Malacca City (Melaka), Malaysia

• The Malay Annals say Parameswara named the city after the melaka tree he rested under when he saw a mouse deer kick his hunting dog into the river, taking it as an omen of courage.
• St Paul's Church on the hill held the body of St Francis Xavier for nine months in 1553 before it was moved to Goa, where it still lies.
• Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, dating to 1645, is the oldest functioning Chinese temple in Malaysia and its materials were shipped from China.
• The Chitty community of Kampung Chitty descends from Tamil merchants who married local women in the 15th century and still speaks Malay while following Hindu rites.

• Dutch Square with the red Christ Church and Stadthuys, built 1650
• A Famosa gate (Porta de Santiago) and St Paul's Church ruins
• Jonker Street (Jalan Hang Jebat) with antique shops and night market
• Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, Kampung Kling Mosque and Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple on Harmony Street
• Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum
• Melaka River Cruise and the riverside murals
• Taming Sari revolving tower and the replica Melaka Sultanate Palace

• Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple, built in 1781, is among the oldest Hindu temples in Malaysia
• Trishaws decorated with flowers and speakers, a Melaka signature
• Three places of worship of three faiths on one short street
• Peranakan cuisine and architecture found nowhere else in this form

• Walking tour of Dutch Square, St Paul's Hill and A Famosa
• Melaka River Cruise, best after sunset
• Trishaw ride around the heritage core
• Jonker Walk night market on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings
• Nyonya food tasting and cendol at Jonker 88
• Museum hopping at the Baba Nyonya, Maritime and Stamp museums

• Jonker Walk Night Market, Friday to Sunday evenings
• Chinese New Year with lion dances on Jonker Street
• Deepavali and Thaipusam at the Hindu temples and in Kampung Chitty
• Mandi Safar and the Portuguese Settlement's San Pedro Festival in June

Year-round; February to September has less rain. Weekends give you the Jonker night market

Hot and humid, 24-33 degrees C, with short heavy showers mainly October to December

Dutch Square, A Famosa and St Paul's Church ruins free entry, open access. Melaka River Cruise about INR 600 adult, 9 am to 11.30 pm. Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum around INR 400, 10 am to 5 pm. Taming Sari Tower about INR 460, 10 am to 10 pm. Trishaw ride roughly INR 800 for 30-40 minutes

About 145 km from Kuala Lumpur, 2 hours by expressway; frequent buses from TBS to Melaka Sentral, then a short taxi or Grab into the old town. Often combined as a day trip from KL or a stop en route to Singapore or Johor

Full day, or 1 night to catch the night market

Light cotton clothes, cap and sunglasses, comfortable walking shoes, umbrella; modest cover for mosque and temple visits

Nyonya laksa, chicken rice balls, cendol with gula melaka, satay celup; Indian and vegetarian options near Little India on Jalan Bendahara. Buy Nyonya beaded slippers, gula melaka palm sugar, dodol, pewter and antiques on Jonker Street