Little India
A vivid quarter of temples, garland stalls, spice shops and the landmark House of Tan Teng Niah.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Best time
- Late afternoon into evening
- Cost
- Free to explore
The story
Little India is Singapore's historic Indian quarter, which grew in the 19th century around cattle trading, brick kilns and the settlement of Indian labourers and merchants. Its colourful streets are lined with heritage shophouses, spice shops, garland stalls and temples, and it comes alive during festivals such as Deepavali. The district remains a vibrant centre of Singapore's Indian community and culture.
What to see & do
- 01The vibrant Tekka Market with its food, produce and spice stalls.
- 02The ornate Sri Veeramakaliamman Hindu temple.
- 03The colourful heritage shophouses and the House of Tan Teng Niah.
- 04Garland makers, sari shops and traditional gold jewellers.
- 05Dazzling street light-ups during the Deepavali festival.
Make the most of your visit
- Come hungry to sample authentic South Indian food and sweets.
- Visit during Deepavali for spectacular street decorations.
- Exploring the streets is free; markets and shops welcome browsers.
- Dress modestly when entering the temples.
- Weekends and Sunday evenings are especially lively and crowded.
Getting there
Take the MRT to Little India station on the North East or Downtown Line, which exits into the district beside Tekka Market. Rochor and Farrer Park stations are also nearby.
Nearest MRT stations- Little India MRT Station0.7 min walk
- Rochor MRT Station6.8 min walk
- Jalan Besar MRT Station10 min walk
- Farrer Park MRT Station10.5 min walk
Walk times are real pedestrian routing (OSRM) from the attraction to each station entrance, not straight-line estimates.
Where to eat nearby — hawker centres
- Zhujiao Centre (tekka Market)2.9 min
- Albert Centre12.3 min
- Berseh Food Centre12.8 min
- Pek Kio Market & Food Centre16.4 min
- Newton Food Centre20.2 min
Eat & stay nearby
Top-rated restaurants and hotels within walking distance of Little India, pulled live from Google. Tap any to open it in Google Maps.
EV charging nearby
Driving an EV? The nearest public charging points to Little India, from Singapore’s LTA charger registry.
- Mackenzie Road B Off Street The MkzComfortdelgro Engie Pte. Ltd.· up to 22 kW241 m
- Tekka PlaceSp Mobility Pte. Ltd.· up to 50 kW· DC fast262 m
- Blk 632/633/635 Veerasamy RoadStrides Ytl Pte. Ltd.· up to 7 kW568 m
- Sunshine PlazaSp Mobility Pte. Ltd.· up to 100 kW· DC fast690 m
Distances are straight-line from the attraction. See the full EV charger map →
More to see within walking distance
Itineraries that include Little India
See how visitors fit Little India into a day — with what to pair it with, when to go and real traveller notes.
Staying in the area
Renting or buying near here? These stations have HDB blocks ranked by walk time and liveability: