Discover the 7 Best Historic Places in Malaysia

Malaysia has many interesting and historical places that are well known in throughout the world. These places have always been visited by many tourists and travelers and are really amazed by their wonderful features.

Here are seven of the many historical places in Malaysia, a country that is truly Asia.

1. The Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum - located in Malacca, Malaysia is a reconstructed palace of the Malacca's sultans. It symbolizes the history of the whole Malaccan region. The museum displays the region's collection of artifacts, prints, photographs, and different art works made by the residents of the community during the Melaka period. The palace museum is a three storey building with three galleries and a total of eight chambers presenting the royal weaponries, bands, halls and the royal gifts. The museum was opened to public in July 1986 and has been a very famous Malaysian destination ever since. An ideal place for students having their educational field trips.

2. The Saint Paul Church in Malacca - built by the Portuguese in 1521, and is one of the five Portuguese made churches in the hill. It is located on the top of the Saint Paul's hill. Its ruins still remained to be a beautiful church and if visited by many tourists regularly.

3. The A Formosa Fortress - meaning "the famous" in Portuguese. This is built by the Portuguese during the 1500's and is the one of the best historical site in Malaysia. the fortress has been a big part of the Malaysian history and culture for it witnessed a lot of changes and came to the hand of many foreign evaders during the early eras. One can enjoy here the view of the magnificent ruins of the ancient structures and have a glimpse of a true Malaysian history.

4. The Stadthuys - built in the year 1650 and was the official residence of the Dutch governors and other officers. The whole structure is of Dutch architecture designs and is a different look among the other Malaysian buildings. The place has mow become an Ethnography Museum and is open for public viewings. The museum displays the traditional bridal outfits, the remains of the ancient Malaccan items and artifacts, and other historical materials. There are also houses around Stadthuys where locals live and stay.

5. The Bukit China - located in the northeast part of Malacca, is the oldest and largest Chinese cemetery outside China. There is a vast number of graves in Bukit, in roughly 12500, some even dates back in the 17th century. Many historian teams have been fascinated by the place and are one of the well known subjects in the history of Malaysia.

6. Kampung Kling Mosque - an old mosque in Malacca, Malaysia built in 18th century by the Indian Muslims. It has a Sumatran design with a wooden roof that is three-tiered. It is one of the well known historical sites in Malaysia and is a famous destination for many tourists.

7. The Cheng Hoon Teng - is a Buddhist temple located in Jalan, Tokong Malacca and is the oldest operating temple in Malaysia. The mosque is pretty spacious with an area of 4,600 square meters. It has numerous prayer halls and later added with small prayer quarters. It also has a seven meter long flag pole that is the most remarkable feature of the place. Many tourists and travelers have visited the place and were very mush astound with its remarkable and delightful features.

Melaka

The Red City OF Malaysia

Melaka is the oldest capital city in the state of Malaysia and it is the center of Malaccan history as well. There are many preserved landmarks that represent the essence of Malaccan history right from the occupation of Dutch, Portuguese, British and Japanese. Today, Melaka has been established as one of the UNESCO world heritage sites and shouldn\'t be missed when visiting Malaysia.

Most of the interesting travel spots in Melaka are concentrated in the center of the city. The famous Jonker Walk or Jalan Hang Jebat is known for its extensive antique pieces and great food options. New cafes and specialty stores nicely dotted the area which only added charm to this amazing lane. Peranakan architecture is very apparent in Jonker Walk.

Melaka tourism is largely dependent on its cultural heritage hence they preserve it as much as they can. Here, you can find many remarkable museums especially in Bandar Hilir area. A Famosa Fort and St. Paul Hill can also be found in this area. These remnants dated as far as 500 years ago and very captivating to see.

Melaka Sultanate Palace museum is situated at the foot of St. Paul\'s Hill. Although this is not the original palace, it is now home to Malacca Cultural artifacts. Climbing up the hill of St. Paul, you will find ruins of St. Paul\'s Church, another heritage structure of Melaka.

