Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple

Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple or Sri Perumal Temple is one of the oldest temples in Singapore. It is located in Little India on Serangoon Road, where its tall Gopuram (tower) shows the different incarnations of Lord Vishnu. This large complex, dedicated to Vishnu, dates from 1855, but the 20-metres-tall Gopuram is a relatively recent addition, built in 1966 at a cost of S$300,000.

In 1851, a group of influential Indian community leaders – including Arunachala Pillay, Cootaperumal Pillay, Ramasamy Pillay, Appasamy Pillay, Chockalingam Pillay, and Ramasamy Jamidar – collectively purchased a piece of land from the British East India Company for 26 rupees and 8 annas. They constructed a temple dedicated to Narasimha Perumal, an avatar of Vishnu, on the site in 1855. This was the foundation of the present-day Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple.

The land that the temple sits on was purchased from the government in the 1850s, but the temple was constructed only in the 1870s. A large pond and the mandapam or main hall were the main features of the original temple, known as Narasinga Perumal Kovil.

The traditional South Indian-style Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple features a magnificent five-tier gopuram (entrance tower). Added when the temple was rebuilt, the tower is striking for its depiction of various avatars of Vishnu and other Hindu deities, as well as the floral and abstract patterns. Due to its monumental height, the gopuram can be seen from a great distance; this allows devotees who are not able to visit the temple to still offer prayers to the deities from afar.

Elaborate relief carvings and colourful circular mandalas, symbolising the universe and nirvana, decorate the mandapam (prayer hall). Inside, a statue of Srinivasa Perumal is enshrined in the main sanctum where only priests can enter to perform religious rituals. Flanking the entrance to this sanctum are two figures known as Dwarapalakas, or door deities. The various avatars of Vishnu line the top of the walls just in front of the entrance to the main sanctum.


There are also shrines dedicated to other Hindu deities in the temple. On the two sides of the main sanctum are the shrines of Vishnu’s consorts, Lakshmi and Andal. Hanuman, the monkey deity (known as Anjaneyar to Tamils), and the elephant-headed god Ganesha are also honoured in the temple. Crowning each of the temple’s sanctums is a vimanam, a highly decorated dome.

Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple

Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple at 141,Serangoon Road is one of the oldest temples in Singapore. Built by Indian pioneers in 1855, who came to work and live here, the temple was the first in the Serangoon area and became a focus of early Indian Social Cultural activities there.

The  choice  of Sri Veeramakaliamman as the chief deity of the temple is significant. Referred as a powerful goddess and Destroyer of Evil, her presence answered an important need of the early migrants  – the need to feel secure in a new land. The building is constructed in the style of South Indian Tamil temples common in Tamil Nadu as opposed to the style of Northeastern Indian Kali temples in Bengal, where Her worship is extremely widespread but the style of temple construction differs considerably.

In the old days, the temple came to be known as the "Soonambu Kambam Kovil", that is, temple at the lime village. This was because many Indians who attended the temple worked in lime kilns in the area. (Lime formed part of the mixture that was used for buildings in those days). Many of the devotees were daily-rated workers of the Singapore Municipality.By the end of the 19th century there was daily worship and regular religious functions held at the temple. As the Indian population continued to grow, the temple was increasingly the focus of religious,social and other cultural activities.

Little India Arcade

Discovery Travel channel found our way to a very interesting place. Little India Arcade as the place is called is a unique cluster of shop house buildings which were first built in 1913, at the tail end of colonial Singapore and has been preserved till today.

Right outside the entrance of Little India Arcade!

Located very near Little India MRT and opposite the current Tekka centre, the place is home to a variety of neatly, renovated novelty shops and eateries. The building has been carefully preserved to capture the essence of the early Indian settlement which occupied the area during colonial times. The winding alleys in the arcade host Indian bric-a-brac stalls, curio and sweet shops, restaurants, and bookshops. A prominent landmark in the Little India district, it is a favourite haunt of tourists and locals looking for best Indian buys.

Now owned by the Hindu Endowments Board, the conserved building pays tribute in its design to the different geographical origins of Indians who make up the community in Singapore. One plaque dated 1826-1827 on a pillar at the corner of Hastings Road and Serangoon Road refers to immigrants from Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

The array of items sold at Little India Arcade such as accessories and gifts.

Traditional Indian Sweets for sale. These sweets are not sold widely around town.

Close-up of an animal head that sits atop a plaque dated 1826-1827. It is a reminder of the cattle related trade activities in the area then.​

A zoomed in portion of the tow plaque that shows "1828"

Discovery Travel bite facts:

What is the address of this cluster of buildings?

