To the world, Singapore comes out as one of the fastest modernized nations with chic shopping malls and cruises conducted and vibrant economy, but little do the world know that a part of Singapore still lives in its royal past, when the Singapore’s aristocratic family resided and dominated the whereabouts of the nation. Step on to Kampong Glam and you will know that you have been transported back through the sands of time and the glamour and royal feel still exits in every corner. The Chinese and the Indians as well as the Malays formed their own little haven in Chinatown, Little India and Geylang Serai, and the rest of the Muslims and Arabs made Kampong Glam their home with the passage of time. Today, you can still feel that history and the traditional Islamic lifestyle reside in and dominate every corner of Kampong Glam.
With the treaty of 1819 signed between British East India Company, Sultan Hussain Shah and Temenggong Abdul Rahman, the British got the permission of trading from Singapore and the land got divided into the ethnic areas out of which Kampong Glam was given to the Sultan of Singapore and his family for his residential use. And then, the Sultan allowed the Muslims and Arabs and even the Malays to reside in this area. Over the years, except for the increase in population, not much about the area has changed. Rather, the Sultan’s Palace and the various shops in the region have been restored over time to bring out the exact feel and flavor of the times gone past.
There are many places of interest in the Kampong Glam area which are of exceptional importance to the tourism factor of the nation. These are:
The Sultan Mosque – Located on the Bussorah Street, this mosque can be said to be one of the icons of the nation. Being the largest in Singapore, at a time about five thousand Muslims can pray together. Its structure alone with the stupendous golden dome is the perfect example of the Islamic architecture of Singapore.
Bussorah Mall – This is the most amazing part that brings out the traditional charm of the Kampong Glam as it houses shops selling traditional clothes, handicraft items, furniture, jewelry as well as delectable Malay flavors.
Istana Kampong Glam – The place of the sultan, it depicts the rich history of the nation and the Malay culture and has today been transformed into a heritage museum and has been named, the Malay Heritage Centre.
Arab street – The most famous street in the area, this is where once items related to Islamic region were sold, but has now turned into a hub of the designer’s den where, some of the most priceless materials required for designing and creating rich clothing are sold.
Browse through the links of visittosingapore.com to know all about Singapore, as the site not only provides information on Kampong Glam, but also other interesting areas of this nation. So enjoy surfing!
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