A\'Famosa Fort is among the oldest existing European architectural remains in Asia. It was once an enormous and powerful structure and only the tiny gate survived overtime. It was built by Portuguese commander Afonso de Albuquerque who believed that Melaka would become a port linking Portugal and China.

Stadthuys on the other hand, is the big red building that stood next to the stairway of St. Paul\'s church. It was the official residence of the Dutch Governor and has been an important landmark in Melaka, Malaysia. Today, it is home to two museums, the Historic Museum and the Ethnography Museum where travelers

can find large collection of traditional bridal costumes and Malacca\'s relics. At the back is yet another museum, the Literature Museum.

Northeast of Malacca town, travelers can find the largest Chinese cemetery outside of China. Bukit China\'s tombs dated back to Ming Dynasty and are well kept by Melaka community.

One of the oldest landmarks in Malacca, is the Kampung Keling Mosque. It was built by Indian Muslim traders in 18th century and it features the unique architectural influence of Sumatra while the Cheng Hoon Teng temple is believed to be the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia. It is a Buddhist temple richly decorated with mythological figures and breathtaking wood carvings and furnishings.

Melaka also offers sandy beaches off shores, the two main islands to visit are Pulau Besar which is a beach haven and Pulau Upeh, a nature lover\'s paradise. Pulau Upeh is also home to the rare Hawksbill turtle. These islands can be accessed by taking a ferry from Jeti Anjung Batu in Umbai.

There are many fascinating tourist spots here in Melaka, Malaysia aside from the above mentioned. Melaka is a compact town filled with many tourist attractions which delight tourist all over the world. Going around town is made simple with Bas Panorama Melaka which operates all throughout Melaka, giving tourists the convenience of getting to one place and another.

Truly, a Melaka travel is like a walk back in time with its rich and preserved culture you will not find anywhere else in the world. It is truly amazing how the Melaka community cared for their heritage and managed to cater to its multicultural history.

Batu caves in malaysia

The Batu Caves of Malaysia are located in the Gombak district, roughly 13 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur. The cave is one of the most well known pilgrimage place for Hindus outside India. The cave was a symbolism of honor to the lord Murugan, who is the Hindu's god of war and victory.

The cave is mostly of limestone and is believed to be about 400 million years old. Some said that the cave was once used as refuge for the indigenous Temuan people, a Malay tribe. The cave attracts lots of people for its limestone hills and became even more famous when K. Thamboosamy Pillai who was a very prominent Malaysian and an Indian trader.

The place is now a well known religious site and is 100 meter above the ground. The whole Batu temple is composed of three main caves and some few smaller caves. The biggest of these was made to a cathedral cave with a 100 meter high ceiling. Visitors can reach the cave by climbing the 272 steps.

There is also a museum and art gallery cave located at the foot of the hill and displaying primarily the statues and paintings by the Hindus. This cave villa was opened to the public in 2008 and has been mostly visited by many tourists ever since.

The place is not only a religious place but also an ideal place for rock climbing. For more than ten years, the Batu caves have been the center of rock climbing development and have attracted many visitors from around the world. The attractive limestone hills are a favorite climbing place for many. Mountain climbing aficionados will truly love the place with its amazing features. One can always have a great time in Batu caves and will always be delighted with the vast beauty of the place.

Malaysia visitors are always welcome to the Batu Caves to take a glimpse of one of the country's most well preserved precious jewels especially for the Hindus. Thousands of Hindus gather here during their religious festivities turning the area into a very lively and vigorous place.

There is so much to see and explore in the Batu caves and one must visit here to see more of what the Batu caves has. A Batu cave experience will certainly be one of the most remembered trips for everyone who visits Malaysia.

Kapas Island - The Snorkeling Paradise of Malaysia

The location of this island is quite cloistered and far away from the crowds of the main island; this makes Kapas Island as one of the most perfect choices for you who are seeking for a peaceful holiday destination. Even though the location of this island is quite cloistered, you do not have to worry that you will have difficulties on reaching this island. It is because you can reach here easily in around 30 - 45 minutes by ferries leaving from Marang beach.

