Traditional Trades of Little India: Street Art Guide | Singapore Purple Travel Guide
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Backpack and Snorkel Purple Travel GuideLocated on the side of a heritage shophouse along Belilios Lane, the Traditional Trades of Little India mural is a sprawling masterpiece of street art. Painted by the celebrated local artist Yip Yew Chong, this mural serves as a large-scale visual archive of the neighborhood's social history. It does not just decorate the wall; it reconstructs a scene from the early to mid-20th century, capturing the laborers and craftsmen who built the foundation of this ethnic enclave.
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But we realize that not everybody likes to walk by themselves in a foreign city. So, just in case that you rather go with ab guide: NO PROBLEM! Please see the GuruWalk and Viator tours below.
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Why You Should Visit
If you want to understand what Little India looked like before the arrival of modern shopping malls and paved roads, this mural is the best place to start. It is designed to be life-sized and immersive, allowing you to walk ‘into’ the history of the district. For photographers, it offers a textured and meaningful backdrop that tells a story far deeper than a standard tourist site.
What is Special About It?
- Nostalgic Realism: The mural depicts several ‘vanishing trades’ in one continuous scene, including parrot astrologers, dhobis (laundrymen), and cattle herders.
- The Parrot Astrologer: Look for the section featuring a man with a small cage. This refers to the traditional Indian fortune-tellers who used trained green parakeets to pick ‘fate cards’ for customers.
- The Laundry Scene: A large portion of the mural honors the dhobis who used to wash clothes in the nearby Sungei Road, drying the linens in the open fields that once occupied this area.
- Intricate Details: Yip Yew Chong is known for hiding small details in his work—look for the tiny household items, vintage advertisements, and expressions on the workers' faces that bring the scene to life.
History and Facts
- Completed in 2016: The mural was commissioned as part of the Artwalk Little India festival to celebrate the heritage of the precinct through contemporary art.
- Reflecting the Cattle Industry: The inclusion of cattle in the mural is a direct nod to the history of the Serangoon area, which was the center of Singapore’s livestock trade in the 1800s.
- The Artist's Connection: Yip Yew Chong based many of these scenes on archival photographs and the collective memories of the older residents still living in the district today.
Self-Guided Information
Category |
Details |
|---|---|
Opening Hours |
Open 24 hours |
Admission Fee |
Free |
Best Time to Go |
Early Morning (8:00 AM – 9:30 AM) to avoid the afternoon sun and delivery trucks that sometimes park in front of the mural. |
Getting There |
Located at Belilios Lane. It is a 4-minute walk from Little India MRT (Exit E). |
Accessibility |
The mural is at street level on a flat, paved lane, making it fully accessible. |
Traveler Tip
This mural is quite long, so to capture the whole scene in one photo, you will need to stand across the narrow lane. If you are looking for the ‘Parrot Astrologer’, he is located toward the end of the wall. After you finish here, walk just two minutes around the corner to find the House of Tan Teng Niah to continue your colorful heritage tour.
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Author: Rudy at Backpack and Snorkel
Bio: Owner of Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides. We create in-depth guides to help you plan unforgettable vacations around the world.
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