Step out of Little India MRT station and you’ll wonder if you’ve been transported to a city in India. In every sense of the word, the neighbourhood is a true representation of the Indian community in Singapore. You’ll find beautiful temples, restaurants serving authentic Indian food, and shops selling colourful Indian garb as well as jewellery. Here are some things to do in Little India.
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Whether you’re looking to visit sites rich with history or somewhere to quell rumbling bellies, Little India’s the place to visit. Much like Chinatown, tourists and Singaporeans alike can uncover the Little Red Dot’s multicultural heritage and traditions, making Little India a must-visit spot for both food and activities.
The Little India neighbourhood is steeped in history. For starters, it was originally a European district heavily involved in the cattle trade, due to its close proximity to the Serangoon River. Indian migrant workers who were skilled in rearing livestock were hired to look over the cattle, and thus the area housed a booming Indian population.
As the Indian community continued to grow, sites of worship such as the temples we see today in Little India were built, along with landmarks like the old Tekka Market to cater to the residents’ culture-specific needs.
Image credit: Choo Yut Shing via Flickr
From visiting some of the oldest Hindu temples on the island, to chowing down on Michelin Guide-endorsed Indian fare at Tekka Centre, this iconic neighbourhood is definitely worth exploring.
We recommend setting aside about 2-3 hours to experience Little India. You’ll be able to indulge in a delicious meal, plus have ample time to peruse the stores in the neighbourhood, such as Little India Arcade and Mustafa Centre.
Preserved in a building known as Little India Arcade is a cluster of shophouses selling handicrafts, jewellery, and Indian sweets amongst other things. You’ll find a number of beauty salons where you can get henna as well as services such as eyebrow threading.
For Indian sweets and snacks, make a beeline for Moghul Sweet Shop or Ganesan Villas Sweets & Savouries. The former is well-known for their gulab jamun dessert and savoury samosas with potato fillings. If you’re looking for accessories like bangles and dangling earrings to complete an Indian outfit, you can find them here for an affordable price too.
While you’re there, check out neighbouring Campbell Lane which is lined with stores that are seemingly an extension of the arcade. In particular, Jothi Flower Store is the go-to for flowers and garlands.
As you walk along Serangoon Road, Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple with its colourful tower structure is hard to miss. Built in 1881, it is one of the oldest and most beautiful Hindu temples in Singapore. Spend a few minutes at the entrance to take a good look at the detailed carvings on the tower – it is truly a work of art.
Here’s a fun fact: the temple was a refuge for people trying to stay safe from air raids during WW2. What’s more remarkable is that the temple survived the bombings without any harm.
Prayers are conducted in the mornings and evenings, so if you want to observe the ceremony, go around 7am or 7pm. Make sure to dress modestly with bottoms covering your knees.
For most older folks, a trip to Little India most likely means a visit to Tekka Centre. Whether to buy fresh groceries from the wet market or to enjoy a meal at the hawker centre, do drop by this gem.
Some of the more famous Tekka Centre food stalls include 545 Whampoa Prawn Noodles, Temasek Indian Rojak, and Allauddin’s Briyani. Yes, there are numerous halal options too.
Head to the upper floor for fashion retailers that sell Indian clothes, jewellery, and accessories. This is the go-to for locals to get their snazzy new outfits for Deepavali. Nestled within the rows of stores are a few tailors and seamstresses too that can help with alterations.
Formerly known as The Verge, Tekka Place is the mall at the start of Serangoon Road. Its directory list mainly features restaurants, fashion retailers, and enrichment centres. At Bacos, one can try Indian fusion food with dishes such as Tandoori Chicken Pizza and Lamb Shank Biryani. There’s also a Starbucks for your coffee fix and a spot to work or study from.
Arts & Culture is the store to check out for home decor such as statues and traditional standing lamps. They also have handcrafted jewellery boxes and Indian musical instruments. DALANIE Traditional Massage is where you can get a massage, mani-pedi, facial, and eyelash extensions.
Image credit: Boulder Movement via Facebook
Climbing enthusiasts looking for bouldering gyms in Singapore will be pleased to know that level 2 of Tekka Place houses Boulder Movement. This outlet specialises in bouldering walls only and is a cosy little space with fewer crowds on weekdays.
Everyone knows Mustafa Centre, but that won’t stop us from talking about it once again. After all, the 6 floors hold over 300,000 items and most things are on a budget too. The stuff here spans multiple categories including groceries, luggage, household items, tech gadgets, clothes, jewellery, and we could go on.
In the food and groceries section especially, you will notice a lot of brands from India. Here’s where you can find unique snacks and flavoured items like Maggi Masala. If you need anything before a trip, it’s worth checking out the shopping haven for last-minute travel items.
If you’ve always been intrigued by the sight of kavadi-bearers having multiple piercings during Thaipusam or the ritual of Theemithi AKA firewalking, here’s your chance to find out more. The Indian Heritage Centre offers a glimpse into the history of the Indian community in Singapore.
