Top 10 Things to See and Do at Little India, Singapore

Introduction:

From its earliest days, it was linked with early migrant workers from India, who would have worshipped the goddess to feel safe in a new foreign land. One of its first names was Soonambu Kambam Kovil, or the “temple at the lime village” in Tamil. Many Indians who prayed at the temple worked in lime kilns in the area.

During the Japanese air raids in World War II, many people sought physical refuge at the temple as well as prayed for Kali’s protection. As luck—or fate—would have it, the temple and all its statues escaped the bombings unscathed. In the 1980s, major reconstruction work took place, with a gopuram (front tower) added as well as eight main domes and several minor ones. The annexe building was also built at the back of the temple.

It was again renovated in 1999, with the temple’s consecration ceremony taking place in 2000. In June 2014, the temple had another consecration ceremony which marked the culmination of the major restoration works, as well as the construction of a new six-storey building with various new facilities including a wedding hall, multipurpose hall and staff quarters. With its colourful and intricate statues and detailing, the temple remains one of the most spectacular places of worship in Singapore.

About

• Kali Story
  • To the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of intelligence Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her,Salutations again and again
  • The Divine Mother’s magic is as ancient as life itself. She existed before gods and mortals, and she will still exist even after the great dissolution. Mother is pure energy in subtle form, but in times of need or just out of a desire to play, she manifests.
  • Many people fear the mysterious black goddess Kali. Her symbolism startles them because they try to understand with their brain. One needs to understand with one’s heart. Kali is an experience, a very personal one. If one gets a taste of the ecstasy of Her Divine Love even only once, one’s life is transformed and becomes holy.

• MOTHER GODDESS
  • The worship of a mother goddess as the source of life and fertility has prehistoric roots, but the transformation of that deity into a Great goddess of cosmic powers was achieved with the composition of the Devi Mahatmya (Glory of the goddess), a text of the fifth to sixth century, when worship of the female principle took on dramatic new dimensions. The goddess is not only the mysterious source of life,she is the very soil, all-creating and all consuming.
• SRI PERIACHI
  • Truly a mother to all living beings. She grants the boon of child to childless.Furthur she protects the woman from endless labour pain and gives fortunes and good health. She appears in a standing position and blesses those who worship her, with childrens.

Location: 141 Serangoon Rd, Singapore 218042

Opening Hours:

Tuesday : 5:30am–12pm, 5–9pm
Wednesday : 5:30am–12pm, 5–9pm
Thursday : 5:30am–12pm, 5–9pm
Friday : 5:30am–12pm, 5–9pm
Saturday : 5:30am–12pm, 5–9pm
Sunday : 5:30am–12pm, 5–9pm
Monday : 5:30am–12pm, 5–9pm

Price of Admission: $ Free

Contact: +65 6293 4634

Website: Website Link Here

Introduction:

Little India | Streets off Serangoon Road
The area known as Little India of Singapore is where the main shopping commercial thoroughfare called Serangoon Road, that branches off into small lanes and streets that are lined with shops, small stores or even stalls that sells a wide range of authentic Indian cuisines and merchandise and Hindoo goods.

This vicinity is very accessible by Little India MRT station (subway); going out through one of the station exits will land you across Tekka Centre, from which you walk past it along Buffalo Road to reach the main Serangoon Road that meets it.

As you walk along Serangoon main Road from this point, you can see restaurants row selling Indian snacks & suppers, the signatures here being none other than the naans, pratas, and the mutton soup (kambing soup). Naans are usually rare if you ever see them, as the vicinity sells mainly South Indian foods, and naans are specialty breads that originated from North India. Down this main road, you will come to streets such as Campbell Lane, Upper Dickson Road, Veerasamy Road, Hindoo Road, Baboo Lane, and so on, 2 more streets down you will come to Syed Alwi Road where the main 24 hour shopping centre, Mustafa Centre, stands. If you feel that it is time to give your pair of sore feet some rest from the walking, you may want to consider popping by these two very popular Indian fastfood chain restaurants, Komala’s (9 Upper Dickson Road) and Ananda Bhavan Indian Vegetarian Restaurant (95 Syed Alwi Road) (highly recommended).

