THE MAJESTIC MALACCA HOTEL - HISTORY

wnfdiary (68)in #travel • 6 years ago (edited)

Melaka is a historical city in Malaysia. To befit the old spirit, it has also a historic hotel – The Majestic Malacca. It was housed in the 1920s as a former mansion of a tycoon Leong Long Man. He was a rubber seller, which was a huge business at that time. His 150 acres of rubber yielded a vast abundance. In character of Straits Chinese from that time, he didn’t mind spending money on the expensive materials. On the outside, the house isn’t so special. Sure, everyone could see it is huge, but the ornaments on the façade showed his wealth to passers-by. In order to impress the business related guests, the inside was more luxurious. On the floor, there were gracious imported Victorian tiles, which have remained well preserved until today. On the walls, there were nice stained glass windows and the rooms were equipped with expensive furniture and fittings. It took him two years to finish his home, and, sadly, he was showing off his mansion for only two years. In 1931, he fell ill and died.

Hotel Majestic Malacca today, with my touch...

Majestic Malacca when it was a home; source: http://www.majesticmalacca.com

The oldest son squandered his inheritance and was forced to sell the mansion to a businessman named Lim Heng Fang. Luckily, Mr. Lim saw the potential of this building and preserved the building in its original state. He converted it into a hotel – the Majestic. The hotel soon got a social status with its dancing balls. It even got a “must stay” status when one was visiting Melaka. However, things changed and the hotel was sadly closed in 2000 and took a turn for the worse. The new owner operated it as a budget guesthouse. Backpackers and budget seekers squatted this piece of art. Better days for the hotel were on a horizon when YTL group took it over and the property acquisition was finalized in 2006. The main building was restored and, at the back, a new building in the same style was added. The new ten-storey building doesn’t outshine the original house. Basically, it is a nice addition to this charismatic hotel. The used materials are of high quality, such as massive furnishings and a replica of antique Victorian tiles. A nice addition to the bathroom is a beautiful freestanding bath. These are just some of the details. The rooms have a view of the river, which is slowly running through Melaka, invigorating the city for centuries. The swimming pool, fitness, and spa are there to satisfy even the most exacting guests.

Colonial Style

Vivi liked their library

Melaka needs a heritage hotel like this, especially when its main attraction is heritage itself. We didn’t stay here, but we took part in their Gin O’Clock which occurs on every Friday and Saturday from 5 PM to 8 PM. You can try three signature cocktails and enjoy in this heritage bar. Alcohol surely gives a bust to the imagination and helps to see the roots on which the city stands today.