By air
Changi Airport (SIN), ~20 km
Southeast Asia · Singapore
Little India, Singapore
Spice shops, temples and flower garlands
Getting there
Best time to visit
October to November for the Deepavali lights, February to April for drier days
Don't miss
Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple
Tekka Centre
The Indian Heritage Centre
Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
Things to do
The Tekka Centre market
The Deepavali light-up
Temple visits
Shophouse spice stores
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Nachoman-au · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Modest clothing for temples, an umbrella
A quieter corner
The House of Tan Teng Niah, a Chinese villa painted in rainbow colours
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to see Little India?
October to November for the Deepavali lights, or February to April for drier days.
What should I wear to Little India's temples?
Modest clothing for temples such as Sri Veeramakaliamman and Sri Srinivasa Perumal, and carry an umbrella.
What should I eat in Little India?
Biryani and dosa at Tekka Centre, washed down with teh tarik.
What's an unexpected sight in Little India?
The House of Tan Teng Niah, a Chinese villa painted in rainbow colours.
About Little India
- Island
Where it is
Little India is a historic district in central Singapore, centred on Serangoon Road just north of the Rochor Canal and close to Kampong Glam.
History
The land along Serangoon Road was first used by Europeans for cattle trading, which drew Indian workers to settle, and the district grew into the centre of Singapore's Indian community. Temples such as Sri Veeramakaliamman and Sri Srinivasa Perumal were founded in the mid-19th century, and the shophouses were protected as a conservation area in the late 1980s.
People
Little India is the heart of Singapore's Indian community, most of whom are of Tamil descent, and Tamil, one of the country's four official languages, is heard alongside English, Hindi, Bengali and other languages. Its shops sell flower garlands, saris, gold jewellery and spices, and Deepavali and Thaipusam are the great festivals of its year.
Known for
- Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple
- The Tekka Centre market and hawker stalls
- Spice shops and jasmine garlands
- The Deepavali street light-up
- The Indian Heritage Centre
Did you know?
Each year the Thaipusam procession sets out from Little India's Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, with devotees carrying kavadi on foot across the city centre to the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.