SOUTH-EASTERN ASIA · REGION GUIDE

Kampong Glam And Little India

Two adjoining districts explain how royal Malay Singapore and migrant Indian Singapore grew street by street.

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Understand Kampong Glam And Little India

The Story of Kampong Glam And Little India

Singapore’s colonial town plan placed Malay royalty near Kampong Glam and Indian commerce along Serangoon Road. Mosques, temples, shophouses and markets still reveal how migration, worship and trade shaped these adjoining districts.

Chapter 01 · ORIGIN

Two Districts, Two Foundations

The 1822 Jackson Plan reserved Kampong Glam for Sultan Hussein and Muslim communities near the new port. Little India developed later around Serangoon Road, where cattle trading, brick kilns and transport work drew Indian migrants during the 19th century. Their different beginnings explain Kampong Glam’s royal core and Little India’s commercial spine.

Fact Sultan Hussein’s Istana Kampong Gelam was rebuilt in 1843 by his son, Sultan Ali.

Chapter 02 · PEOPLE

Migration Made Visible

After 1822, Kampong Glam drew Malay, Bugis, Javanese, Arab and Hadhrami communities around Sultan Hussein’s compound. Little India formed around Serangoon Road’s cattle economy, where Tamil traders, labourers and Hindu institutions clustered during the 19th century. Hari Raya bazaars and Deepavali light-ups still make these community calendars visible.

Fact Arab Street took its name from the Arab merchant community recorded around Kampong Glam in the 19th century.

Chapter 03 · FOOD

Trade Routes on the Table

Arab and Bugis maritime links brought rice, spices and coffee to Kampong Glam, where nasi padang and murtabak became fixtures. Along Serangoon Road, Tamil migration anchored banana-leaf meals, dosa and sweets. Tekka Centre, opened at its current site in 1982, now concentrates both districts’ trading histories under one roof.

Fact Singapore Zam Zam has served murtabak opposite Sultan Mosque since 1908.

Chapter 04 · ARCHITECTURE

Faith, Rule and the Shophouse

British rule fixed the shophouse street grid, while community wealth funded sacred landmarks. The present Sultan Mosque, completed in 1928 under architect Denis Santry, signals Kampong Glam’s royal Muslim history. Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, rebuilt in 1983, reflects the Tamil settlement that grew around Serangoon Road.

Fact Sultan Mosque’s present building was designed by Denis Santry and completed in 1928.

Chapter 05 · NATURE

A City Shaped by Tropical Water

These are urban districts shaped by tropical water rather than wilderness. Rochor Canal drains a low-lying catchment beside Little India, while Singapore’s two monsoon seasons explain covered five-foot ways, deep shophouse roofs and sudden rain. The canal’s ABC Waters renewal, completed in 2015, turned drainage infrastructure into a landscaped corridor.

Fact Rochor Canal’s ABC Waters improvement project was completed in 2015.

Turning points

  1. 1822

    Colonial plan

    The Jackson Plan assigns Kampong Glam to Sultan Hussein and Muslim residents.

  2. 1826

    First Sultan Mosque

    The original mosque is completed beside Sultan Hussein’s royal compound.

  3. 1855

    Tamil temple founded

    Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is established by Tamil pioneers near Serangoon Road.

  4. 1910

    Abdul Gafoor Mosque

    The present Abdul Gafoor Mosque is completed on Dunlop Street.

  5. 1928

    New Sultan Mosque

    Denis Santry’s present Sultan Mosque is completed with two gold domes.

  6. 1989

    Conservation status

    Kampong Glam and Little India are formally designated conservation areas.

  7. 2015

    Heritage centre opens

    The Indian Heritage Centre opens on Campbell Lane in Little India.

Discover

Experience Kampong Glam And Little India

Morning prayers, textile shops, spice stalls and late-night cafés unfold within a compact walk between Sultan Mosque, Haji Lane, Tekka Centre and Serangoon Road.

Sultan Mosque

Kampong Glam

Sultan Mosque

Completed in 1932, Singapore’s largest historic mosque is distinguished by twin golden domes and glass-bottle-end decoration.

Istana Kampong Gelam

Kampong Glam

Istana Kampong Gelam

Built in 1843 for Sultan Ali, this former royal residence houses the Malay Heritage Centre.

Hajjah Fatimah Mosque

Kampong Glam

Hajjah Fatimah Mosque

Completed in 1846, the mosque combines Malay, Chinese and European elements beneath a noticeably leaning minaret.

Haji Lane

Kampong Glam

Haji Lane

This narrow shophouse street is known for independent boutiques, wall murals and compact cafés.

Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple

Little India

Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple

Established in 1881, this Serangoon Road temple honours the Hindu goddess Kali beneath a sculpted gopuram.

Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple

Little India

Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple

Founded in 1855, this national monument features a five-tier gopuram depicting incarnations of Vishnu.

House of Tan Teng Niah

Little India

House of Tan Teng Niah

Built around 1900, this colourful timber villa is among Little India’s last surviving Chinese residences.

Indian Heritage Centre

Little India

Indian Heritage Centre

Opened in 2015, the centre traces Indian and South Asian communities through artefacts, photographs and oral histories.

On the table

Food & culture

Murtabak

Singapore Zam Zam, Kampong Glam

This griddled parcel combines crisp dough, egg, onion and spiced mutton or chicken.

Nasi padang

Hjh Maimunah, Kampong Glam

Rice is served with chosen Minangkabau-style dishes such as beef rendang, grilled chicken and vegetables.

