Little India is one of the most interesting places we’ve been in Singapore. My boyfriend and I are amazed with the culture shock we experienced just by arriving at this famous District. It’s like being in 2 countries at the same time.
Singapore as a multi-racial country consists of around 10 ethnic groups including the 3rd largest who are “Indian-Singaporeans“. It was on the early 1800’s when mass settlement of Indians in the country began.
Now, Little India is far the most visited places for tourists because of its ethnicity and culture that differs from others districts.
You may be wondering what to expect when you get there. Let me share some of our great experiences and why we love this place.
Getting to Little India
Before we went to Little India, we were in Bugis Junction to buy some souvenirs which is not so far from the place. From Bugis Street, we took a 15-minute walk to the District of Little India. Another option would be taking the Subway from Bugis MRT Station by Downtown Line. Get on the train, wait for the 2nd stop and there you go.
Since we both enjoyed walking, we took time to look around while taking pictures and then we were surprised. All of a sudden it’s like arriving in a different country and you get to see a lot of Indian locals around. It was just amazing.
Serangoon Road is the main commercial street in Little India. It is where tourists and locals usually buy goods, clothing & jewelries and souvenirs. Hindu Temples are quite near from the road as well.
Stores Align
In Little India, there are many corners in which stores are aligned and that made it easy for us to find what we were looking for. These shops are aligned randomly except if you are looking for Gold. There is a certain corner here where aligned stores are all about Gold and Jewelries. Amazing, right?
Shopping Malls
If you are wondering what’s inside in most of their shopping malls, then you will probably be surprised. Most Shopping malls in Little India sell traditional clothings and Gold. Shopping Malls here are also crowded since the District’s population has been increasing lately.
We noticed that Indians are fond of buying whether these were clothes or jewelries. It must have been part of their culture.
Little India Arcade
A corner-building in the street of Serangoon Road is one of the busiest shopping arcade in town.
Little India Arcade is the place to enjoy authentic Indian cuisine & delicacies, music culture and traditional fashion & clothing.
In the 1900’s, a man name P Govindasamy Pilla also known as PGP. He was a philanthropist, a generous man who loves donating to repair Temples and help communities. He once had a shop in the arcade. By 1929, his hard work paid off and made a great fortune. Now, Little India Arcade is home to most visited shops around and is one of the prominent landmark in the district.
Love of Gold
Indians adore Gold. One of the things we noticed in this district is that Pawnshops filled with Gold are many and it is often crowded due to the fact that a lot of Indians are buying it.
Gold is part of Indian tradition. Most of them consider it as a good investment and an asset for Marriage and Families. It is a status symbol as well especially for men.
In Hinduism beliefs, Gold is a symbol of goddess believed to cure any sickness.
Indian Clothing
Local Indian-Singaporeans can be seen wearing traditional clothes around the Little India. Indian clothing is known for its simple style that looks untailored yet very vibrant in color.
Most women in the area wear ” Saree / Sari” that worn by wrapping around the body with the end left hanging paired with short blouse. The cloth is usually from a silk or cotton. On the other hand, men would wear “Dhoti, Lungi or Pajama” but recently wearing pants and shirts have been accepted by their Government so men tend to be more casual more than women.
Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple
This sacred place of worship, located in the downtown of Chinatown and a 9-minute walk from Little India , is the oldest Hindu Temple in Singapore. The main entrance has a traditional Hindu tower called “gopuram” where sculptures of Hindu deities can be seen.
Admission is free and it is Open twice daily from 7am – 12pm & 6pm – 9pm.
Most Colorful District
Little India is indeed the most colorful district we’ve ever been in Singapore. With the striking colors of Blue, Red, Orange and Yellow, this place is rich with vibrance that attracts a lot of visitors.
From local people’s clothing & accessories to jewelry shops and souvenirs, It is undeniable that Indians in Singapore carries a rich culture & tradition filled with colors making them standout.
If we were to describe the District of Little India in 1 word, that is definitely “VIVID“. A great place to appreciate the beauty of a rich culture filled with colors and “Masala“, a famous term that means a mixture of many spices. It also portrays Indian’s dramatic & lively personality.
Little India is one of the must-visit spots when traveling to Singapore. We learned a lot from the place and so will you.