Little India Singapore in some ways resembles T Nagar in Chennai. Serangoon Road is the main street. It is lined with jewellery stores, saree shops, teahouses, Hindu temples, pawn shops and money exchange centres.
History
Little India was once a European locality for cattle trading. Indian migrant workers found job opportunities there. Cattle trading in Little India began to blossom due to its location along the Serangoon River. Little India was known as Serangoon, named after the road which connected the port to the interior. As the Indian community continued to grow, the demand expanded for goods and services that catered to their needs.
Some streets in Little India bear the names of persons who lived in the area. Dunlop Street and Clive Street were named after distinguished European families who resided in the area during the early 1840s.
Places of Worship
The Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple at 141 Serangoon Road was built in 1855. Also constructed in the same year was the the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, located between Race Course Road and Serangoon Road. The Angullia Mosque, a landmark on Serangoon Road, came up in 1890. The Angullia family from India constructed the mosque. There is also the Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple, known the Temple of a Thousand Lights. It features a 15 m tall statue of a seated Buddha which weighs nearly 300 tons. Murals portray the life of Shakyamuni Buddha.
Little India Arcade
A vibrant shopping area in the heart of Singapore’s Indian district, the Little India Arcade is the place to go for bona fide Indian food, music and fashion. The arcade includes a series of revamped shophouses, all well decorated and colourful. There are several small shops selling an astonishing selection of Indian products including traditional dresses, herbs and spices, extravagant accessories and costume jewellery.
Restaurants in Little India
You will find about 150 restaurants in the area. This contains a number of vegetarian eateries. Komala Vilas Restaurant serves delectable dosa, vada and filter coffee. The great variety of Singapore food includes Indian food which tends to be Tamil cuisine and particularly local Tamil Muslim cuisine. North Indian food has become sought after recently. After years of mingling with other cultures in Singapore, Indian dishes have adapted to different tastes.
Fish head curry is a popular Singapore dish. Indians from Kerala introduced it in Singapore. Keralites are fond of its distinct taste.
Festivals
Pongal and Deepavali attract a lot of festivities. The streets have colourful floral decorations. The buildings get beautiful illuminations. Shoppers crowd the area. Shop signs feature peacocks and oil lamps. Holiday treats like barfi, dosa and biryani are on offer. Campbell Lane is shut for traffic to the Deepavali Festival Market. And on the eve of Deepavali, traditional music fills the air as people join in either dance performances or special pujas at the temple.
Getting There
Little India MRT station is an underground interchange station on the North East (NEL) and Downtown (DTL) lines. The station is located at the junction of Bukit Timah Road and Race Course Road.
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