Malacca’s history began in 1403 with the arrival of Parameswara, an exiled Hindu Prince from the Kingdom of Sri Vijaya in Sumatra. He assumed the title of Raja Iskandar when he embraced Islam and became the first ruler of this new kingdom which marked the early beginnings of the Malacca Sultanate. In time, Malacca gained prominence as a vibrant maritime trading centre and was coveted by several foreign powers. The Portuguese led by Alfonso D’ Albuquerque conquered Malacca in 1511 and colonised it for 130 years. The Dutch then came in 1641 and ruled for 154 years. They were followed by the British in 1824 who ruled until the country gained its independence. Malacca also experienced Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945. After World War Two, nationalistic sentiments began to spread culminating in the proclamation of independence on the 31st of August 1957.

Some parts of the city still retain an old-world charm in the legacy of buildings and architecture left by Malacca’s past rulers. The local population reflects an engaging inter-cultural heritage of customs, cultural practices, festivals and variety of cuisine.

Modern Malacca set on a course of industrial development about two decades after independence and forges ahead in its vision to be a fully industrialised state by the year 2010.

The city of Malacca is divided into the new and old sections. The older part of the city is fairly compact and has many historical attractions tucked into the nooks and crannies of its narrow streets. Much of the remnants of Malacca’s glorified past lie within the Town Square and waterfront area near the river which are an easy walk. Just above the Town Square is St. Paul’s Hill (Bukit St. Paul) which is the site of the original Portuguese fort of A’ Famosa and St. Paul’s Church.

There is a sign-posted heritage trail which one can follow to visit all the historical places in the older sections of town.

The new section of Malacca lies across the Malacca River, and is mostly built on land reclaimed from the sea. It contains modern shopping centres like the Makhota Parade and is a food and entertainment district. Outside Malacca town, there are a few beaches, offshore islands and the Air Keroh district close to the North-South Expressway which has many recreational theme parks.