Every time visiting the historic city of Melaka, the epicentre of an important trading empire over 500 years, which attracted thousands of traders from all over the world in the 15th century, I will include in my itinerary to visit the Harmony Street. I like the uniqueness of harmonious street people living in multiracial, multicultural and multi-religious practices.
Jalan Tukang Emas is a street that connects Jalan Tokong with Jalan Tukang Besi, formed a street named Harmony Street. I found three different houses of worship coexisting in religious harmony and it has been this way not for a smattering of years or a few decades but centuries. There is a sense of real life along Temple Street, with its places of worship and its ordinary residents, local and foreign visitors going about their routines homage and daily prayers. I could feel and sense there is harmony, peace coexistence and prosperity.
Masjid Kampung Hulu, is one of the oldest mosques in the country, built in 1748 with a distinct Sumatran architecture style where it has unique 3-tired pyramidal roof & a 6-tired Chinese pagoda like minaret. The original wooden building was rebuilt in brick in 1872. Inside the mosque, are inlaid glass tiles of European designs & old crafted wooden pulpit.
Sri Poyyatha Vinayaga Moorthi Temple, the oldest Hindu temples in Malaysia that built in 1781. Its exterior walls are decorated with classical towers, dedicated to various of the Hindu gods.
Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, one of the oldest Chinese temples in Malaysia, which was founded in the 1600s by the Chinese Kapitan Tay Kie Ki. The temple functioned as official administrative centre and a court of justice for the Kapitans in the early years, besides serving the community's religious needs. Its architecture reflects creative skills of migrants builders and craftsmen from China's southern provinces, mainly Fujian & Guandong. It is a centre for propagation of 3 Doctrinal Systems of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism.
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