Malaysia has a colorful history that showcases its struggles and triumphs over the past few centuries. The rich experience it has accrued over the years gives the country a lot of historical places that play a big part in its overall character and charm. Here are a few of the most well-known and loved places of interest in the country.
Melaka Sultanate Palace
The palace is now home to the Malacca Cultural Museum though it gives visitors a rare glimpse into the old Malay kingdom. The palace was constructed based on the design of the “Sejarah Melayu” or “Malay Annals” in the past. The palace is reconstructed and built at the bottom of St. Paul’s Hills giving visitors a tour of the past with its wide collection of artifacts of old.
The St. Paul’s Church:
While you are already at the foot of St. Paul’s Hill, it is a good idea to trek up to the top of the hill to St. Paul’s Church. What was once a house for Catholics of Portuguese descent is now converted into a burial place. This is where noble dead by the Dutch are laid to rest. Upon closer inspection, you would find Portuguese and even Latin inscriptions all over the several tombstones. One of the well-known figure buried in this church before the body was moved to India was that of St. Francis Xavier.
The Chinese Hill
This hill is believed to be the biggest cemetery outside the country of China where remains could date back as far as the Ming Dynasty. It is widely believed that this place was presented as a gift by the Chinese Emperor in the past to them Princess Hang Li Poh. WIth it, her people built a well that is believed to be magical. From the time it was constructed centuries ago, it has never dried up. A lot of people now believe it is magical well where people would throw in coins with a wish.
Fort Cornwallis
Penang was once heavily defended and Fort Cornwallis remains to be a vivid reminder of that. Believed to be one of the oldest sites in all of Malaysia, it was named after an Indian general. Cornwallis was an 18th-century soldier from Bengal in India. Once inside, you would find how a prison cell looked like in the past. The Fort also gives you a peek at the past with an ammunition storage area and even a harbor light. This was used primarily to guide incoming ships in the past. There is also an old cannon in the Fort which would remind you how people fought in the past.
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Cheong Fatt Tze was a well-known personality in the past. He was well regarded as one of the most influential industrialists in the country. As a first-class Mandarin, he was popular in the then Manchu government. He set foot in Malaysia in Penang in the 1890s only after staying in Java for a decade. His stature allowed him to put together this mansion that highlights the best of Chinese architecture dating back from the 18th and 19th century.
Gua Niah, Miri Sarawak
There are times when people would just remember the massive cave complex in this historical site in Malaysia. For some, they would take note of the underwater caves that never seems to end. However, this site holds one of the most important archaeological findings ever made. A human skull that was dug up in this now National Reserve Park dates back over 38,000 years ago. This is a link to studies that would prove humans existed in that area 40,000 years in the past