Colonial heritage towns of South India and beyond

By the Nexara Holidays travel desk · 2 min read

Centuries of trade brought the Portuguese, Dutch, French and British to the coasts of South Asia. Their legacy survives in towns that are wonderful to explore on foot.

Pondicherry (French)

The White Town's mustard-yellow villas, bougainvillea and quiet lanes, alongside a vibrant Tamil quarter. See Puducherry.

Kochi (Portuguese, Dutch, British, Jewish)

Fort Kochi's Chinese fishing nets, St Francis Church, Mattancherry Palace and the Paradesi Synagogue show layers of history. See Kochi.

Goa (Portuguese)

Old Goa's churches, including the Basilica of Bom Jesus, and Panaji's Latin Quarter, Fontainhas. See South Goa.

Tranquebar (Danish)

Tharangambadi on the Tamil Nadu coast has a seventeenth-century Danish fort.

Galle, Sri Lanka (Dutch)

A walled fort town with ramparts, churches and boutique cafés. See Galle.

Malacca, Malaysia (Portuguese, Dutch, British)

Red Dutch buildings, a Portuguese fort and Peranakan houses. See Malacca.

George Town, Penang (British)

Shophouses, clan houses and street art in a UNESCO-listed town.

Exploring

• Join a heritage walk with a local guide.
• Stay in a restored heritage hotel or homestay.
• Try the local fusion food: Pondicherry's Creole dishes, Goan cuisine, Kochi's seafood, Peranakan cooking in Malacca.

Best time

October to March for the Indian and Sri Lankan coasts; Malaysia is warm year-round.

See our Cultural holidays page.

Combining towns

On the Indian coast, combine Pondicherry with Mahabalipuram and Tranquebar, or Kochi with Alleppey's backwaters. In Sri Lanka, Galle fits neatly at the end of a hill-country tour. In Malaysia, Malacca is a day trip from Kuala Lumpur and Penang a short flight away.