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"Penang's Little India is a colourful place which offers many specialised Indian stores and eating places. Take time to indulge in Indian specialities like spices, Indian music, garlands, trinkets and gold jewelry."
Introduction
Covering a cosy area around Lebuh Queen, Lebuh Chulia and Jalan Pasar (Market Street), Little India in the city of George Town, Pulau Pinang, is equally as fascinating as neighbouring Chinatown. Like Chinatown, Little India is a great place to visit if you are seeking an interesting shopping experience. All along these streets, you will find shops selling everything Indian – from gorgeous silk, cotton and brocade saree materials to stainless steel tiffin carriers. And the generous number of money changers sprinkled in this area, particularly along Lebuh Chulia, is certainly a convenience.
As you make your way from one interesting shop to the next curio, you'll be entertained by a number of shops blasting Hindi and Tamil music nearly at full blast. Another interesting attraction within Little India is the Sri Mariamman Temple, located on the corner of Lebuh Queen and Lebuh Chulia.
History
During the early days of the settlement, Lebuh Chulia was alloted to the Indian immigrants as their enclave. However, over the years, the Chinese immigrant settler community grew in size, resulting in Little India being cocooned in the centre of the ever-growing Chinese community and bordering what is today referred to as Chinatown. The Indian immigrant settlers took up a variety of roles in the settlement, as agricultural labourers, money lenders and spice traders.
Food
This Indian quarter of George Town is also a great place to set off on a gastronomic adventure. Seek out the many home-made, fresh off the stove treats including thosai, puri, roti chanai, a variety of biryanis, tandoori chicken and a banquet of curries from vegetarian curries to local favourites like fish-head curry. Or try a simple, vegetarian banana leaf meal, served on a fold of banana leaf, and usually accompanied with a dessert – a simple but satisfying meal that will definitely not hurt your wallet. You may also order a side dish of crispy deep fried fish, chicken curry or dry mutton curry. Remember to fold the banana leaf in half along the bone of the leaf to indicate that you're done with your meal.
Related Events & Festivals
During annual celebration of Thaipusam in George Town, Hindu worshippers carrying their kavadi begin their procession from the Sri Mariamman Temple, making their way through George Town all the way to the Nattukotai Chettiar Temple along Jalan Kebun Bunga, near the waterfalls.
For more information, please contact:
Penang Tourism Action Council
56th Floor, KOMTAR
10000 Penang
Tel : +604-262 0202
Fax : +604-263 1020
Email : enquiry@tourismpenang.gov.my
Last viewed - July 19, 2008
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