Dutch for 145 years (1641 -1786) and by the British for 171 years (1786-1957). (b)No other historic port town on the Straits of Malacca or in Asia offers a vibrant multi-cultural living heritage as Melaka and George Town. Within the core and buffer zone, the Malay, the Chinese and the Indian communities mainly, still practices the same cultural traditions as they used to, hundreds of years ago. Melaka and George Town are truly living testimony to the multi-cultural heritage and tradition of Asia. (c)No other historic port town on the Straits of Melaka or in Asia offers a multi-religious community, each practicing their own heritage traditions and values. This can best be seen in the existence of different religious buildings-the Malay Mosque, the Chinese Temples, the Indian temples and the churches- within the core and buffer Zones of Melaka and George Town.The architecture of these religious buildings are exceptional. The Malay Mosques, for example adopting strict designing planning, but influenced by the regional pitch roof, as well as the Chinese, colonial and British Raj styles. The Chinese temples, on the other hand are influenced by the traditional Chinese architecture of the Southern China; whereas, the Indian architecture temples very much follow the traditional Indian architecture from India. Similarly the many churches in the core and buffer zones are of the western styles.
(d)No other historic port town on the Straits of Malacca or in Asia offers a range and unique architecture of Shop houses as in Melaka and George Town. Within the core and buffer zone of Melaka and George Town, there are now more than 2,000 shop houses of different styles and influences. Mostly, are in the good state of conservation, these two or three storey shophouses share common characteristics. Such as: rectangular plan form, built in rows with uniform facades, facing main streets, continuous covered five foot way in front, jack roof, internal courtyard, as well as are of brick walls plastered with lime, wooden timber structures and clay roof tiles, to name a few.Source: Melaka’s Government Booklet
From this point onwards, we will emphasize more on my beloved hometown, the Historical Melaka World Heritage.
Where are the areas under the conservation zone of Melaka World Heritage List?
1. St. Paul Hill Civic Zone
2. Historic Residential and Commercial Zone
St. Paul Hill Civic Zone
Melaka World Heritage Site: St Paul Hill
Within the St. Paul Civic Zone, you could see a number of government buildings, museums, churches, urban square and original fortress town from the 16th century Portuguese and Dutch Period. Among them are:
• A Famosa (Porta de Santiago)
• Christ Church Melaka
• St. Francis Xavier’s Church
• St. Paul Church
• The Stadthuys
Click here to see the photographs shots that I took while I exploring St. Paul Hill Civic Zone (Melaka World Heritage).
Historic Residential and Commercial Zone
The Living Historic Town
There are more than 600 shop houses, commercial and residential buildings, religious buildings and tombs on four main street namely Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (Heeren Street), Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Street), Jalan Tokong/Tukang Emas/Tukang Besi and Jalan Kampung Pantai as well as four perpendicular streets of Lorong Hang Jebat, Jalan Hang Kasturi, Jalan Hang Lekiu and Jalan Hang Lekir.
Among them are:
• Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple
• Hang Kasturi’s Mausoleum
• The Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum
• The Chee Ancestral Mansion
Click here to see the photographs that I took while I exploring the Historical Residential and Commercial Zone (Melaka World Heritage).
Aside from the obvious or physical multi-cultural heritage in the architecture of buildings, another living multi-cultural side of this historic town could be found in the many languages, worship and religious festivals, dances, costumes, art and music, food, and daily life.
Melaka (Malacca) is a truly “living heritage city” as the people here are still practicing and maintaining the trades passed down from their early ancestors.
As you have seen, heard or maybe felt; Melaka reflect the unique harmony blends of cultural elements from the Malay Archipelago, India and China with those of Europe, to create a unique architecture, culture and townscape.
Videos of Melaka Historic City and George Town Historic City in Sequence (Part 1, 2 & 3)
Learn more of Melaka early history and why Georgetown and Melaka are "twinly" connected in this inscription of Unesco World Heritage Site.
Learn about our intangible heritage tradition and crafts. It makes me feel proud to be a local of Melaka and Malaysia
If you agree with me that Melaka World Heritage Site is worth visiting, what are you waiting for? Plan your trip, book your flight and pay my beloved hometown a visit.
Back to the Top of Melaka World Heritage Page.
Go to St. Paul Hill Civic Zone
Go to Historical Residential and Commercial Zone
Go to the City Turtle Home Page
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