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Little India in Singapore 

Sandip Hor visits a locale that’s devoted to people of Indian origin and their culture

Singapore is one of the world’s most visited destinations. This high-energy city offers numerous attractions and experiences, and ranked towards the top of the list is its Little India district.

Located not far from both glamorous Orchard Road and Raffles City precincts, Little India is a buzzing historic area that showcases the best of Singapore’s Indian community, offering vibrant cultural goodies, endless shopping and spicy foodie adventures.

A ‘treat for the human senses’ is the best way to describe the discovery of treasures in this part of the city; it was developed by the British in the early 19th century as a settlement ground for Indian labourers.

Abundant water and grassland soon made the domain attractive for crop cultivation and cattle farming. And over the years, it emerged as the hub of Indian culture and life in Singapore.

WHERE TO STAY Conveniently situated only minutes away from Little India is the Village Hotel Albert Court, which effortlessly covers the best of both worlds.

While a walk around the compound will uncover traditional Indian and Peranakan carvings and motifs on the walls, a peek into a room showcases contemporary facilities that will satisfy both business and leisure travellers.

Adding to this combo of old and new, the hotel – a property belonging to Far East Hospitality – offers a complimentary breakfast buffet, late checkout and currency vouchers as a part of its discovery package.

WHAT TO EAT Little India boasts several eateries that serve authentic Indian delicacies ranging from biryani, tandoori kebabs and Pao bhaji, to idli, dosa and sambar.

There are also two specialty restaurants: Kolkata Beckons serves mouth-watering Bengali cuisine such as shorshe ilish and kosha mangsho while Tangra Chinese brings in traditional Hakka style oriental dishes.

WHERE TO SHOP Retail therapy at the Mustafa Centre is an experience to be cherished. This 24-hour mall is famous for clothes, jewellery, watches, electronics, homeware, toys, luggage, cosmetics and groceries.

Customers can choose from over 300,000 items displayed on four levels covering an area of nearly 37,000 square metres in a six storey building.

WHERE TO GO Little India stretches for several kilometres on both sides of Serangoon Road. The two storey shops with their ornate plaster facades bestow on the quarter a unique character.

These shops, where olden day trades blend with modern additions, sell everything that’s considered Indian such as rice, lentils, flour, spices, sweets, vegetable and herbal medicines, cooking utensils, DVDs of Bollywood films, clothes, jewellery, framed pictures of Hindu deities and so on, to keep people in touch with politics, cinema and fashion in India.

The footpaths edging Serangoon Road are crowded with locals or visiting Indians dressed in colourful saris and dhotis. But pedestrian space is drastically narrowed by street vendors selling fake branded T-shirts, jeans, sunglasses and phone accessories.

Little India boasts two temples that are worth visiting for their architecture and spiritual ambiance. The Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is dedicated to the goddess Kali and remains the oldest while the other is the Sri Perumal Temple. Dominating these temples are their high gopurams (towers) and bell adorned doors while statues of Hindu gods and goddesses abound inside.

There are stalls outside for devotees to buy fruits and flowers as offerings to sundry deities. These temple sites are crowded during festivals such as Deepavali and Thai Pongal.

The strong aroma of curries combined with the fragrance of flowers and burning incense sticks fills the air. And the multi­lingual subcontinental conversation, loud music from the restaurants and shops, bells ringing in the temples and calls to prayer from the mosques, all contribute to creating a loud but extremely vibrant environment.