Jalan Laksamana, Malacca

Jalan Laksamana, Malacca (9 August 2017)

Jalan Laksamana is one of the main roads in the inner city of Malacca. It connects Jalan Bendahara to the roundabout at Dutch Square. Jalan Laksamana was formerly known as River Side Road. This is because it is located just next to the Malacca River. For a long time, this stretch of the river was a hive of activity as boats bring cargo, supplies and passengers.

By the Dutch period, the Malacca river has silted up, rendering the harbour not as useful at it was during the Sultanate period. Moreover, there was intense trade competition from other ports such as Acheh, that Malacca never regained its position that it achieved during the Sultanate period under the colonials.

Despite its name, Jalan Laksamana is not exactly by the riverbank. Well, not anymore. The riverbank itself is now a gentrified stretch. You could hardly smell the stench of the mud at low tide with was quite permeating during the old days. Now pleasure boats cruise along, taking tourists around on joy rides.