The abundant sunshine, the crisp of fresh air, the heavenly sceneries of this island and the untouched tropical jungles are really exotic while the numerous colorful tropical marine fish living within the beautiful coral reefs, the turtles swimming gracefully and other amazing sea inhabitants are all interesting especially for people who love doing scuba-diving or even snorkeling.

Known as the most exotic snorkeling paradise of Malaysia, Kapas Island has numerous dive resorts with many attractive offers. These dive resorts usually include services like: food and beverages, scuba-diving session and the other accommodations. You don't need to bring your snorkeling equipments because you can rent them in dive resorts here. You would not be able to imagine the beauty of Kapas Island without visiting it.

If you love doing activities like scuba-diving and snorkeling, Kapas Island is definitely the most perfect holiday destination for you. As being mentioned before, in Kapas Island, you will be able to enjoy the incredible sceneries, the crisp fresh air and the abundant sunshine.

Tips for you: If you want to visit Kapas Island, you would really need to reconsider your schedule because this island is like the other islands of Eastern coast of Malaysia; which is also affected by the northeast monsoon every year between November and February. During that period of time, it is not recommended for you to visit this island since your access to most of the dive resorts and ferry transport services will be restricted.

The Highlands of Malaysia

Malaysia is one of the most pleasant as well as hassle free destinations in South East Asia. Apart from its fabulous beaches, enchanting mountains, interesting museums, beautiful parks and gardens, Malaysia is also much famed for its stunning highlands, located on the majestic mountain ranges of Central Peninsular Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia.

With cooler climates, mysterious lakes, rainforest, abundant wildlife, the highlands of Malaysia boast of a number of attractions in the form of hills and resorts, each of which presents an amazing landscape rich in flora and fauna. Most popular among the retreats of the highlands of Malaysia are Cameron Highlands, Genting Highlands, Fraser's Hill, and Bukit Tinggi.

Cameron Highlands is a premier hill resort, tucked away placidly amid the clouds at an altitude of 1829 mt above the sea level, in the northwestern region of Pehang State. Named in honor of William Cameron - a British surveyor who discovered the resort in 1885, Cameron Highlands is acknowledged as the 'Green Bowl of the Country,' since it is one of the largest producers of vegetables, fruits including strawberry, and tea in the country.

Cameron consists of a series of townships including Ringlet, Tanah Rata, and Brinchang. Perhaps most popular among the attractions of Cameron Highlands is its tea plantation such as, Boh Road Habu, located about nine kilometers from Ringlet; Bharat Tea Estate - the second largest tea producer of the nation; and Sungai Palas Tea Estate, a destination offering breathtaking views.

For adventurers and nature lovers, Cameron Highlands offers excellent options. All of the peaks in the area such as Gunung Brinchang, Gunung Beremban, Gunung Jasar, Gunung Perdah and Bukit Mentigi, serve as a perfect base for hiking.

Additionally, the highland's amazing, mossy forests are a superb option for trekkers. Nature lovers can take a visit to the popular Parit Waterfall and Robinson Waterfall, which are located near Tanah Rata. For golf freaks, there is a superb 18-hole golf course in Brinchang, which allows you to play golf while enjoy breathtaking views of the lush surroundings.

Options are also available for sightseeing in the form of Butterfly Farm, where one can find a rare selection of butterflies including Raja Brooke butterfly, apart from some indigenous moths and insects, and Cactus Valley, boasting of one of the rarest variety cactus plants, which is of more than of 60 years old.

The leading producer of flowers in the country - Cameron has to its credit a large number of incredible flower nurseries, of which many of them are situated alongside the main road from Ringlet. An amazing variety of flowers of different colors and shapes can be found here.

