Little India Attractions

What to See in Little India

If in Singapore, the sound of Indian music and incense drifts on the breeze, it can only mean one thing: you are in Little India. Little India lies east of the Singapore River with the busy Serangoon Road as its centre point. Many visitors come to this area for shopping and dining, especially on Indian vegetarian food. There are countless restaurants and cafés as well as food stalls, making Little India the best area in Singapore to enjoy good and inexpensive subcontinental food.

Visitors will be amazed at what this area has to offer. There's an awful lot to buy here, from jewelry to Indian spices, clothes, gifts, balm, oil, beauty products, CD's, Bollywood DVD's and household items. The popular Mustafa Centre operates on a 24/7 basis and it's best to avoid it on Sundays as the centre and indeed most shops in Little India are usually too crowded on that day. Another popular draw in Little India is their good exchange rates – probably the best in town.

Little India offers the taste of authenticity and there are a lot of places to explore when it comes to culture. For example the oldest temple in Little India, Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, Abdul Gafoor Mosque, Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple and Sakyamuni Buddha Gaya Temple.

Little India lies to east of the Singapore River, north of Kampong Glam

Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple

Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple was built in 1881 and is dedicated to the goddess Kali. It is nowadays the busiest temple in Little India. Admission free. Please remember to remove your shoes when entering.

Opening Hours: Daily from 08:00 - 12:30 and 16:00 – 20:30
Location: 141 Serangoon Road

Abdul Gaffoor Mosque

The original Abdul Gafoor Mosque was built in 1859 by a South Indian lawyer's clerk named Shaik Abdul Gafoor Shaik Hyder to serve many of Indian Muslim merchants. The mosque has subsequently been through many restorations. The current one was completed in 2003. The mosque is a mixture of Arabian, South Indian and Roman styles with its many arches and onion dome.

Opening Hours: Daily from 07:00 – 12:00 and 14:30 – 16:30
Location: 41 Dunlop Street

Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple

This Hindu temple was built in 1855 and is dedicated to Perumal (or Vishnu). Visitors will be impressed by the legend of Vishnu’s nine reincarnations on the Gopuram. It was declared a national monument in 1978.

Opening Hours: Daily from 06:30 – 12:00 and 18:00 – 21:00
Location: On Serangoon Road

Temple of 1,000 Lights (Sakyamuni Buddha Gaya Temple)

The Thai Buddhist Sakyamuni Buddha Gaya Temple was established by the Thai monk Vuthisara in 1927. The architecture is mainly in Thai style with a large 15-metre-high Buddha statue seated inside the temple as well as many smaller images. The Buddha image is surrounded by numerous light bulbs, which is why many people call it the Temple of 1,000 lights.

Opening Hours: Daily from 08:00 – 16:45
Location: 336 Race Course Road
Price Range: No admission fee

Leong San See Temple

This Taoist temple is located right across from the Thai Buddhist temple and was built to honor Guanyin (sometimes referred to as Guanyim), the Chinese goddess of mercy. She is popular among childless couples who come to pray for its blessings. Its main structure resembles a Chinese palace. Red and yellow are the two main colours used in this temple.

Opening Hours: Daily from 06:00 – 18:00
Location: On 371 Race Course Road

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