People Places Tours & Trails

Highlights of the Kampong Gelam Heritage Trail by Friends of the Museums Singapore

by Malay Heritage Centre
4 - 5 May • 10:00am
4 - 5 May • 05:00pm

Discover the rich history of Kampong Gelam, once home to Malay royalty and a hub for Haj pilgrims. This 60-minute tour will uncover stories from the various buildings and sites within the precinct.

Highlights-of-the-Kampong-Gelam-Heritage-Trail-by-Friends-of-the-Museums-Singapore

Timings:

Saturday, 4 May | 10am - 11am & 5pm - 6pm

Sunday, 5 May | 10am - 11am & 5pm - 6pm

 

Venue: Kampong Gelam

Meeting Point: Aliwal Arts Centre Courtyard (Next to Tipo Pasta Bar), 28 Aliwal St, Singapore 199918

Fee: $10 (refundable deposit)

Registration Link: mhcxshf24-highlightsofkght.peatix.com

 

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 for 2021) that lure us.

 

But reach back in time and Kampong Gelam has a fascinating and storied place in Singapore’s history. Did you know it was the home of Malay royalty in Singapore for 180 years? That it was a hub for 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  that Uncle Tan, the last street barber in Singapore, plied his trade for over 40 years, tucked away in one of the many laneways?

 

Things to note:

  • The tour is conducted in English.
  • Recommended for ages 7 years and above. MHC reserves the right to deny admission to children aged 6 years old and below.
  • Each ticket admits one participant only.
  • The tour duration is approximately one hour..
  • The meeting point for the tour is Aliwal Arts Centre Courtyard (next to Tipo Pasta Bar).
  • Kindly arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the programme commences for registration.
  • This is a rain-or-shine event. Participants are encouraged to bring their own umbrellas or ponchos.
  • Please note that photographs and videos of attendees taken at this event may be used for publicity and outreach purposes.
Malay Heritage Centre

The Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) showcases the history, culture and contributions of the Malay community within the context of Singapore's history and multi-cultural society. MHC's permanent galleries focus on the history of Kampong Gelam and showcase an interesting collection of artefacts from the National Collection and the Malay community.

Through its exhibitions and programmes, the centre aspires to be a vibrant destination of historical and cultural significance for both Singaporeans and international visitors.

The Malay Heritage Centre is under the management of the National Heritage Board in partnership with the Malay Heritage Foundation.





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