Places of Worship

The Javanese design of the Mosque is a testimony to the presence of Islam in this region for more than 600 years. It features a triple pyramid roof and a square foundation and is one of the few mosques in the country with a pagoda instead of a minaret. The interior design is a fusion of Malay, Chinese and Indonesian elements, with intricate carvings and wooden doors, windows, ceilings, beams, pulpit and four grand pillars tiang agung.

Beside the mosque is the tomb of Sultan Hussain Shah, ruler of Johor and Singapore at the beginning of the 19th century, who was also responsible for handing Singapore over to Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819.

Something unique about this mosque is that Masjid Kampung Kling stands on a square plan, unlike most Western Asian mosques constructed on a hexagonal or rectangular plan. This wooden mosque is enclosed by a triple-tiered roof. The central roof is supported by four main columns, while the lower two layers are lifted by another set of four columns. The porch of the mosque is bordered by a short Corinthian colonnade.

Chinese ceramic tiles adorned the roof, some of the walls, and the floor. But the power of China doesn't end there. The eaves of the roofs are curved like most of the ancient Chinese houses. The main prayer hall can be reached via several doors, one of which is the iwan of the mosque, leading to the backyard.

The temple is dedicated to the goddess of compassion, Kuan Yin. In the central prayer hall stands a black, golden and red-robed statue of the goddess. Cheng Hoon Teng Temple was founded by Chan Lak Koa, son-in-law of Captain Li, the second Chinese captain of Malacca (a mediating role established by the Dutch East India Company, which made it possible for non-whites to rule Malacca's diverse ethnic communities).

An additional feature of the Sam Po Keng Temple is a well, which is believed to be one of the Seven Wells of Admiral Cheng Ho. These wells were dug by Admiral Cheng Ho's Naval Expeditionary Force throughout their stay in Melaka during the Ming Dynasty. You can taste the well water in the temple as well.

Fun fact: If you fill a cup to the brim with the well water and seal it with a piece of cloth and let it overturn, the well water will not spill.

A prominent presence in the skyline of Malacca, this twin-spirited neo-Gothic building was built on the site of the old Portuguese church by the French priest, Father Farvé, in 1856 in honour of St. Francis Xavier, a prominent Catholic missionary of the 16th century, also known as the 'Apostle of the East.'

It was presumed that the church was designed after St. Peter's Cathedral in Montpellier, Southern France, which loosely followed the original construction of the old church, with the exception of the portico, which was added in 1963.Located on Jalan Laksamana, the final touch of the church was completed in 1859 by Father Allard, and the present-day presbytery was built in 1874.

Opened in 2006, the mosque was designed using a combination of Middle Eastern and Malaysian craftsmanship. It looks like a floating structure if the water level is high. There are two intersecting archways leading to the main entrance. Stained glasses fills the gap between the arches. The mosque has a 30-metre minaret which is also used as a lighthouse.

AConstructed in 1781, the Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple (also known as Sri Poyyatha Temple) is perhaps the oldest Hindu Temple in Malaysia. This 230-year-old temple is situated in the heart of the old town of Melaka. The building is topped by a three-storey tower with blue sculpted edges and arch niches with relief images. Each of the sections of this top tower has a triangular hole that accents at it at the middle, like the perpendicular foundation, where the line of triangles runs horizontally. Sculptures of holy cows also adorn the fenced roof of the temple.

Hindu devotees from all over Malaysia make a pilgrimage to the Sannasimalai Andavar Temple during the Masi Magam Festival. The two-day festival starts with the journey of a silver chariot carrying a statue of Lord Murugan decorated with flowers, fruits and ornaments. The spiritual journey will begin at the oldest Hindu temple in Malacca, Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple.

The 8km journey to Cheng will be accompanied by barefoot devotees, some breaking coconuts, others bearing 'pal kudam' (milk pot) on their heads as a sign of gratitude. Many of these devotees are completing a vow made to Lord Murugan, asking for his divine blessings for good fortune, health and happiness.