Cameron is also much sought after for its rose gardens, prominent being Robertson Rose Garden, rendering superb views of the surrounding hills. Cameron's soils are also considered fertile for many vegetable and fruits to grow such as tomato, cauliflower, and cabbage. Take a visit to Strawberries Garden, where freshly picked strawberries are available for affordable prices.

Must-visit destinations also include Pasar Malam (Night Market), dotted with a variety of stalls selling items like souvenirs, fruits, plants, and handicrafts, and Orang Asli Village, which is inhabited by Senoi, Temier, Jakun and Negrito.

Genting Highlands - Founded in 1965, Genting Highlands is one of the most developed as well as accessible mountain retreats in Kuala Lumpur. Attractions, among many others of the place, are Ringgit theme park, a sprawling facility with more than 40 rides such as roller coaster and splash pool; World Plaza - an elegant shopping complex with more than 70 outlets; and Casino de Genting - the only licensed facility in the nation. Genting also provides options to enjoy a variety of activities, like, jungle trekking, horse riding, abseiling, and golf, with such facilities as the Awana Golf and Counrty Club.

Fraser's Hill - Named after Louise James Fraser - a Scottish adventurer who founded a tin-ore trading station during the 19th century - Fraser's Hill is a tranquil getaway, placed at an altitude of 1,524 mt above sea level. Located 100 km from Kuala Lumpur, the resort takes after an English village, with its verdant landscape and granite-colored buildings. Included in its attractions are the Fraser's Hill Nature Education Centre (FHNEC), Royal Fraser's Hill Golf Club, Jeriau Waterfall, and a small market square with a clock tower. Above all, the Fraser's Hill is also a venue for the most thrilling Fraser's Hill International Bird Race.

Bukit Tinggi - Spread across 16,000 acres and surrounded by lush green rainforest, Bukit Tinggi is a charming destination in Pahang. Situated just an hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Tinggi has to its credit attractions like Bukit Tinggi Golf and Country Club, Rabbit Park and Deer Sanctuary, and Colmar Tropicale Resort, and Japanese Village.

How to Find Hotels in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

instruction

Know Your Destination

1. Step 1

   Understand the area's history. The influence of the British and its tin interests in Malaysia in the late 1800s had a major effect on the wealth and prosperity of Kuala Lumpur as well as the beautiful colonial architecture that abounds. Additionally, it is the only city in the world to have a million-year-old primary forest within the heart of the city.

2. Step 2

   Bring light clothing. While Malaysia enjoys equatorial warmth and sun most of the year, the monsoon season is from April to September. At this time it is rainy and humid.

3. Step 3

   Learn a little Malay. This is the country's official language, although English is widely spoken.

4. Step 4

   Get used to new money. The official currency is the Malaysia Ringgit (RM).

Choose Your Transportation

5. Step 1

   Take the train from the airport. Kuala Lumpur is directly connected to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang via the inexpensive KLIA Ekspres high-speed train service, which takes about a half hour.

6. Step 2

   Take a taxi from the train station. It takes approximately ten minutes from the station to most hotels.

7. Step 3

   Use public transportation. The system is fairly efficient and comfortable. The light rail system is the cheapest and fastest way to get around the city.

Select Accommodations

8. Step 1

   To book accommodations, contact Kuala Lumpur Tourism Action Council at 011 (+603) 2617 6272 or visit their Web site (see Resources below).

9. Step 2

   Find luxury hotels near the Lake Gardens.

10. Step 3

    Center yourself in the midst of everything with a downtown hotel.

11. Step 4

    Stay near public transportation. There are many good mid-price hotels near the bus station.

12. Step 5

    Travel cheap. If you want to save money, stay at the ethnic hotels near Merdeka Square.

Learn Local Information

13. Step 1

    Make sure to see Lake Gardens. Various parks showcase butterflies, deer, Orchids and Hibiscus, as well as Southeast Asia's largest Bird Park, all in 920,000 square metres of beautifully tended garden.

