A heaven for holiday makers seeking sandy beaches, clear blue water, the sun and the sea front chalets on stilts. The island is an excellent resort for swimming, fishing, picnicking and snorkeling. Pulau Besar is the one of the islands lying off the coast of Melaka and historically these cluster of islands had been a landmark for passing mariners. Pulau Besar and its surrounding islands had been known as 'Wu Shu' to the Chinese mariners.

Pulau Besar contains fresh water and the passing ship used to stop here to get fresh water and gather firewood before proceeding to their destination. It is even believed that Pulau Besar had a settlement long before Melaka was founded by Parameswara.

According to Ma Huan, an assistant of Admiral Cheng Ho, the Chinese sailor would visit 'Wu Shu' and drop anchor to rest and to gather the necessities. The straits - fisher folks who then stayed around the estuary of Melaka river, would bring dried salted fish and other commodities, to exchange for their needs. This was the beginning of barter trade in Melaka. Melaka continued to develop into a well organized trade centre in Southeast Asia.

Historical Site Of Pulau Besar

1. SHRINE OF SULTAN ARIFFIN

According to legend Sultan Ariffin of Baghdad stopped over at Pulau Besar on his way home, whilst spreading the Islamic faith in Acheh from 1416-1420. On his way home, he disembarked on the island and fell ill there. Soon he passed away and was buried on the island. His tomb, measuring some thirty feet long is considered the oldest ever built in Melaka. Back then, it was beleieved that the size of the tomb was determined by the age of the deceased. If he was 30 years old at the time of his death, then his tomb would be five cubic long. If he was 60 the tomb would be ten cubic or thirty feet long.

2. GUA YUNUS

The mysterious cave where a wise man called Yunus used as part of his training in self-discipline and silat practices.

3. TELAGA AIR TAWAR (FRESH WATER WELL)

It is a unique fresh water well exceedingly close to the sea. Legend has it that when the tide is high the water in the well would be saline but during low tide the water would be fresh.

4. TELAGA TEMPAYAN (WISHING WELL)

Legend has it that this well could make your wishes come true if you dipped your hand in the well and made the wish.

5. SHRINE OF SEVEN PRINCESSES

The tomb belonging to seven princesses from India who while on a visited to Pulau Besar were struck down by an epidemic. The princesses were buried on the island and their graves marked with the shrine.

6. BATU BELAH (SPLITTING ROCK)

The famous rock at the golf course, where more then a century ago Panglima Lidah Hitam demonstrated his power by using his tongue to crack the rock into two.

7. SHRINE OF SHARIFAH RODZIAH

Sharifah Rodziah was a pious woman and a devout Muslim. She was said to be the 'guru' to Malay queen legend, Siti Zubaidah. Sharifah Rodziah played a prominent role in the spread of Islam in the region.