Biryani

Bismillah Biryani, Little India

Long-grain rice and spiced meat cook together in the dum tradition associated with South Asian Muslim kitchens.

Masala thosai

Komala Vilas, Little India

A fermented rice-and-lentil crepe encloses spiced potato and arrives with sambar and chutneys.

Fish head curry

Muthu’s Curry, Little India

Singapore’s Indian restaurant tradition pairs fish head with a tangy, spiced curry and vegetables.

Appam

Tekka Centre, Little India

The bowl-shaped fermented pancake has crisp edges, a soft centre and coconut-rich sweetness.
  • Remove shoes before entering mosques and Hindu temple prayer areas.
  • Cover shoulders and knees when visiting Sultan Mosque or Hindu temples.
  • Ask permission before photographing worshippers, ceremonies or shrine interiors.
  • Return trays and used crockery at hawker centres after eating.

Plan

Plan Your Journey

Things to do

  • Join a guided walk tracing Kampong Glam’s royal and trading history
  • Browse Arab Street textile shops for batik, songket and carpets
  • Follow Haji Lane’s murals before the evening crowds arrive
  • Tour Little India’s temples while observing worship and dress rules
  • Compare spices, fruit and prepared food inside Tekka Centre
  • Sample Malay and South Indian dishes across several small stops

Getting there and how long to stay

two or three nights is what the place is worth — not how long our trips happen to run.

From Changi Airport, take the MRT to Bugis via Expo or Tanah Merah for Kampong Glam, or to Little India with an interchange at MacPherson. Downtown Line stations Bugis, Jalan Besar and Little India serve the area; the North East Line also stops at Little India and Farrer Park. Taxis and Grab connect directly from the airport.

Getting around

Walking is best within each district, with the Downtown Line linking Bugis, Jalan Besar and Little India. Public buses cover Victoria Street, North Bridge Road and Serangoon Road. Metered taxis and Grab are useful after late dinners, while cycling is less convenient on crowded heritage streets.

Who it suits

  • Food-focused travellers Tekka Centre, banana-leaf restaurants and Kampong Glam’s Malay-Arab kitchens sit within one compact circuit.
  • Architecture enthusiasts Sultan Mosque, Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and conserved shophouses reveal distinct communities within a short walk.
  • Street photographers Ceremonial gateways, five-foot ways, textile shops and festival decorations create unusually layered streetscapes.
  • First-time visitors to Singapore Two historic districts combine markets, worship, food and nightlife without requiring long cross-island journeys.
Currency
SGD
Dialling code
+65

Emergency numbers

999 Police
995 Fire and emergency ambulance
1777 Non-emergency ambulance

Your trip manager confirms embassy contacts and local numbers for your own route before you travel — these change by state and city.

Visa and entry rules depend on your passport. Ask us what you'll need.

Questions, answered

When is the best time to visit Kampong Glam and Little India?
Both neighbourhoods are rewarding from January to December. Expect year-round heat, humidity and brief heavy showers.
Do Indian passport holders need a Singapore visa?
Yes. Indian ordinary passport holders generally need an entry visa before travel, obtained through an authorised visa agent or eligible local contact.
Which languages are useful here?
English works almost everywhere. Malay is prominent around Kampong Glam, while Tamil is widely heard in Little India.
Are Kampong Glam and Little India safe?
Both are generally safe, including after dark. Use normal precautions against pickpocketing, payment scams and traffic when crossing busy roads.
What clothing should be packed?
Pack light, breathable clothes and rain protection. Carry clothing covering shoulders and knees when entering Sultan Mosque or Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple.
What should travellers do in an emergency?
Call 999 for police or 995 for fire and emergency ambulance services. Provide the nearest street, building or MRT station.

Get ready

Take this

  • Breathable clothing for tropical heat and humidity
  • Comfortable shoes for pavements and covered walkways
  • Compact umbrella or lightweight waterproof jacket
  • Personal medicines in original labelled packaging

You may need this

  • Modest clothing for mosques and Hindu temples
  • Mosquito repellent for evenings and outdoor dining
  • Light layer for strongly air-conditioned interiors
  • Small day bag for markets and food centres

Don't forget

  • Passport, visa and electronic arrival-card confirmation
  • Type G adapter with three rectangular pins
  • Phone charger and airline-compliant power bank
  • Reusable bottle for Singapore’s drinkable tap water

Check before flying

Baggage allowances, liquids, power banks and battery rules differ by airline and by route, and they change. We publish them here only once we have checked them against the airline's own page — until then, check your airline directly, and your trip manager will confirm anything unusual on your route.

Practical reference

Your time

7:11 PM

Asia/Kolkata

In Kampong Glam And Little India

9:41 PM

Asia/Singapore

Currency
SGD (SGD )

ISO 3166 / 4217

Worth in rupees
SGD 1 ≈ ₹75.18

our live FX feed · updated about 16 hours ago

Official languages
English, Malay, Tamil

ISO 3166 / 4217

Time zone
Asia/Singapore

IANA time zone database

Ahead of India
2h 30m ahead

IANA time zone database

Plugs, SIM cards, tipping and embassy contacts are not here yet — we will not publish those until each one is verified against an official source. Your trip manager has them for your route in the meantime.

Keep exploring

More near Kampong Glam And Little India

Chinatown
Civic District And Singapore River
Marina Bay
Orchard Road And Dempsey Hill
Sentosa

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