Little India and Arab Street, Singapore
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Little India's spice-scented streets offer visitors a selection of silverware, ethnic jewelry, jasmine garlands and songbirds. Hindu women walk about in bright saris. Little India features temples along the side streets and curries are served at a plethora of hole-in-the-wall restaurants.Weaving in and out of Arab Street are cloth merchants with their delicate silks and velvets. The Sultan's Palace (Istana) can be visited.
Related Attractions
Sultan Mosque
The massive golden dome and minarets present a great photographic opportunity at the Sultan Mosque. The focal point of Muslims in Singapore, the Sultan Mosque was built in 1928 and reveals an interesting mix of Middle Eastern and Moorish influences.
Serangoon Road
Serangoon Road is one of the oldest roads in Singapore. The road was marked on ancient maps as "The Road Through the Island". The road got its name from travelers who brought gongs with them to scare away wild animals. "Di -serang dengan gong" is Malay for "to scare away with gongs." It is now a busy street with shops and temples.
Sri Veeramakaliamman
Built by Bengali laborers in 1881 this temple is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali and its name means "Kali the Courageous". It features an elaborate gopuram or pyramidal gateway.
Little India Arcade
This bustling shopping area contained in conserved shophouses is the place to sample Indian food and purchase Indian handicrafts and music.
Little India Cultural Corner
Little India Cultural Corner is an archival display and video presentation providing insight into Indian culture.
Zhujiao Centre
Little India's main market bustles with shop fronts selling fresh fruits meats and fish.
Istana Kampong Glam
The Istana Kampong Glam was built as the royal palace of Sultan Ali Iskandar Shah, son of the sultan who negotiated with Raffles to hand over Singapore to the British. It is a modest colonial style buiding whose grounds are dotted with stone-masons huts.
Arab Street - Kampong Glam
A favorite shopping district, Arab Street showcases textiles such as batik, clothing, ethnic jewelry and perfumes in bazaar-style shopping. Originally a fishing village at the mouth of the Rochor River, it was the last bastion of Muslim rulers.
Hajjah Fatimah Mosque
Built in 1846 the Mosque is named after a Malay who married a wealthy Bugis Sultan. The Hajjah Fatimah Mosque has a decidedly British feel and is the only mosque in Singapore named after a woman.
Abdul Gafoor Mosque
This national monument was completed in 1907 and its highlight is a family tree showing the lineage of the Muslim prophets.
Temple of a Thousand Lights
A 15m/49ft high statue of Buddha surrounded by seemingly endless chains of lights is focal point of this simple but impressive building.
Bugis Junction
Bugis Junction is Singapore's first glass-covered air-conditioned shopping street.
