Malacca is famed as the place where history of Malaysia began. Parameswara, an excited prince from Sumatra, founded it in 1396. It thrived as a port-of-call to many ships and merchants from China, India, Arabia and Europe.

After a fierce battle in 1511, it fell into the hands of the Portuguese and subsequently to the Dutch in 1641. In 1795, the Dutch relinquished control of Malacca to the British to prevent it from falling into the hands of the French, when the Netherlands was captured during the French Revolution. It was returned to the Dutch in 1818 under the Treaty of Vienna but was later exchanged by the British for Bencoleen, Sumatra. From 1826 onwards, English East India Company in Calcutta together with Singapore and Penang ruled the land under the Straits Settlements administration.

After World War II, nationalistic sentiments began to spread in the country, culminating in the proclamation of independence by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, Malaysia's first Prime Minister at the Padang Pahlawan (Warrior's Field) at Bandar Hilir, Malacca on 20th February 1956.

Malacca is rich in history and the many relics of the past will take visitors on a nostalgic journey that goes back to 600 years of a glorious and colourful past.