You’ve been to Little India — but what do you really know about the neighbourhood’s history and culture? If your answer is ‘not much’, check out the newly-launched Little India Heritage Trail by the National Heritage Board (NHB), which highlights more than 40 heritage sites with 18 heritage markers over 4km.
Another feature (that will become a pilot project later in the year) utilises bluetooth beacons that allow you to access additional information and photos about each heritage marker, as well as identify other markers nearby.
And yes, we know there’ve been tours of the bustling district organised by various groups before. But the journey of learning is never-ending (that’s what they say) and the NHB has taken it a step further in its efforts to promote the over 200-year-old area with specially curated thematic routes that cater to time-crunched trail-goers, slipping in details about the district’s history that only few may know about.
Take this fun fact, for example: Little India was never intended by Sir Stamford Raffles to become the designated location for the Indian community. Unlike Chinatown and Kampong Gelam, ethnic Indians immigrants back in the day were meant to reside in the Chulia Kampong area. But as it became overcrowded, many moved to what we know as Little India today, and that led to the development of its organic identity.
These are the three thematic routes featured in the trail:
- Serangoon in the 90’s — A 40-minute walk highlighting the early communities that settled in during the 20th century, from the Indian Heritage Centre to familiar sites like Tekka Centre and the former Kandang Kerbau Hospital.
- Walk of Faiths — This hour-long route features different iconic places of worship such as Abdul Gafoor Mosque and Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple.
- Shop Till You Drop — For half an hour, you’ll get to browse through a variety of retail goods and services (not to mention great food) as you learn about the traditional businesses here.
Here are some landmark highlights:
Mahatma Gandhi Memorial
For Indians all around the globe, Gandhi has been the symbol of peace and the national pride for his efforts during India’s struggle for independence. This memorial was built after a visit by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, in 1950. He laid the foundation stone for the structure before the rest of the cost was fund-raised by Singapore’s Indian community.
Former Racecourse
Created by the Singapore Sporting Club, which amateur horse racing enthusiasts started in 1842, the Singapore Racecourse opened its doors in 1843 and hosted its first horse race called the Singapore Cup. The place was also used as a rifle range, polo field and golf course during the 1870s to 1890s. And apparently the first international flight to Singapore — which happened to be on its way to Australia — landed here in 1919.
Former Kendang Kerbau Hospital
Kendang Kerbau, which translates to “buffalo enclosure” in Malay, serves as a reminder that buffalos were kept in the area once upon a time. The hospital was built in the 1860s to serve as a general hospital, before it turned into a free maternity one when the Victoria Street maternity hospital moved over. Oh, and get this. In 1966, KK Hospital managed to land a spot in the Guinness Book of Records for delivering 39,835 babies that year.
Angullia Mosque
This mosque was built by the Angullias (who were Gujarati Sunni Muslim traders from western India) in 1892, but only the entrance gatehouse remains from the time of the original building — it has since been declared a conserved structure. The current main mosque was built in 1970 at Serangoon, and it still remains in the hands of the Angullias.
Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
The original temple was named Narasinga Perumal Korvil when it was built in 1885 — it featured only a mandapam (‘main hall’ in Tamil) and a large pond that devotees bathed in during mornings and after prayers. From 1914 to 1919, the place saw a revamp, with the building of a more ornate shrine and idols imported from India.
Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple
Established by the Hindus around the Potong Pasir area in the 1870s, the temple was originally dedicated to the goddess Kali, the ‘Destroyer of Evil’. From a tiny hut to a small shed to a more elaborate design, the structure is now a conserved temple building that can be seen from afar, allowing decotees to pray without having to enter the temple.
If you’re keen on taking a walk in Little India, download brochures and maps from NHB’s heritage portal and embark on your own self-guided trail.
Reader Interactions