Singapore Trip Overview
Welcome to Little India, Singapore. Also known as ‘Tekka’ by the locals, this is the place to be if you want to eat and dive in a little bit of history. We can help do just that. This is a GPS-enabled professionally-narrated walking tour! You’ll dive into the heart of this community to understand the diversity that defines both Singapore and India.
This self-guided tour allows you to explore Singapore’s historic wonders with maximum flexibility and value.
Within 30 mins, we’ll send you two things: a unique password and an app. Download the app onto your phone and enter the password. When you arrive, head over to the first stop. Once there, launch the app and simply follow the instructions from there! Stick to our recommended route for the best experience.
NO EXPIRATION — THE TOUR IS AVAILABLE FROM THE MINUTE YOU BOOK UNTIL FOREVER!
This tour does not include entrance to attractions along the route. Check pandemic rules and opening hours before your visit.
Additional Info
Duration: 1 to 2 hours
Starts: Singapore, Singapore
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Singapore Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Singapore
Welcome to Little India, Singapore. Also known as ‘Tekka’ by the locals, this is the place to be if you want to eat and dive in a little bit of history. We can help do just that. This is a GPS-enabled professionally-narrated walking tour! You’ll dive into the heart of this community to understand the diversity that defines both Singapore and India.
This self-guided tour allows you to explore Singapore’s historic wonders with maximum flexibility and value.
Within 30 mins, we’ll send you two things: a unique password and an app. Download the app onto your phone and enter the password. When you arrive, head over to the first stop. Once there, launch the app and simply follow the instructions from there! Stick to our recommended route for the best experience.
NO EXPIRATION — THE TOUR IS AVAILABLE FROM THE MINUTE YOU BOOK UNTIL FOREVER!
This tour does not include entrance to attractions along the route. Check pandemic rules and opening hours before your visit.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, 141 Serangoon Road, Singapore 218042 Singapore
Approaching on your left is the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple. You should be able to see colorful statues and figures above the wall on your left. Walk around the corner to the front of the temple.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Little India, Serangoon Road, Singapore Singapore
Dive into the busy streets of Singapore to photograph and experience the unique mix of culture & color in the lion city’s Chinatown and Little India neighborhoods. Taste the local cuisine and try some exotic fruits at the Hawkers and local markets. Purchase a silk scarf or sari for yourself or a special someone back home. Top off the day by creating great photos of the Singapore skyline and the Merlion from a bumboat on an (Inclusive) Singapore River Cruise.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Tekka Centre, 665 Buffalo Road Zhujiao Centre (Tekka Market) 210665 Singapore, Singapore 210665 Singapore
Discover exotic vegetables and fruits at Singapore’s most colorful wet market, with a little help from our self-guided walking guide.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Shree Lakshminarayan Temple, 5 Chander Road Little India, Singapore 219528 Singapore
Walk up and stand facing the temple on the opposite side of the street. Take in the bright geometric pattern. This is a truly unique design for a temple, isn’t it?
Well, that’s because this building was originally a residential complex. As the Indian community here continued to grow in the 1900s, it also began to diversify. While early migrants were mainly South Indians, the newer migrants were North Indians….and their religious practices were different.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: House of Tan Teng Niah, 37 Kerbau Road Gholia’s Village Gholia’s Village, Singapore 219168 Singapore
Niah was able to build this villa when the land around him was mainly used for cattle-raising or manufacturing. In fact, Niah was a manufacturer himself and owned several candy-making factories in this area. Experts believe that one of his factory buildings was once location right here, just behind his house.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Mahatma Gandhi Memorial, 3 Race Course Road, Singapore 218731 Singapore
Ahead and to your left is a beige building with a large profile of Mahatma Gandhi on the exterior wall. Outlined in black, the figure’s posture, walking stick, and traditional garb is iconic and instantly recognizable.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Little India Art Wall, little india art wall, Singapore
Now turn so that your back is to the bright colors. Right in front of you should be a sign reading “Little India Arts Belt”. To its left, you’ll see an enormous and colorful mural. This “Art Belt” space has murals, exhibits, and sculptures displayed on a temporary and rotating basis. Each piece is connected to Singaporean culture or Little India history.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Foochow Methodist Church, 90 Race Course Rd, Singapore 218577
Now that you learned all about Hinduism, let’s switch gears and look at a Christian church! You should be standing at the intersection of Rotan Street, with a Hilton Garden Inn to the right. Look at the white building on the left, at the top of the intersection – that’s the Foochow Methodist Church.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Serangoon Road, Serangoon Rd, Singapore
We’ve been walking down Serangoon Road, the main artery through Little India. Continue walking straight – we’re on our way to the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Angullia Mosque, 15 Birch Rd, Singapore 219885
As we continue walking down Serangoon Road, let’s come back to the present time. Singapore today is known for its plethora of shopping opportunities. If you look to the right, you’ll see shops all along Serangoon Road, selling everything from electronics to toys and beyond. In fact, we’re now making our way to the famous Mustafa Center, an enormous retail house stretching out over two blocks.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: 145 Syed Alwi Road Mustafa Centre, Singapore 207704 Singapore
Mustaq Ahmed learned to sell from a young age. His father, Mohamad Mustafa, ran a small tea-and-bread stall where Mustaq would help out. Soon, he opened his own stall next door, selling handkerchiefs. As business thrived, he added clothes, electronics, and more. In 1971, Mustaq was able to open an actual store, which he named after his father.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: 1 Kampong Kapor Road Kampong Kapor Methodist Church, Singapore 208673 Singapore
This church is unique in that it offers services in a wide range of languages: English, Tamil, Mandarin, and even Peranakan, a Malaysian dialect. Why is this necessary? Well, for the simple reason that not all Chinese speak Mandarin, not all Indians speak Hindi, and not all Malaysians speak Malay!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Abdul Gaffoor Mosque, 41 Dunlop Street Masjid Abdul Gafoor, Singapore 209369 Singapore
As you walk down Dunlop Street, you’ll see the tall Sim Lim Tower in the distance. Walk towards it. On the right you’ll soon see a yellow and green gateway. This is the Abdul Gaffoor Mosque.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: 5 Campbell Lane Indian Heritage Centre, Singapore 209924 Singapore
As you approach the intersection, look left. Do you see the tall, black and gray building ahead and to the left? It’s distinctive shape and geometric pattern immediately catch your eye. That’s the Indian Heritage Center.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Madura’s Vilas, 12-14 Buffalo Rd, Singapore 219786
Inaugurated over 70 years ago, this unassuming restaurant is the brainchild of Murugiah Rajoo. Rajoo arrived in Singapore in 1936, when he was just 14. In 1947, he had the opportunity to buy this shop when the previous owner retired. Urged on by his friends, Rajoo started “Komala Vilas”. The store’s pure vegetarian fare, affordable prices, and free newspapers made it a huge hit. Today, there are three other Komala Vilas restaurants in Little India.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Little India Arcade, 48 Serangoon Rd, Singapore 217959 Singapore
Look left, across the street. The orange and cream-colored building there is the Little India Arcade. It’s not really an arcade though — it’s actually a marketplace. Inside the arcade, shops are organized alongside a “kaki lima”, or “five foot way”. This is a five foot wide sheltered walkway traditional to Indonesian and Malaysian marketplaces.
Duration: 10 minutes