Malacca Sultanate Palace, Melaka

The Malacca Sultanate Palace is a museum and exhibition hall showcasing the culture and history of Melaka through displays inside the palace and its carefully maintained garden. The original palace was built in the 15th century. The present Malacca Sultanate Palace was reconstructed in 1984 for use as a museum at the request of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. It officially opened in July 1986.

The building was designed to resemble the palace of Mansur Shah, Sultan of Malacca, as closely as possible. Drawing on descriptions in the Malay Annals, a literary work and important source of information about the sultanate’s history, the builders used materials and construction methods similar to those of the original palace. The walls and roof are made of wood, and the structure is held together with wooden pegs rather than nails.

The Malacca Sultanate Palace Museum aims to preserve the architectural style of traditional Malay royal palaces and display artifacts associated with royal households. It also introduces visitors to Malay heritage, the history of the Malacca Sultanate, and the legendary conflict between Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat, two of the best-known figures in Malaccan history.