48 Serangoon Road

How old are the buildings?

The building dates back to 1913 and would be 98 years old by now after restoration works! 

There are two tow plaques that one can find at the Little India Arcade.  The first plaque is seen on a pillar at the corner of Hastings and Serangoon Road. The second is found on the corner of Campbell lane and Serangoon Road. The plagues are written in Tamil and the first tell us about the people who came to work here from Kerala and Tamil Nadu and has an animal head which is believed to represent a cow or a buffalo. It serves as a reminder of the cattle trade activities in the area. The second plaque has inscriptions referring to the ‘burning ground’ (probably refers to cremation) belonging to the ‘Hindoo people of Madras and Singapore’.

Discovery fun fact:

Did you know that the Little India arcade was awarded the “Architectural Heritage Award”  in 1996 by the Urban Redevelopment Authority as part of its heritage recognition and conservation efforts?

Development and conservation:

The 1960s and 1970s saw many Indians moving out of Little India as they found housing either in the newly built HDB public housing or private estates. This was especially so with the clearance of slum in the 1970s. Thus, Little India became more of a centre of commerce for Indians all across Singapore. In the 1980s, several public housing projects in the area were completed, including those of Zhujiao Centre and Rowell Court. In 1989, Little India's significance as a part of Singapore history was recognised when it was gazetted as a conservation site. 

References:

http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1456_2009-02-11.html

http://littleindiaarcade.com.sg/

Church of the True Light

In the early 1900s, a missionary from the Church of Englah Zananas Missionary Society in Singapore named Ms Apple proposed the idea of starting a mission for the Hing-Hwa (Chinese dialect) speaking Chinese here.

21-year-old Guok Koh Muo, a young schoolmaster, responded to the call. With the help of a friend, he begin organising gospel meetings in a barber shop along Bencoolen Street. Slowly but surely, this group of Christians grew significantly in numbers. Later on, they shifted their gospel meetings to a nunnery on Victoria Street and named in 'Church of the True Light'. The church continued to shift from place to place until it settled down at Jalan Besar.

After the Second World War in 1952, a church building was finally completed. It continued to serve the Chinese community that consisted mainly of trishaw riders who lived and worked in the area. Other than the regular Sunday services, the church also run a kindergarten and provided free medical care.

On the 24th of Februrary 1963, the Church of the True Light officially became an Anglican parish with Rev (Canon) Guok Koh Muo as its first Vicar.

Abdul Gafoor Mosque (National Monument)

Surrounded by shophouses, the charismatic Abdul Gafoor Mosque is a living reminder of the Tamil and Baweanese pioneers' contributions to Singapore. 

Prior to Abdul Gafoor Mosque, the humble Al-Albrar Mosque stood along Dunlop Street. Made out of wood, it was first built in the mid-1800s to serve two groups of people: the Tamil Muslim immigrants from South India and the Baweanese horse groomers and trainers. Later in the 1880s, Shaik Abdul Gafoor bin Shaik Hyder, one of the two trustees of mosque, proposed and rebuilt the new mosque using the rent he collected from the shophouses and sheds surrounding it. The new brick mosque with Saracenic and Roman influenced architecture was constructed between 1907 and the 1920s. The old Al-Abrar Mosque was then demolised. 

Today, the mosque is managed b the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore. It serves the Tamil Muslim community. In addition, the Mosque also offers religious classes in Tamil.

Address: 41 Dunlop Street, Singapore 209369

References 

http://www.nhb.gov.sg/places/sites-and-monuments/national-monuments/abdul-gafoor-mosque

http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_292_2004-12-23.html

Dunlop Street

Dunlop Street was known as Rangasamy Road before the 1870s. Today, Dunlop Street is a part of the conserved area in Little India.

This street was named after Colonel Samuel Dunlop. He served in Singapore as the Inspector-General of Police of the Straits Settlements in 1875 and as a member of the Municipal Commission in 1887. However, some may argue that this street was named after A.E. Dunlop instead. A.E. Dunlop was the Secretary of the Race Course Committee of the Serangoon area. 

As a group, we took out time to explore the beautiful two-storey shophouses that lined the street. There was a good mix of small eateries and shops selling anything from fresh groceries to textiles.

Dunlop Street is also home to one of Singapore's older mosques - Abdul Gafoor Mosque. Read more about his mosque here:  

http://littleindia2015.blogspot.sg/2015/10/abdul-gafoor-mosque-national-monument.html

Other landmarks along this colourful street are the Madras Hotel and Jothi's Building.

References

http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_291_2004-12-13.html