Holidays in Malaysia and the Best Places to Go in Malaysia

Holidays in Malaysia offer a myriad or things to do and see; strange creatures dwell amongst the exotic plants of the jungles of Malaysia, and off the idyllic coastline there's another kind of exotic garden to explore: long, colourful ribbons of coral reef are amongst the best places to go in Malaysia. There are fantastic bays like Emerald Bay; more than just a tropical island, this region has impressive mountains and remote communities living unique cultural lives. But it's also a tropical island holiday, and so holidays in Malaysia allow for both exploration and languor.

Malaysia's humming and buzzing capital, Kuala Lumpur, and the jungles and reef ringed islands of Malaysian Borneo are so vastly different that holidays in Malaysia are guaranteed contrast. Most international flights arrive in Kuala Lumpur, so even if you're steering clear of the city life and heading into nature you still get to be surprised by the comparison. The main airport of the Sabah and Sarawak regions is at Kota Kinabalu, so most visitors start their exploration Malaysian holiday there.

Day One: Assuming some of the first day of your holiday in Malaysia will be taken up with setting in and poking around your hotel, take an afternoon/ evening stroll into Kota Kinabalu and look around the markets and restaurants and wander along to the ferry port. This is a port town rather than a beach town so leave your beach towel at the hotel.

Day Two: Bring your towel on the second day of your holiday in Malaysia and retrace your steps into town and the ferry port where you can get a ferry out to the islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. Visitors can stay overnight on the larger islands but Pulau Sapi, or Cow Island, one of the smallest of the five, is the quietest, and ideal for a day trip to swim, snorkel, hike though the rainforest, have your toes nibbled by tiny fish and your lunch stolen by an exotic monkey or giant monitor lizard.

Day Three: Trekkers who don't mind a bit of uphill work can conquer Mt. Kinabalu in two days -- it's the 20th tallest in the world and worth factoring into your holiday in Malaysia - but one day is enough to sample the pleasures of the Mt. Kinabalu National Park at its base, including the orchid gardens, Poring Hot Springs, and hopefully one of the park's biological pleasures -- a fleshy, flash smelling rafflesia plant, on which grow the world's largest flowers. Some resorts will be able to help you arrange transport up to the mountain and the jungles that spread all over it, and the easiest way to go is as part of a group.

Day Three: Fly to Sandakan. While Kota Kinabalu has the scenery, Sandakan has the wildlife, most fascinatingly the Orang utans at Sepilok and the turtles of Turtle Island Park, and one of the main reasons people want to take their holidays in Malaysia.

Day Four: The marine sanctuary of Turtle Island is an overnight stay. They can only accommodate very small groups, but in the evening you're there to welcome the mother turtles on to the beach as they lay their eggs, then able to release some of the babies from a clutch laid 60 days earlier. The accommodation is pretty basic, the food isn't breathtaking, but getting a kiss a baby turtle on its shell just after it's dug its way out of its nest before it scuttles down the beach to the sea is something indescribable and well worth planning a holiday in Malaysia around.

Day Five: The amazing and ancient turtles aren't the most famous local inhabitants of this region: the Old Men of Borneo, as the locals call them, are. Living under difficult conditions, the orang utan's habitat is shrinking, and as man encroaches we need to give them a little help. They get that at Sepilok, a conservation centre where orang utans are brought to be rehabilitated before being released into the wild. Visitors to the park get as close to them as they're able to anywhere, when these furry jungle men come in for a feed and put on impromptu shows on the ropes and platforms around the feeding platforms. Animal lovers take note -- it's possible to volunteer at Sepilok, but you need to commit quite a bit of time and organise it well in advance.

Day Six & Seven: Divers won't want to travel to this region without diving off Sipidan Island, which has some of the world's best dive sites, but explorers may be more interested in visiting the Mulu, Gomantong or Niah Caves, renowned karst structures, Kuching for a bit of the lively culture of the place and the orchid garden, or for a unique cultural experience, a traditional longhouse community, so these last days of your holiday in Malaysia should be used up according to personal interest.