Little India, Singapore: Little India is a special location in Singapore near the Serangoon Road on the eastern side of the Singapore River. It is a lively place with narrow streets with lots of bright colors. Little India is where people can experience the best of Singapore’s Indian community with its vibrant culture. It is a colorful picture of Singapore which has a rich history. Little India is located next to Kampong Glam and Chinatown. It is also part of the Rochor area in Singapore’s city planning.
Today, we are going to discuss the Little India of Singapore with its location and interesting facts about it.
Little India, Singapore
Table of Content
Little India, Singapore – Overview
Little India in Singapore is a lively area with colorful temples, mosques, street art, and shops. It is found on the east side of the Singapore River, opposite Chinatown, and above Kampong Glam. This cultural hub has a long history, dating back to the 19th century. The main street, Serangoon Road, was once known as Soonambu Kamban, or “Village of Lime” in Tamil, because of its lime pits. Little India is a significant spot for the local Indian community. They come here to eat, shop, socialize, and pray, especially during Hindu festivals like Deepavali, which lights up the streets.
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Little India Singapore – Overview |
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Location |
East of the Singapore River, surrounding Serangoon Road |
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Characteristics |
Lively streets, vibrant colors, and Indian festivals |
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Cultural Showcase |
Highlights the best of Singapore’s Indian community |
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Shopping |
Offers fantastic shopping opportunities |
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Historical Significance |
Reflects Singapore’s rich and diverse history |
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Surrounding Areas |
North of Kampong Glam and across from Chinatown, all part of the Rochor urban planning area |
Interesting Facts on Little India, Singapore You May Not Know
Little India is a special area in Singapore along with Chinatown and Kampong Glam. Together, they make up three cultural hotspots that tourists love to visit. For the local Indian community, Little India is important. They come here to eat, shop, hang out with friends, and pray. Here are some interesting facts about Little India Singapore as mentioned below.
1. Second Indian Settlement in Singapore
- Indian immigrants originally lived in the Chulia Kampong area, according to the Raffles Plan of Singapore.
- Chulia Kampong got too crowded as more immigrants came, so some moved to what’s now Little India.
- Little India was a good place for settlers because they could raise cattle and trade livestock.
- Little India grew over time, becoming a proper Indian neighborhood by the early 1900s.
2. Diverse Community
- Little India is not only for Indians despite its name and government policies.
- It has shops and places of worship for different cultures, including Chinese.
- Many Chinese parents go there to grind rice for congee for their kids and elderly.
- Tekka Centre is a multicultural store catering to various ethnic groups in Singapore.
3. Main Commercial Region
- Serangoon Road is the main busy street in Little India, with lots of shops and activity.
- It intersects with Bukit Timah Sungei Road and Rochor Canal Road.
- Along Serangoon Road, there are many popular attractions and markets like Mustafa Centre, Serangoon Plaza, Little India, Arcade, Tekka Mall and Tekka Centre.
4. The Tekka Centre Market in Little India
- This market built in 1915 that was also called as “Kandang Kerbau” or “K. K.”.
- In 2000, the complex was renamed as Tekka Centre.
- It underwent renovations in 2008 and reopened in 2009.
- The ground floor houses a hawker centre with stalls selling vegetarian and Malay food.
- There was a wet market on the same level offering fresh seafood and vegetables.
- There are so many stalls for vendors to sell vegetarian meals and different Malay food.
5. Little India Is An Onestop Market
- Little India’s streets are bustling with stalls selling a variety of goods.
- While famous for its diverse Asian cuisines, the market offers more than just food.
- There are several shopping centers and vendors offering a wide range of products.
- One example is the Mustafa Centre, situated at 145 Syed Alwi Road, known as Singapore’s top discount store.
- Mustafa Centre offers a vast array of products at affordable prices, including Rolex watches, washing machines, and even airline tickets.
- Another notable spot is Sim Lim Square in Little India, a large electronics hub packed into a single building.
- Sim Lim Square houses numerous electronic stores offering competitive prices on a wide range of electronics.
6. Riot In 2013 – Little India Singapore
- Date of the accident: December 8th, 2013.
- Time and location of the accident: 21:23 SST at the junction of Race Course Road and Hampshire Road in Little India.
- Consequence of the accident: Angry mobs attacked emergency vehicles and a bus that had arrived at the scene.
- Duration of the riot: Over 2 hours.
- Participants in the riot: Approximately 300 migrant laborers.
- Significance of the riot: Second riot in post-independence Singapore and the second riot in Little India since the 1969 race riots.
7. Little India – Several MRT Stations
- The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) system is Singapore’s main railway transportation.
- MRT stations like Farrer Park (North East line), Rochor, Jalan Besar (Downtown Line), and Little India serve the Little India area.
- Serangoon Road is a route for various bus services (23, 64, 65, 66, 67, 131, 139, 147, 857, NR6) passing through Little India.
8. Colorful Past
- In the 1840s, Europeans lived in this area mainly because of the racetrack, where they gathered socially.
- Cattle dealing became prominent, and it was mostly conducted by Indians because traders employed migrant Indian workers.
- Mosques and Hindu temples were built, and certain goods and services became widely sought after.
9. Several Festivals Hosted in The District
- Little India hosts various festivals, including the Thaipusam festival, usually in January or February during the full moon.
- During Thaipusam, male devotees carry elaborate shrines called kavadis attached to their bodies with piercing hooks, parading through the town. Female devotees often accompany the procession carrying pots of milk.
- The procession starts from Sri Thandayuthapani Temple on Tank Road and ends at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple on Serangoon Road.
- Another festival is Deepavali, the Hindu festival of lights. Before Deepavali, there is the Thimithi festival where male devotees walk across a burning charcoal platform.
10. Recognized Officially as A District In the 1980s
- Little India got its current name in the 1980s, and with it, it became officially recognized as a district.
- The Singapore Tourist Promotion Board (STPB) played a key role in promoting the preservation and enjoyment of Singapore’s ethnic neighborhoods.
- It was the STPB’s efforts that led to the recognition of Little India as a distinct district.
Summary – Interesting Facts on Little India, Singapore
Little India in Singapore is a lively area with colorful temples, mosques, street art, and shops. It is found on the east side of the Singapore River, opposite Chinatown, and above Kampong Glam. It is located in the east of the Singapore River by surrounding Serangoon Road. Indian immigrants originally lived in the Chulia Kampong area, according to the Raffles Plan of Singapore. Little India is not only for Indians despite its name and government policies. Serangoon Road is the main busy street in Little India, with lots of shops and activity. In the 1840s, Europeans lived in this area mainly because of the racetrack, where they gathered socially.
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FAQs on Interesting Facts on Little India, Singapore
What are the interesting facts about Little India?
Before it was given its current name in the 1980s, the cultural and historical district was simply known as Serangoon.
Why is Little India famous in Singapore?
Together with Chinatown and Kampong Glam, it is part of the popular trio of cultural precincts on the tourist circuit.
Why Singapore is called Mini India?
The area around serangoon part of singapore is called Little India because you will find many shops and restaurants of Indian origin are located here.
What is Singapore Little India called?
Before “Little India” got its current name, it was just known as Serangoon, the name of the main thoroughfare in the area.
What is the history of Little India?
Little India was originally a European area used for cattle trading.
What is the famous street in Little India Singapore?
Little India today is one of Singapore’s most vibrant districts, with its fascinating past that stretches back to the 19th century. Serangoon Road is the historic heart of the district. It was once called as Soonambu Kamban for its lime pits.