One of Singapore's hippest 'hoods, Kampong Glam is an Instagrammer's dream, all colorful 19th-century shophouses, cute cafés, chic boutiques, vibrant street art and heritage grandeur.
Kampong Glam is the name of the broader historic neighborhood. Key attractions here include the Sultan Mosque, Malay Heritage Centre, Arab Street, Muscat Street, and you guessed it—Haji Lane. It's known for its rich Malay-Muslim heritage mixed with modern cafes, street art, and boutiques.
Three of the key reasons to love Kampong Glam are the street art, the exotic smells and the culture. From Sultan Mosque to Arab St and Haji Lane, there's so much to do here, it's definitely one area that is a “must-see”.
Kampong Glam derived its name from the word “Kampung” which means “village” or “settlement” in Malay and “Glam” is the name of the gelam tree (Paperbark Tree), which grew in abundance in the area in early Singapore.
The area has a great mix of culture with the large Sultan Mosque, the indie neighborhood of Haji Lane and the old shophouses. Kampong Glam has much like other districts in Singapore been restored and refurbished to bring back the old vibe of it and attract more visitors. . . . . .
Kampong Glam (also spelled 'gelam') was once the seat of Malay royalty in a traditionally Malay urban residential area that stretched from Rochor Road to the banks of the Kallang River. It was bustling with various cultural and ethnic activities.
Kampong Buangkok, located in the northeastern part of Singapore on Lorong Buangkok, is the last surviving traditional village on the island. The village was founded in the 1950s by TCM businessman Sng Teow Koon.
Within Kampong Glam, two of the most famous streets are Arab Street and Haji Lane. Arab Street is known for its traditional textile shops, Middle Eastern restaurants, and the iconic Sultan Mosque.
Kampong Glam (originally spelt “Campong Gelam” when it was named around 1830) is one of 10 subzones of the Rochor area located in the central region. The estate covers 56 ac of land located to the east of the 19th-century European town in Singapore, between Rochor River and the sea.
Wander through the speciality shops lining Arab Street selling traditional handicrafts, Persian carpets, antiques, glittering jewellery, aromatic scents like perfumes, and unique souvenirs. These items can also be an alternative if you want to bring home some souvenirs for your loved ones.
What is the last surviving village or kampong in Singapore?
Kampong Lorong Buangkok (alternatively Kampung Lorong Buangkok; Jawi: كامڤوڠ لوروڠ بواڠكوق; Chinese: 罗弄万国村; pinyin: Luónòng Wàn Guó Cūn) is a village located in Hougang, Singapore. Built in 1956, it is the last surviving kampong located on Singapore Island in the 21st century.
As temperatures hardly vary from month to month, any time is a good time to visit. May and June are slightly hotter and more humid than other months of the year, while December is the wettest month, with several heavy rain spells.
What is the difference between kampong and kampung?
The word "kampung" is a Malay word that means settlement or village. It is also possible that the word Kampong later evolved into the English word compound, as in an area composed of many houses in an enclosed area.
The pinkish-brown timber has a uniform texture and is popular for use in carving, cabinet work, boat building, fencing as well as for fire wood. The bark flakes are used for insulation and for stuffing pillows.
Today, Joo Chiat Road is best known for its colourful rows of traditional Peranakan shophouses, dating back to the 1920s and 1930s, that line the narrow street. Joo Chiat's development began with attendant amenities and an electric tramway was built between the Joo Chiat-Changi Market and Tanjong Pagar.
Kampung means "rustic village style" in Malaysia and is a cuisine celebrated for its bold and varied flavors. A signature rebung dish is nasi lemak, which is rice boiled in coconut cream, a hard-boiled egg, sliced cucumber and tamarind chillies with anchovies, wrapped in a banana leaf.
Sng Mui Hong, owner of Singapore's last kampung, has turned down offers worth $70 million to keep the land her late father bought in 1956. She says it was his wish to keep the land for future generations. “Selling it would be wrong,” she said in a recent interview with content creators Wan and Zal.
Today, Kampong Gelam is a flourishing centre of Malay and Islamic culture, with the Sultan Mosque, madrasahs (religious schools), printing houses, and streets bustling with specialised trades of all kinds.
Is the largest ethnic group in Singapore is Malay?
The population of Singapore is diverse, the result of considerable past immigration. Chinese predominate, making up some three-fourths of the total. Malays are the next largest ethnic group, and Indians the third. None of those three major communities is homogeneous.
Everyone had a role to play, and no one was ever left behind. Then, Singapore transformed into a metropolis and the kampongs disappeared, replaced by modern housing. But, this new comfort has created physical and emotional distance between neighbours. Sad to say, we've murdered the Kampong spirit.
Arab Street is the centre of Muslim activities in that area, and is famed for its speciality shops, Muslim restaurants and more. Sir Stamford Raffles formed a Town Committee in 1822 and mapped out areas designated for individual communities to live in.
The Bugis originally came from the southwestern peninsula of Celebes (now known as Sulawesi), an Indonesian island located between Borneo and the Moluccas (now known as the Maluku Islands). An important seafaring people in Southeast Asia, the Bugis are traditionally known for their fierce character and sense of honour.