There is no specific trade or any particular merchandise or food that each lane sells as the streets in Little India operate in a similar way as how flea markets or night bazaars would have operated – although shops are located on the first floor of shophouses, they have small shop fronts and most of them push out mobile carts and set up tiny stalls in front, all fighting for patron’s attention. Indian spices, herbs and dried goods and daily groceries are interesting sights, a stall selling fruits and and vegetables can also be selling fresh jasmine flowers. Occasionally you will see them hand-making jasmine flower garlands and hanging them for sale. The traditional women wear jasmine flower garlands on their hair as fashion accessories. Indians probably have more spices & herbs to their name than any other ethnicities. The more commonly seen ones and those that tourists are happy to take home include red curry powder, curry leaves (karivepaku), turmeric powder (pasupu) & tamarind (chinthapandu). Some spices are sold fresh from their raw forms, upon selection, the shop owners have grinding machinery that helps to grind these spices into powder for easy packaging to take home.

In Singapore, it is no surprise that the good tailors around happen to be Indians. If you are adventurous enough, jolly well pop by a textile store, choose a silk fabric that you like, and get the in-house tailor to custom make a saree (or Sari), a traditional indian costume worn by women, with beautiful motif silk cloth wrapped around the waist at one end and the other draped over the shoulder, with the upper abdomen exposed (at midriff), to some, this costume can be incredibly sexy. This is to be worn with either a long skirt or long pants gathered & secured at the ankles, to make the whole look complete.

If you are into Bollywood movies, there are also plenty of Bollywood movie dvds & video cds spoilt for choice, and these are usually sold cheaper if you buy them in packs or bulk.

Old books, old art such as posters, photos, & other memorabilia and souveniers are also available for your pick.

About

Little India today is one of Singapore’s most vibrant districts. As you walk down Serangoon Road and neighbouring streets, explore their mix of Hindu and Chinese temples, mosques and churches. Fill your tummy with South Indian vegetarian food, North Indian tandoori dishes and local fare like roti prata (round pancakes) and teh tarik (pulled tea in Malay). Try to spot the brewers ‘pull’ the hot milk tea—it’s amazing showmanship. Don’t forget to shop. The 24-hour shopping mall Mustafa Centre offers everything from electronics to groceries, or take your pick from open-air Tekka Centre, goldsmith shops and sari stores. With its close proximity to the city and a bohemian vibe, many artists also call Little India home.

• A colourful past
  • In the 1840s, Europeans lived here mainly for the racecourse, where they met and mingled.When cattle trading took root, it became a mostly Indian trade as traders hired Indian migrant workers. Certain goods and services took off, and mosques and Hindu temples were built.

Location: Serangoon Road, The Main Street Of Little India

Opening Hours:

• Daily

Price of Admission: $ Free

Website: Website Link Here

Introduction:

The Indian Heritage Centre, under the management of the National Heritage Board and with support from the Indian community, traces the history of the Indian and South Asian communities in the Southeast Asian region.

The four-storey building is an iconic, unique and sustainable building that blends both traditional Indian as well as modern architectural elements. The architectural design for the facade is inspired by the baoli (or Indian stepwell), and seeks to create an urban forum for the celebration and appreciation of Indian culture. It houses five permanent galleries, a museum shop as well as programming and activity spaces.

The diversity and multi-faceted nature of Indian culture is also captured in the use of a translucent shimmering façade to create an impression of the Centre as a “shining jewel” in the day, and the transformation into a “glowing lantern” of the Indian community with the lighting of the colourful façade mural at night.

Situated at 5 Campbell Lane, the Centre also serves as a springboard for visitors to explore Little India and enjoy the sights, sounds and scents of the historical precinct. Indian Heritage Centre was opened by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 7 May 2015 and offers year-round exhibitions, programmes and activities to promote greater public awareness and appreciation of Indian heritage, arts and culture.

