Little India Singapore
Little India Singapore is a great place to visit full of colour, life and vibrancy. It also had a very colourful past!
History
In the 1840s there was a racecourse here and residential enclave where mainly Europeans lived and met for social occasions. Then the cattle trade to hold which was mostly an Indian trade because the cattle traders hired migrant Indian workers. Its location along the Serangoon river is, of course, what first attracted the cattle trade. From there mosques and Hindu temples were built for the local population.
A taster video I shot in Little India Singapore
Modern Day
Today, it can certainly be said that little India is one of the more lively and colourful districts. The Serangoon road is the main commercial thoroughfare that goes through Little India Singapore.
The shops are myriad, with Goldsmith shops sari stores great restaurants and everything in between there is a 24-hour shopping more called the Mustafa Centre which offers everything you could possibly want or imagine.
I was impressed with the number of murals that could be seen on the walls in little India. Also, the shops and stalls added a real splash of colour to an already colourful neighbourhood!
Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is one of Singapore’s oldest Hindu temples set right in the heart of Little India and it is dedicated to the goddess Kali, destroyer of evil. Early on in its history, Indian migrant workers flocked to the temple as it represented somewhere familiar in a new and foreign land. During the Japanese air raids of World War II it was used as a physical refuge, and maybe the gods were smiling, because it escaped any damage from the Japanese bombs.
Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple
It has been restored and reconstructed a number of times in its long history and it really is something to see. With its amazing colours and detailed statues, it is, undoubtedly, a must see.
It can be found at;
141 Serangoon Road, Singapore 218042
Food
The food in little India is amazing but it’s not just Indian food on offer. From Tapas to French cuisine there is certainly something to excite anyone’s taste buds. But the Indian food is a must try. Both North and South Indian dishes are on offer. The banana leaf Apolo restaurant offers dishes from both North and South India and is a great place to sample a bit of everything.
Check out the reviews on TripAdvisor for what other travellers thought. It consistently scores highly!
How to get there
Little India Singapore is served by a number of MRT stations: Little India, Farrer Park and Rochor. Click for more information on how to use the MRT – how to get around Singapore
Little India Singapore – Conclusions
Little India Singapore is great for just a wander around absorbing the life and colour! And you don’t have to spend a penny if you don’t want to! Great, of course, if you’re doing Singapore on a budget!
More of our Singapore and Indonesia adventures
MRT – How to Get Around Singapore
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