Permanent galleries at the centre feature ancient sculptures, ceremonial artefacts, and plenty of stories of early migrants. One of the highlights is a wooden frame of a Chettinad residence with intricate carvings of figures and motifs. There are also free guided tours daily from Tuesdays to Sundays.
Occasionally, the centre holds various workshops such as miniature painting, jewellery making, and saree tying. There are also free live cooking demonstrations and cultural performances during festivals such as Deepavali and Pongal.
Speaking of which, they’ve got the ongoing Deepavali Open House 2024 to check out, happening from now till 27th October 2024, 10am-5pm daily. Head to their website to find out when such workshops and open houses take place. You won’t want to miss the food tasting session of special snacks and sweets or the festive decor.
Image credit: @sereann via Instagram
The Leong San See Temple, or Dragon Mountain Temple in Mandarin, is another monumental place of worship to visit when you’re touring Little India. It’s located just a 3-minute walk from the aforementioned Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, perhaps a testament to the multi-religious nature of Singapore.
It’s a Buddhist temple established all the way back in 1917 by Reverend Chun Wu, who sheltered and took care of the sick on the temple’s grounds. Modelled after a Chinese-style palace, one of the temple’s striking features is its roof, which is adorned with dragons and a pearl seemingly set ablaze.
The interior of the temple is also decorated ornately, with figurines and sculptures of various deities neatly displayed around the premises. Don’t let its seemingly small exterior fool you, the temple’s actually pretty expansive. In the middle of the temple stands a majestic pagoda, and there’s a fish pond complete with a bridge near the back.
Visitors to the temple have noted that the Leong San See Temple is particularly tranquil, and is maintained by friendly and helpful staff, making it an ideal spot to do some soul-searching. Entry is free, and when you plan to visit, head down in modest attire.
Think of Little India and the image that is most likely to come up is that of the colourful facade of Tan Teng Niah House. This is the last Chinese villa of its kind in the neighbourhood and its rainbow-coloured exterior in saturated hues makes it one of the most Instagrammable spots in Singapore.
The story goes that the house was the residence of the Chinese businessman Tan Teng Niah who owned sweet shops along Serangoon Road. Eventually, when the area was being redeveloped they moved out. In the 19080s, the house was then restored and conserved as a reminder of its heritage.
While walking about the neighbourhood, you might spot several murals. Most of these are on the side of buildings located in the inner streets. The best way to spot all of them is to embark on this Little India art trail. Just follow the map and you’ll be able to see 9 of the artworks, mostly created by local artists.
The street art is a tribute to the vibrant Indian community, in particular the migrant workers, and traders and merchants of yesteryear. Don’t miss the whimsical painting of cows along Kerbau Road and the beautiful painting of traditional Indian dancers near Little India MRT.
Much like is the tradition in South India, meals at The Banana Leaf Apolo are served on a banana leaf. A typical meal here consists of biryani, cabbage, eggplant, and papadum. To add on, the Apolo Fish Head Curry (from $32.94) is a must-try. If you aren’t able to take a lot of spice, order a side of cooling yoghurt and lime juice to appease your palate.
While they are more well-known for their South Indian food, the menu also features North Indian dishes such as Tandoori Chicken ($36.72) and Butter Naan ($5.94). And if you’re wondering whether the name was inspired by Apollo 11, yes, it was. The founder was spurred on by the mission to start his very own business.
Having been around since 1947, Komala Vilas is an institution. OGs will know that for the best dosai in town, it is the place to go. Despite its fully vegetarian menu, the place is always packed with locals and tourists. There are a couple of outlets in Little India but for the authentic experience, head straight to the original outlet along Serangoon Road.
Image credit: Komala Vilas Vegetarian Restaurant via Facebook
They only accept walk-ins, so expect to queue for around 20 minutes during lunch and dinner hours. Choose from 15 varieties of dosai (from $3.50) including masala with potato filling, cheese, and onion. Also popular are their thali or set meals (from $6.10) for those who want to try a little bit of everything.
The cafe also serves brownies ($4.80), choco lava cake ($6.90), and banana bread ($4.80).
Image credit: @threesacrowdcafe via Instagram
Given the sheer amount of things to do in Little India, it’s easy to plan a day out hopping around the neighbourhood. And if you’re looking to make it a place for date night, make your way to Three’s A Crowd for desserts after a meal.
This cosy little halal ice cream cafe offers interesting flavours like masala chai, salted yolk lotus, and Kaya n Speculoos. Each scoop of ice cream (from $4.50) can be had on its own or paired with a waffle of your choice – maple ($6), churros ($8), or banana bread ($4.80).
Now you know; Little India isn’t just a place to buy Deepavali snacks, there’s so much more to explore. Plus, the street art and exhibitions at Indian Heritage Centre are absolutely free. So, plan a day out to shop, eat, and walk the lanes of Little India.
Explore more neighbourhoods in Singapore:
Cover image adapted from: @chowingchandra & @instawasabisabi via Instagram, Choo Yut Shing via Flickr
Last updated by Khoo Yong Hao on 11th October 2024.
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