Indian Heritage Centre

The Indian Heritage Centre (IHC), a heritage institution managed by the National Heritage Board (NHB), is dedicated to tracing the history of the Indian and South Asian communities in Singapore and the broader Southeast Asian region. Inaugurated on 7 May 2015 by then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, IHC aims to be a focal point for these communities to learn more about their diverse cultural heritage. It complements the narratives presented by the National Museum of Singapore and Asian Civilisations Museum by positioning the diasporic journey of the Indian and South Asian communities over two centuries as an integral part of the broader Singapore story and its multicultural fabric. Located in the heart of Little India, IHC also serves as a springboard for visitors to explore the lively sights, sounds, and scents of this historic precinct.

Over the years, IHC has cultivated a comprehensive collection of artefacts, including community donations and loans, with nearly 400 items representing the Tamil community, the largest sub-ethnic group within Singapore’s Indian population. This includes photographs and personal memorabilia of early Tamil pioneers, as well as documents related to Tamil print journalism, education, and associations. Notable highlights include a Kavadi from the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, G Sarangapany’s Singapore Citizenship Certificate, and a twentieth-century gold necklace (Kasumalai) belonging to Gnanapragasam Pillai. These items are displayed in IHC’s permanent galleries, which are organised into five themes showcasing the origins, migration, settlement and contributions of Indians and South Asians in Singapore. The galleries also feature digital interactives and audio-visual displays with videos of key Tamil festivals and rituals, as well as oral narratives from Tamil community members. Additionally, the Museum-Based Learning programme, drawing on the collections of IHC and developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education for Primary 5 students, enables them to learn about Tamil culture and the significant contributions of the Tamil community in Singapore, as well as the broader Indian community.  IHC offers regular guided tours of the galleries in English and Tamil, incorporating the Tamil language into its content production, including gallery guides, text panels, and publications.

In 2019, to commemorate Singapore’s Bicentennial and 200 years of Tamils in Singapore, IHC launched its fourth special exhibition, From the Coromandel Coast to the Straits: Revisiting Our Tamil Heritage, which explored the connections between the Tamils of the Coromandel Coast and Southeast Asia since the common era and traced the history of Tamils in Singapore, highlighting their vibrant presence, history, culture and contributions over 200 years. IHC, together with the Institute of Policy Studies, also published both English and Tamil editions of Sojourners to Settlers: Tamilsin Southeast Asia and Singapore, a seminal book that discusses the historical connections between Tamil regions and Southeast Asian polities, alongside lesser-known aspects of Tamil history and diversity in modern Singapore.

IHC also actively promotes Tamil heritage in Singapore through a variety of programmes and educational resources. One prominent example is its annual Pongal festival celebration, which offers an immersive experience for visitors and provides insight into the unique customs and traditions of the Tamil community in Singapore. Furthermore, IHC hosts travelling exhibitions to promote awareness and appreciation of the festival among a wider audience, thereby extending its educational outreach efforts.



For more information
Indian Heritage Centre. Accessed on 1 August 2025. https://www.indianheritage.gov.sg/en 
“Indian Heritage Centre.” Roots. Accessed on 1 August 2025. https://www.roots.gov.sg/places/places-landing/Places/museums/indian-heritage-centre 
“Indian Heritage Centre - Our Community Treasure.” Roots. Accessed on 1 August 2025. https://www.roots.gov.sg/stories-landing/stories/indian-heritage-centre-our-community-treasure/story 
“Indian Heritage Centre Media Factsheet.” National Archives of Singapore. Accessed on 1 August 2025. https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/20150516001/ihc_and_galleries_factsheet_-_final.pdf 

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The information in this article is valid as of August 2025 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. If you have any feedback on this article, please submit here.