A Guide To Singapore's 3 Little India Heritage Trails

Singapore’s Little India Heritage trails offer generous glimpses into the country’s history and culture, inviting travellers to partake in self-guided tours around the Lion City.

Singapore’s National Heritage Board established three heritage trails around Little India in Singapore, inviting visitors to explore the past of this vibrant neighbourhood. Although many tour operators offer walks around the area, these trails are specially curated to tourists with limited time (and who may need a little helping hand).

The trails are divided into three categories: The Walk of Faiths, Serangoon in the 1900s and Shop Til You Drop!

Each is supplied with information about how the neighbourhood as evolved over the years, including details of the lives of its former tenants.

The Walk of Faiths

The Walk of Faiths is the longest of the three trails, covering eleven points of interest over 2.6 kilometres. Taking approximately an hour to complete, it starts off at the stunning Abdul Gafoor Mosque on Dunlop Street and winds past The Church of the True Light, Sri Vadapathira Temple, finally ending up at Leong San See Temple on Race Course Road. This trail splendidly highlights the racial and religious diversity that has always played an important role in Singapore.

Serangoon in the 1900s

Serangoon in the 1900s focuses on the early settlers in the region. This 1.35-kilometre trail features eleven points of interest and should take 40 minutes to complete. Starting from the Indian Heritage Centre, you’ll follow a trail through some of the most important locations for early settlers, including the Chinese Clan Associations and former Tekka Market. This trail also highlights some of the modern beautiful street murals in Little India, such as The Mural of Traditional Trades of Little India by Psyfool.

Shop Til You Drop!

Finally the shortest trail, Shop Til You Drop! visits six locations over a 1-kilometer distance. The estimated completion time is 30 minutes (but it definitely depends on how much shopping you do). Starting at the Little India Arcade where you’ll see beautiful traditional Indian jewellery, the trail goes through the Jothi Store and Flower Shop which specialises in religious garlands, and ends up at the legendary Mustafa Centre – where the rumour is that you can buy anything.

Visit the National Heritage Board’s website for more information including the Little India Heritage Booklet and detailed maps of all three trails.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.