7 Must-See Sites In Little India Singapore

Little India is one of the most vibrant and culturally rich districts of Singapore, offering a glimpse into the country’s heritage. It’s one of the most iconic and colorful neighborhoods and definitely worth a visit. Stroll through its bustling streets to discover its unique architecture, see its striking temple, along with the flower vendors making their colorful garlands for religious offerings there, explore its hawker center with its unique Indian flavors and award-winning hawkers, see its incredible jewelry shops, and more. This post covers the best things to do in Little India, Singapore.

7 Must-Sees of Little India Singapore

Admire The House of Tan Teng Niah

The House of Tan Teng Niah is a great place to start your visit to Little India. Built in 1900, this was the residence of Tan Teng Niah, a prominent Chinese businessman who lived here when small Chinese cottage industries thrived alongside Indian-dominated one’s. It’s one of the last surviving Chinese villas in Little India.

Its architectural style is called Straits Chinese or Peranakan architecture, which is a blend of Chinese, Malay, and European elements. Unfortunately, it’s closed, so you can only admire it from the outside right now.

Make sure to notice its richly carved details, like the inscription of the phrase Siew Song on the door, which translates to “elegant pine”, the intricate details above the windows, and its artistic paint.

To get to the House of Tan Teng Niah, take the MRT to the Little India Station. When you arrive, take Exit E. Tan Teng Niah, on Kerbau Road, is only a 1-minute walk from the station.

See Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple

Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is dedicated to Veeramakali, or Kali, the goddess of transformation and destruction of evil forces. The fierce and protective aspects of the divine feminine.

Like Sri Mariamman Temple in Chinatown, it features a pyramid-like tower with elaborate and colorful sculptures and a similar architectural style, although it focuses on strength and transformation, rather than health and healing.

The most important festival at this temple is the annual Kali Puja, which is usually held in September or October. It celebrates strength and the triumph of good over evil.

Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is located on Serangoon Road, just a few minutes walk from the House of Tan Teng Niah. The entrance to this temple is free. Note that shawls and wraps are available to cover your arms, legs, and chest if you need them. And you must remove your shoes before entering, leaving them on the shelves outside the temple.

Explore Serangoon Road

In additional to Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple on Serangoon Road, there are also many shops and eateries to explore. Because of this, I recommend spending some time walking this road, especially the area between the temple and Tekka Center.

My favorite were the numerous shops selling exquisitely detailed gold, silver, and diamond jewelry. I loved seeing the very ornate, traditional Indian jewelry. But, there are also textiles shops, spice shops, and many food options.

For something to eat, try Apollo’s Food Village, Kamala Vilas, or Ananda Bhavan. These are all highly rated and places where you can have your food served on a traditional banana leaf (instead of a plate).

If you visit Serangoon Road during a festival, like Deepavali, or Diwali, which is the biggest festival in India, the energy here becomes even more vibrant. The date changes based on the Hindu lunar calendar and the position of the moon, but is generally in October, November, or December.

See The Flower Vendors on Buffalo Street

Buffalo Street is a side street off of Serangoon. Look for it to see the many street vendors making vibrant flower garlands for religious offerings at the temple. It’s fun to see vendor after vendor of brilliantly colored garlands and smell the flowers. Plus, the vendors are very friendly and happy to chat with you a little if they’re not too busy.

Explore The Indian Heritage Center

If you have the time, visit the Indian Heritage Center, which is not far from far from Serangoon and Buffalo. This cultural center and museum highlights the history and cultural practices of the Indian community in Singapore as well as influential Indians. I honestly did not have a chance to visit, but have read that it’s best to start on the fourth floor and work your way down.

There is a small admission fee to enter the Indian Heritage House. Note that it is closed on Mondays (but it’s always a good idea to double check any day prior to yours visit as schedules can change).

Try Tasty Treats at The Tekka Center

Tekka Center is a vibrant market in Little India, with fresh food, clothing and textiles, and a food center. Make sure to try a few of the Michelin Guide recommendations here, like the other great hawker centers I’ve noted in Chinatown, Old Airport Road, and Geylang Serai. Some of its most notable include the following.

