Tunes of The District
Restoran Tepak Sireh
The Rich History of Kampong Glam
By Ramachandran Manikandan
Sultan Mosque
Istana Kampong Glam
Said to have been originally a fishing village located at the mouth of the Rochor River, Kampong Glam grew to become a sizeable early settlement of Malays and Arabs. In Malay, "Kampong" means "village" and "Glam" is the name of a tree, which grew abundantly in the area. Some believe that the name "Glam" in Kampong Glam could have come from the Gelam tribe of sea gypsies that used to live in the area. Whatever the case, it was an established community long before the Chinese and Indians settled in Singapore. Within Kampong Glam today, through which Arab Street, Bussorah Street and Kandahar Street run, you will find many places of great historical interest.
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Tunes of The District
Bussorah Street
There is the Istana Kampong Glam, which was the residence of the last Sultan who ruled Singapore. The Sultan's descendants continued to live there until fairly recently. It is currently being restored and is expected to be open to the public before the end of this year. Next to it is the Gedong Kuning (Yellow Mansion), which originally belonged to the Sultan's Treasurer. It now houses a restaurant called Restoran Tepak Sireh (which opened in December last year). The restaurant serves authentic Malay cuisine and offers cultural performances in an elegant setting. It is a popular venue for weddings. There is also the Sultan Mosque, regarded by many as the unofficial State mosque. It is Singapore's largest mosque. The original mosque was built in 1825 and the current mosque was completed in 1928. It is large enough to accommodate up to 5,000 worshippers and it is a magnificent building worth a visit.
Arab Street
Although it has changed through the years, Kampong Glam still retains a distinct Islamic flavour. While many buildings have been renovated, they have kept faith with the area's architectural heritage. You will find many eateries offering Malay, Indonesian and Indian food, and there are an abundance of shops selling a whole range of items from semiprecious stones to spices, and from prayer mats to textiles. Many Muslims on their way to Mecca still head for Kampong Glam to equip themselves for their pilgrimage. Kampong Glam is well worth exploring. If you are looking for an alternative to one of the ubiquitous shopping centres, then Kampong Glam is the place for you. To get there, just take the MRT to Bugis (EW12) and walk along Victoria Street towards Golden Landmark until you hit Arab Street.
Arab Street
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