Muzium Istana Kesultanan Melaka — Attraction in Malacca

The museum boasts a number of collection but they are mostly limited to dioramas and paintings of historical events that occurred in the past.

Lighting is a bit dim, often some information are delivered in large chunks which discourages visitors from reading them. Its easily a one-hour destination since there isn’t much to see here. After learning about Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat, we enter the galleries of different traders, palaces, and royal attires. This is without a doubt interesting, but often times I have a difficult time contextualizing some of this to the Melaka Sultanate. For example, why the head-dress is worn in different styles across regions is unclear why (as to what it symbolizes). It would be nice if the museum could offer curated tours and guides for those who are genuinely interested in learning about Malacca’s culture and history.

Going back to lighting, I noticed the museum had an ample amount of windows as part of its architecture. These can easily be a source of light but they are kept close althroughout the compound. Certain galleries are located on the second floor and there are no elevators for wheelchairs users. The museum also lacks seating areas. I believe the museum would benefit from having benches in the exhibition rooms so that visitors don’t have to rush looking at the collection.

There is also a park located at the front of the museum that is a bit rundown and unmaintained.

I was a bit disappointed as I was expecting to learn much more at this museum but it turned out as a much better ‘photo op’ rather than a museum. In all fairness, the structure does tell a story about Traditional Malay Palaces and I would still recommend this for those who are unfamiliar to all sort of Malay history. But those with a bit of background to the roots of Melaka, will notice the amiss to the potential of...

To be honest, knowing this palace is a replica had made me lost my interest from the beginning. But I go inside anyway. I have here at the Palace's gate, why dont I go inside and take a look either its a replica or not. I bought a reasonable price ticket at the palace's entrance gate. Then I go inside and enjoying relaxing cool air with warm smell of good quality carved wood. Very clean inside the palace because all the visitors have to remove their sandals or shoes outside. Wood material are dominated the palace's interior, from wall to floor to roof, fences and wardrobes. I love it. Its so hot outside and I am feeling conviniance with cool air inside the palace. Uniquely the palace are dominated with so many human size mannequins. A group of mannequins inside a glass wardrobe are wearing traditional clothes with each different international country that has affected on it. While another group of mannequins are placed in every corners are describing the King in many order and foreigners visitor from another country like China, Java, Arabic etc who has come to the Kingdom for bussines and or any other reasons, that time. Well, the mannequins are just too many for this not so big palace is the first thing come to my head at the first sight I seen them....But well, I thought Melaka's government are mannequin lovers, because I found standing mannequins at almost important government's museums I have visited there. Its okay for me and I thought that is they unique style on designed a museum. And made me easy to remember the story behind a mannequin they described too. And of course since now, every time I see a mannequin I will remember all museums I have...

Visited back in Feb.

This building is a replica of the palace of the Malacca Sultanate, which was burned down. The sultan doesn’t actually live here, but this functions as a museum to present the history of the sultanate and Malacca. The palace is a wonderful example of 15th century Malaysian architecture of wooden constructions. Lots of projecting balconies with Malaysian style sloped roofs making an impossibly photogenic building.

There are hundreds, if not thousands of artefacts inside the palace and museum. The artefacts are a bit of a mixed bag. Many museums in Malacca like to tell history through paintings, which probably makes sense if you have some knowledge of local history. FOr others, the paintings are accompanied by a paragraph of explanation in English, which appear to have been written by a child starting secondary school. I basically stopped reading those such was the quality of the writing. Oddly enough, the writing for the painting contrasts strongly with the professionally written information in other parts of the museum.

There some really high quality items such as the regalia and clothing of the royals, traditional clothing of the different regions of Malaysia and the models of palaces of the the other Malaysian sultanates. For me, the best of the mockups was the Malaccan Sultanate court, which also included a description of how the court functioned. The museum also has exhibits of a variety of weapons, decorative arts, pottery and brassware etc.

On the ground of the palace is also a well tended garden at the centre of which is a sculpture of the sultan’s headdress.

Overall, an...