Little India
Good for: backpackers, Shopping, Temples, food, an authentic experience
Not good for: A lengthy stay, taxis, Hot and crowded
- Address
- Little India bounded by Serangoon Rd, Jalan Besar & Racecourse Rd
- Transport
Lonely Planet review for Little India
This modest but colourful area of wall-to-wall shops, pungent aromas and Hindi film music is a relief from the prim modernity of many parts of the city. Centred around the southern end of Serangoon Rd, this is the place to come to pick up that framed print of Krishna you've always wanted, eat great food and watch streetside cooks fry chapatis.
The Zhujiao Centre is the main market, but there are also interesting spice shops nearby. The best temples are Sri Veeramakaliamman, Sri Srinivasa Perumal and the glitzy Temple of 1000 Lights.
Traveller reviews for Little India (10)
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Colourful but over-rated.
papanesz does not recommend this,
There is an element of authenticity in Little India, the sights and smells remind you of Mumbai. But this is Singapore, where the streets are clean, there is virtually no crime and the food is wonderful and safe.
With that in mind you will enjoy the stalls, street market and good value shops. It is such a contrast to much of Singapore, worth seeing if for that reason only.
Good for: an authentic experience
Not good for: A lengthy stay
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Home in Little India
Itneg recommends this,
Whenever I go to Singapore, I always choose to stay in the Little India district. Friendly people, love the vibe, and the smell of spices and the music of India blasting on the stereos, amazing!
Good for: backpackers, Budget Travelers, flexible individuals
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Yummy food, beautiful sights, and Mustafa
expatbostonians recommends this,
Little India is a not-to-miss stop in Singapore. For those nervous about visiting India itself, Singapore's Little India will give you a taste of the real thing minus beggars and pollution. The authenticity is thanks to a large Tamil population.
If you're craving samosas, butter chicken, briyani or whatever, you'll find a restaurant here. Vegetarians are spoiled for choice, as well.
The temple on Serangoon Avenue is worth a stop, whether you're a photographer or a tourist.
Also not to miss is Mustafa, the 24/7/365 store. A warren of aisles and departments, it's a great location for souvenirs, Indian food staples, movies, and just about anything you might need.
Good for: food, Photography, Shopping
Not good for: taxis
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For shopping on a budget, Mustafa is the place.
nadmac recommends this,
Mustafa is roughly one square block and 6 stories, two of which are underground. It has absolutely everything, including groceries, for great prices. It is a warren with narrow aisles and tall racks of items, so you may get lost.
Good for: everyone, backpackers
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Not just a Bollywood replica. It's much more than than.
yuke recommends this,
Numerous backpackers hotels are there, I think it's the best place to find a good hostels. Very accessible from MRT stations, so you won't have to walk down the street and carry your huge luggage for long time. It only takes about 5 until 15 minutes from the station to your chosen hostel. You can find lots of foreigners there, either as tourists or as staff on one hostel. Most of them are nice, you can talk to them until midnight and exchange your experience about anything. About the food, it's not all indian here. You can also find chinese and malaysian, all in affordable price. But not everyone here speak good English. If you can't speak Malaysian or Chinese, hand gestures will help a lot. Little India is most famous for Mustafa Shopping Centre. It's open 24/7, and you can find almost everything you need there. Food, snacks, beauty stuff, medicines, clothes, souvenirs, everything. They all come in very good prices. One stop shopping spot you should see.
Good for: backpackers, cheap hostels
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Bollywood Beats meets Saffron meets Temples meets Shopping
shawn_low recommends this,
As Singapore continually transforms into a slicker, glossier beast, pockets of 'old' Singapore are disappearing.
Not so Little India.
Quick! Get in while you can: stores blast Bollywood beats while your nasal senses are driven into overload from the smell of cloves, cardamon and saffron spilling across the five-foot-ways. The picture is complete with the visual assault from brighty coloured saris.
Savvy entrepreneurs have clued-in to the appeal and set-up a variety of flashpacker hostels next to tapas bars. If you want to eschew modern chic and Erdinger for the traditional, duck down an alley into any one of the many thali joints and get an assortment of dishes served on a metal plate. Wash that chapati and curry down with syrupy sweet milk tea.
Temples galore ticks off the cultural boxes and for that much-vaunted shopping experience, head to Mustafa Shopping Center…it’s open 24 hours, 365 days a year. Where else can you buy a pair of Ray-bans at 2am in the morning?
Only in Little India.
Good for: food, Shopping, Temples, Flashpacking
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err - are we in Delhi
bushbaby recommends this,
Sunday night and all the male migrant workers from India, Bangladesh congregate in Little India for some downtime. Wall to wall men... chatting laughing socializing... And if you want try and get intoi any shop. It is a must to see and experience. The colours, smells and bollywood music
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Activities to book
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Private Tour: Singapore City Half-Day Tour
from USD$68.69 -
Singapore City Tour with optional Singapore Flyer
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Singapore City Hop-on Hop-off Tour
from USD$17.37
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