Delhi Lahore, which specializes in northern Indian and Pakistani food, is noted for its fluffy, crispy naan, chicken tikka masala, and grilled seekh kebab.

The Michelin Guide also notes Alauddin’s Briyani, which has been selling its biryani since the 1950s, as standing out above all of the biriyani in Little India. You can choose from chicken, mutton, or fish.

Heng Gi Goose And Duck Rice is also noted by the Michelin Guide for its succulent braised duck, pork belly, and offal. A funny fact on this one, although Goose is still in the name, it is not served here as goose imports were banned here many years ago.

Other foods to try at the Tekka Center include Laksa, Roti Prata, Prawn Noodles, the Hainanese Chicken Rice, and whatever else strikes your fancy.

The Tekka Center is located on Buffalo Road very close to the Little India MRT Station.

Visit Masjid Abdul Gafoor

There’s also a mosque in Little India, Masjid Abdul Gafoor, for the Indian and Malay Muslims in Singapore. It’s located on Dunlop Street, which is a quiet street, somewhat between Little India and the Kampong Glam area of Singapore.

This is not a very touristic stop, but there is conservative clothing available if you want to enter to see the mosque. See their Facebook page for more details, hours, and special events.

Summary

You can use the Google maps to visit the locations listed above to get a great overview of the highlights of Little India, or you can take one of the free, tip based walking tours here to learn about the area. I took the free walking tour by GuruWalk with Stephan called Pinch of Singapore and really enjoyed it. He covered the three main cultural areas of Singapore: Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam.

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Marina Bay Area

If you want a luxurious vibe and it fits the budget, stay in the Marina Bay area.

• Marina Bay Sands is the ultimate splurge experience of Singapore. Even if you only stay a day or two. I stayed 3 nights here and thought it was worth it! The rooms are stunning and overlook either the twinkling city or Garden Bay on the opposite side. They have several amazing restaurants, a fitness center, and the rooftop entertainment area which includes free access to the infinity pool (which is the real gem of the hotel with its incredible view).
• If you would prefer luxury on the opposite side of the bay, by the Merlion Statue, consider staying in the 5-star Fullerton Bay Hotel. Some rooms feature views of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

The Civic District

I also stayed in the heart of the city for a few days, which is called the Civic District. I loved this area too as I felt it provided me with a more authentic Singaporean living experience. Plus there are a lot of great restaurants and cafes to discover here.

• Raffles Hotel is another well-known luxury hotel, but located closer to the city center. It offers historic charm and outstanding service. And of course you must visit Raffles Long Bar for the obligatory Singapore Sling experience.
• Heritage Collection on Seah is located in the city, close to the City Hall MRT. The rooms are exceptionally clean and most have a loft. It’s just a few minutes walk from Raffles Hotel.

Chinatown

Chinatown makes a great place to stay in Singapore as it’s centrally located and accomodation is a little more affordable. Here are a few that get great reviews.

• The Scarlet Singapore is set in renovated pre-war shophouses near the Maxwell Center. It offers elegantly appointed, colorful rooms with a rooftop restaurant, a fitness gym, and an outdoor hotub. All at an affordable price.
• The Claude Hotel offers affordable rooms and is located about a 5-minute walk from the Chinatown Complex.
• If you want something really inexpensive, try one of their capsule hotels here. Jyu Capsule Hotel on Smith Street is super cozy, but gets very high reviews, is very clean, and very inexpensive.
• If you want to stay near the Telok Ayer region of Chinatown, stay in the beautifully restored heritage shophouse Ann Siang House, The Unlimited Collection managed by The Ascott Limited.

For a full list of the best places to stay, at a variety of price points, see my post on The Best Places To Stay in Singapore | The Ultimate Guide.

Want To See More Of Singapore?

• Experience The Best Of Marina Bay | Must-See Waterfront Experiences
• Hidden Treasures & Things To Do In Chinatown Singapore
• The Charming Arab Quarter of Singapore
• Joo Chiat Road | Colorful Shophouses, Culinary Wonders & Cultural Fusion
• Is It Worth Visiting Sentosa Island?

Safe Travels!

Julie