For many of us, Kampong Gelam means a stroll along Arab Street, 'the' place to come to for high quality textiles and carpets. Or perhaps it's the bars, street art and chilled vibe of Haji Lane (voted eighth 'Coolest Street in the World' in Time Out magazine June 2021 edition) that lure us.
But reach back in time and Kampong Gelam has a fascinating and storied place in Singaore history. Did you know it was the home of Malay royalty in Singapore for 180 years? That it was a hub for the thousands of Haj pilgrims from across the region setting out for Mecca each year? Or that dozens of diamond cutters from Kalimantan worked their magic from row upon row of shophouses? Or even Uncle Tan, the last street barber in Singapore, plied his trade for over 40 years, tucked away in one of the many laneways?
Our docents will each bring a unique flavour and focus to the tours - Haj travel hub, Back to school, Edible Kampong Gelam to name but a few. The tours are approximately 90 minutes long and are held each Wednesday morning and every second Saturday, starting out from Permata Singapore Restaurant at 73 Sultan Gate.
Registration is open to the public one week prior through the Eventbrite website, under 'Heritage Tours'. Click here to check out the theme of the next tour and register on Eventbrite.
FOM organises these tours in collaboration with the Malay Heritage Foundation (MHF).
Coordinator
Robyn Lloyd
Alice Chua