Singapore’s colourful Little India can seem like a chaotic attack on the senses with bursts of colour, noise and fragrance greeting you around each corner. This vibrancy is key to the area’s identity, making it feel like you have stepped onto a street in Delhi, and makes Little India a unique stop on any trip to Singapore.
Little India Arcade
The first stop
for many visitors to Serangoon Road is the Little India Arcade. The shops catering
mainly to Indians, sell sari fabric, fruit and vegetables, Indian
confectionary, sweets and snacks, religious artifacts, garland offerings,
Indian music and clothes, but also offer handicrafts and souvenirs. There are a
few specialty shops too, including some selling natural remedies and Ayurvedic
medicines. They are fascinating to explore and offer a real Indian shopping
experience albeit in Singapore.
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| Flower garlands on sale in Little India, Singapore |
Sakya Muni Buddha
Gaya Temple
The Temple of
1000 lights was built by a Thai monk in 1927. This nickname has evolved due to
the electric lights inside that illuminate a fairly simple 15m, 300 tonne
Buddha statue. The temple building is unique for its combination of Thai,
Chinese and Indian influences and has several interesting features. The replica
of a footprint believed to be Buddha’s is displayed in ebony and mother of
pearl. The temple is also home to a piece of bark believed to come from the
bodhi tree Buddha sat beneath when he reached enlightenment.
A reclining
Buddha in the chamber behind the big Buddha shows events from the life of
Buddha. A pair of lions guards the entrance and visitors can have their
fortunes told near the prayer hall.
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| Buddha statue in Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple, Little India, Singapore |
Sri
Veeramakaliamman Temple
Built in 1881 and
dedicated to Hindu goddess Kali the consort of Shiva, impressive Sri
Veeramakaliamman Temple makes clear the boldness of this goddess with the many
statues of her looking fearsome. In several statues Kali is depicted as having
several arms and legs, each holding a weapon of war. The main altar features a
statue of Kali and her sons Ganesh (elephant-headed god) and Murugan (child god
riding a peacock). Statues of other deities surround the temple but may be
difficult to spot as the temple is currently being refurbished (mid 2014).
Sri Srinivasa
Perumal Temple
One of oldest Hindu
temples in Singapore, Sri Srinivasa Perumal dates from 1855 and is devoted to the
Hindu god Vishnu. The 20 metre tall gopuram (tower at the entrance gate)
features six tiers of incredible detail, showing the various incarnations of
Vishnu. It was built in 1966 following a donation from one of the first Indian
immigrants to find success in Singapore.
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| Serangoon Road, Little India, Singapore |
Serangoon Road
Well known for
it’s Hindu temples and shops selling Indian spices, jewellery, textiles,
restaurants, small hotels and fortune tellers, Serangoon Road is the busy artery
that runs through Singapore’s Little India and makes for a fascinating stroll.
A walk along the street reveals mirrors hung above the doors of many shops to
deflect evil influences, the smells of freshly prepared food and the bright and
cheerful flower shops. Flowers hold an important place in Indian culture as
they are often crafted into garlands and offerings for the deities in temples.
Have you been to
Little India in Singapore? What would you suggest other visitors don’t miss?
Photo credit: William Cho
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