“The District of Siranjong…” Henry Keppel, 1848
Little India Walking Trail

Little India is where traveler’s tales from a hundred years ago sound as if they were written yesterday. The air is still pungent with the smell of curry and spices, the sweet scent of garlands mingles with incense from the temple, women with intricate henna designs drawn on their hands and gold bangles jingling on their arms still meander down Serangoon Road shopping for saris and gold jewelry, and the parrot astrologer, chewing assiduously on paan, can still be sighted on a nearby street corner. It was the only local enclave that developed without the restrictions of the Raffles Town Plan of 1822…and some say it’s the most authentic.

This was where wealthy cattle traders, tiger hunters, Chinese businessmen and European civil servants all made their homes, where crocodiles swam in the Rochore River and water buffalo lumbered in front of carts laden with goods. It was also once the favourite hunting ground of man-eating tigers. Hear stories of harrowing tiger attacks, learn more about the oldest religion in the world, and explore the prettiest mosque in Singapore, in this unique cultural haven that has survived almost intact down through the years.

Little India Arcade * Spice Shop * Abdul Gafoor Mosque
Serangoon Road * Sri Veeramakaliaman Temple