About

• INDIANS IN SINGAPORE: PAST & PRESENT
  • Indian Heritage Centre’s permanent galleries (located at levels 4 and 3) feature five themes which are arranged chronologically to span 1st century CE to the 21st century. The galleries present, through artefact and interactive displays, the history of interactions between South and Southeast Asia, depict the experiences of the Indian community in both Singapore and Malaya during the colonial period, and highlight the contributions of the Indian and South Asian communities to Singapore’s nation-building efforts.
• 1st century CE to 19th century
  • The first gallery explores the early contact between South and Southeast Asia and showcases the evidence of such interactions through the tangible and intangible heritage of the two regions. More specifically, it examines the religious connections (Hindu-Buddhist, Islamic and Christian) and the trade interactions between South and Southeast Asia vis-à-vis Singapore as a bustling hub of 19^th century maritime trade.
• 19th to 21st centuries
  • Indians in Singapore and Southeast Asia trace their origins to numerous waves of migration – pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial. A complex history of migration from the South Asian subcontinent has produced a vibrant and dynamic community, made distinct by their ability to adapt and to integrate with local cultures. The “Roots” section of this gallery highlights their rites of passage, attire, language, religious affiliations and festivals while the “Routes” section revisits the gruelling journeys undertaken by migrants from their villages, cities and port towns, by ship to Singapore.
• 19th to mid-20th century
  • The third gallery introduces the early Indian pioneers who arrived in Singapore and Malaya as well as their trades and businesses. It highlights the role of Indians such as prisoners and builders, moneylenders and private financiers, police and civil servants, traders and professionals etc. In addition, the gallery showcases the history and contributions of pioneering institutions including early Tamil schools, media establishments, religious monuments and social organisations.
• Mid-20th century
  • The fourth gallery examines the impact of anti-colonial and nationalist movements in India on the Indian community in Singapore and Malaya. It also explores the impact of World War II on the local Indian community as well as the growth of social reform movements in both Singapore and Malaya.
• Late 1950s – Present
  • The final gallery showcases the contributions of the Indian community in Singapore to the country’s nation-building efforts across diverse fields and occupations. It situates the Indian community within multi-cultural Singapore and highlights how the community continues to play an important role in shaping Singapore’s future.

Location: 5 Campbell Ln, Singapore 209924

Opening Hours:

Tuesday : 10am–7pm
Wednesday : 10am–7pm
Thursday : 10am–7pm
Friday : 10am–8pm
Saturday : 10am–8pm
Sunday : 10am–4pm
Monday : Closed

Price of Admission: Free admission to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents

Contact: +65 6291 1601

Website: Website Link Here

Introduction:

Situated in the picturesque Indian quarter, the Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple, which also known as the Temple of a Thousand Lights, is one of the largest and the most visited Buddhist cultural buildings in Singapore. It was founded by a Thai monk in 1927 combining Thai, Chinese and Indian traits in its unusual architecture. Thanks to this eclecticism, the Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya is reckoned to be among the most original of the many temples in the city-state.

The temple became widely famous in Singapore and abroad, mainly because of the 15-meter-high statue of the Buddha that was installed inside. This weighs more than 300 tons and is lined with hundreds colorful icon lamps in a seemingly endless chain. When these are lit during evening hours, the illuminated statue of the legendary founder of Buddhism is a truly remarkable sight. It is this statue, twined with garland of lights and indeed the largest figure of the Buddha in Singapore, which gave the Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya its second name – the Temple of a Thousand Lights (or sometimes the Temple of a Thousand Lamps).

The socle of this imposing statue is adorned with frescos, depicting important events from the great Buddha’s life. There is an entrance to a small room with an altar, under which an image of the reclined Buddha is located, behind the statue. One of the temple’s main relics is kept here: a piece of the Bodhi Tree’s bark. It was while he meditated under that tree that the Prince Gautama reached enlightenment, thus becoming Buddha. Besides the main statue of Buddha, the Temple of a Thousand Lights features many smaller depictions too, as well as paintings that illustrate scenes from his life. A copy of Buddha’s footprint can be seen to the left of the temple’s entrance.

Church members traditionally bring donations to the Singapore Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple during the Vesak holiday, which is devoted to Buddha’s birth and enlightenment. In return, they are allowed to place a leaf of gold on a small statue of the Buddha. As a rule, the figure should be completely covered with a fresh layer of gold leaf by the end of the holiday.

About

Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple is a Buddhist monastery in Singapore. The temple was originally set up by Venerable Vutthisara of Thailand. The present premises are located at Race Course Road in Singapore.

Location: 366 Race Course Rd, Singapore 218638

Opening Hours:

Tuesday : 8am–4:30pm
Wednesday : 8am–4:30pm
Thursday : 8am–4:30pm
Friday : 8am–4:30pm
Saturday : 8am–4:30pm
Sunday : 8am–4:30pm
Monday : 8am–4:30pm

Price of Admission: NIL

Contact: +65 6294 0714

Website: Website Link Here