Your base for exploring this sight is the historic city of Malacca, in Malaysia. For travel information about Malacca, go to Malacca Travel Guide. To prepare yourself for a trip to Malaysia, read the AsiaExplorers Malaysia Travel Guide. Looking for budget accommodation in Malacca? You can find cheap clean rooms using our Malacca Budget Accommodation Guide
The Perigi Rajah is a well at the foot of Bukit China. It is believed that this is the oldest existing well in the country, and was dug by the orders of Sultan Mansur Shah, purportedly for his consort, the Princess Hang Li Poh. However, there is no documented evidence that Puteri Hang Li Poh existed in Chinese imperial records, and there is great likelihood that she is not of royal blood.
Perigi Rajah.
After Malacca was overthrown by the Portuguese, the Sultan of Malacca fled to Johore, where he launched a counterattack by poisoning this well, resulting in the death of 200 Portuguese soldiers. History repeated itself in 1606 when the Dutch poisoned the well, and in 1628-1629, it was the turn of the Acheenese to do the same.
Realising the importance of this well, the Dutch built a wall around the well, complete with cannons and a guard post to protect it from sabotage. When Malacca was ceded to the British, the well was neglected and consequently fell into disrepair.
The walls built by the Dutch to protect Perigi Rajah.
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