KAMPONG GLAM

Description

Essentials about Kampong Glam in brief

Singapore has always been a melting pot of diverse nations and ethnic groups. Thus, even today, the city has a large number of neighborhoods that have retained their very own ethnic character. The Kampong Glam district, located north of downtown Singapore, is one of them. This vibrant neighborhood is a great place to discover the lively traditions, excellent cuisine and interesting business community of Singapore’s Muslim-Malay community.

The history of Kampong Glam

Kampong Glam was once a fishing village at the mouth of the Rochor River. The Malay word “kampung” means “village” and the area was famous for the gelam tree (myrtle heath) that grew here and was used for shipbuilding.

In 1822, British Governor Sir Stamford Raffles allotted the area to Malay Sultan Hussain Mohammed Shah as a residential area for the Malay and other Muslim ethnic groups. However, Kampong Glam was a multi-ethnic settlement area from the beginning, with Chinese, Indians and people from other countries also settling there.

Today, although Kampong Glam is no longer the main neighborhood of the Muslim Malay community in Singapore, the community still has strong ties to the neighborhood. In particular, the Sultan Mosque, located in Kampong Glam, is still its most important religious center.

Characteristics of Kampong Glam

Like the Chinatown and Little India neighborhoods, Kampong Glam has been given new life in recent decades as part of a large-scale restoration. New businesses, stores, bars, restaurants and art galleries have sprung up in the old commercial and department stores, especially on Arab Street, Baghdad Street and Bussorah Street. Together with the neighborhood’s traditional businesses, such as carpet, textile and spice shops, this results in a colorful and vibrant shopping and dining scene. Those looking to shop in Kampong Glam should also be sure to stroll down Haji Lane, which is lined with original boutiques and hip café-bars.

If you are looking for culinary delights, Kampong Glam is the place to be anyway. The district is best known for its excellent Malay cuisine. From nasi padang (steamed rice with various dishes) to kuih (Malay cake), you can feast on various local specialties.