Little India: A Glimpse of Indian Culture in Singapore

Little India has been transformed from to a vibrant place which was earlier known for its racehorse tracks and lime pits. Originally established by Indian laborers in the late 18th century, this place is not known for its traditional establishments and century-old temples that merge seamlessly with boutique museums and budding art spaces.

If you walk through this 200-year-old enclave, you will get to know the vibrant culture, traditional aesthetics, and the myriad artistic activities there is there on offer. Let’s have a walk through this cultural establishment to know Indian culture closely!

1. Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple

This temple holds spiritual and historical significance and aesthetics of century-old place of worship. You must spend the morning at the 2 Sri Veerama-kaliamman Temple, which was by Indian pioneers in the mid-19th century. This is the place where worship is dedicated to the ferocious goddess Kali and is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore.

2. Tekka Centre

At Tekka Center you will get to taste some of the best local cuisines that Singapore has to offer. You can have a range of different ethnic cuisines to choose from, but you should start from upama (a porridge made from semolina), roti paratha (South Indian flatbread) or dosa (South Indian pancake made out of rice and lentil batter).

3. Indian Heritage Centre

Indian Heritage Center is native to temporary and permanent art exhibitions from South Asia which displays the history, art, and culture of these countries. You will have a closer look at the religious sculptures and South Asian artwork by the passionate culture and beautiful art of Singapore’s Indian community. You may also sign up for some of the workshops to learn a traditional craft under the guidance of experts and master craftsmen at this venue.

4. Little India Arcade

Little India Arcade is a cluster of wall-to-wall shops lined up selling a range of wares, like tapestries to craved trinkets. At this arcade, you will come to the real artwork and handicraft of India with traditional value and essence. You can experience a feast of sights, sounds, and colors at Little India Arcade.

5. Dim Sum Haus

Take a break for lunch at Dim Sum Haus. It is a cozy restaurant that serves up quality dim sum (bite-sized portions of food served in steamer baskets or on small plates). You can find a wide option of bite-sized delights here, but crowd favorites include roast meats, steamed pork ribs with yam and salted egg custard buns.

6. Mud Rock Ceramics

Mud Rock Ceramics, as the name suggests, is an establishment founded by pottery lovers Ng Seok Har and Michelle Lim. This pair established Mud Rock Ceramics to offer aesthetic, functional wares for the peoples. The studio has created a wide range of wares for globally recognized brands like Gucci and Chanel and stocks a nice collection of beautiful ceramics. It also holds workshops regularly, and aspiring artisans looking to expand their range of creative tools keep signing up.

7. Haque Centre of Acting & Creativity

If you want to learn acting from close quarters, head to Haque Centre of Acting and Creativity to learn the nuances of method acting. This school was founded by Kamil Haque who learned his craft at the world-renown Actor’s Studio in Los Angeles, and both trained and coached at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. You can also sign up for one of the several acting workshops on offer and can learn to express your inner creativity through the graceful movement and body language.

8. Museum of Independent Music Singapore

If music is your soul, you may want to pay a visit to the Museum of Independent Music Singapore. This boutique museum pays tribute to the DIY spirit of Singapore’s indie music names and is home to a range of touring memorabilia. You can also watch the charming visuals on display, from the artwork on the dustcovers of old vinyl records to homemade posters of local artists.

Synopsis

So, if you are eager to know the art and culture of India, better not to miss taking a walk to Little India which is the real depiction of Indian art and culture in Singapore.