5 Gurdwaras to Visit: Part 8 Gurdwaras in Singapore

Gurdwaras in Singapore

In this seventh article on the series about Gurdwaras around the world, I’m exploring some of the most famous Gurdwareh in Singapore. You can read the rest of the series by following these links:​

Part 1: Gurdwaras in the Midlands
Part 2: (More) Gurdwaras in the Midlands
Part 3: Gurdwaras in London & the South East
​Part 4: Gurdwaras in Europe​
Part 5: Gurdwaras in North America
Part 6: Gurdwaras in the Rest of the World
​Part 7: (More) Gurdwaras in the Rest of the World

Background to article

Sikhs have been emigrating to nearby countries and regions from before the dawn of the Khalsa Raj, but immigration increased rapidly after the fall of the Lahore Durbar - the largest Sikh Kingdom in Panjab. 

Immigration patterns largely followed areas of British rule or commercial interests and Singapore was one of the most important military settlements for the British in the 19th century. And while most Sikhs came to Singapore as part of the army and becoming a key part of the local police force, the earliest recorded Sikh in Singapore was a Sikh freedom fighter and political prisoner, Bhai Maharaj Singh. Maharaj Singh ranks as one of the greatest Sikh freedom fighters in history, beginning a guerilla battle against British forces directly after the first Sikh War of Independence (sometimes known as the Second Anglo-Sikh War), before his eventual capture (following betrayal) led to his exile in Singapore where he spent the rest of his life. 

As I did for the other previous articles, I want to set out a clear understanding of this list. This list is based solely on the architecture of the Gurdwara and does not consider aspects like the political stance of the Gurdwara or any committee issues. I'm not a local to many of these Gurdwaras so I might not understand where committees are good or bad, I can only make a judgement on my brief visits.

Secondly, I understand that Gurdwaras are supposed to be humble places to meditate and connect with the timeless. I also agree that any excess money should be spent on community projects to uplift the most vulnerable in society and not add golden domes to Gurdwaras. I think this current generation is effecting this change with community projects bring set up all over the UK (you can see a list of them here). 

For a more detailed background to these articles, I strongly suggest reading the background section of my first article on UK Gurdwaras here.

An honourable mention for Pardesi Khalsa Dharmak Diwan (pictured above). The Gurdwara is located in a tall block which looks like flats but is home to the Gurdwara and Buddhist centre. It reminded me of the Tokyo Gurdwara which is in a similar building, I also though the Takht where Guru Sahib resides is gorgeous.

5. Sri Guru Singh Sabha

The Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Singapore dates back to the very early decades of the 20th century but it has obviously been rebuilt, refurbished, and extended several times since its founding. It's surprising because we think of old Sikh Gurdwareh outside of Panjab and neighbouring India and Pakistan to be in Canada and the UK, but Singapore has a large collection of Gurdwareh that are over 100 years old.

This Gurdwara has two entrances: one is through a car park passageway where you then walk up a large staircase to climb to the main building - while the other is at a higher street level. In any instance, as soon as you enter the main building, you are in a very large darbar sahib, perhaps the largest (certainly the longest) of any of the Gurdwaras on this list.

The darbar hall is very modern, completely white, with digital screens laid out throughout the hall that provide English translations to Gurbani as it is being sung or spoken. During my visit there was beautiful kirtan being sung, and I sat and listened for a long time. The langar hall was well proportioned and on the perimeter were paintings showing Sikh history - from Gurus to Shaheeds (martyrs). 

The things that impressed me the most about this Gurdwara was the unique layout on a hill which meant that either entrance of the Gurdwara was on completely different floors, and the clean, crisp design of the darbar sahib with modern touches like the translation screens which were nicely positioned throughout the hall.

4. Khalsa Dharmak Sabha

A five-minute walk from Sri Guru Singh Sabha is the Khalsa Dharmak Sabha. The Gurdwara is located in a largely residential area, but the size means it stands out of its surrounding. This was the busiest of the Gurdwaras during my visit to Singapore.

The langar hall is located on the first floor and was incredibly busy, while the main darbar hall is located a floor above. The stairs are quite steep, so by the time you reach the darbar hall, it is a decent climb - I saw a few aunties taking a rest on the stairs (there is also a lift you can use). 

The darbar hall is a more traditional layout, and during my visit it was relatively busy with a Gurbani Santhiya class going on which was nice to see. The traditional layout made it also feel more familiar,  a little more like the types of Gurdwareh that we have in the UK.

What I liked about this Gurdwara is that it feels a key part of the local community, embedded within a residential district, but it seems to have had the space to grow into a large and well used Gurdwara.

3. Gurdwara Sahib Katong

The Gurdwara, dating back to the 1950s, is located in a residential area and it dominates the street in which it stands, much like Khalsa Dharmak Diwan, but it does so in a more elegant way in terms of architecture. The surrounding area seems largely to be well-off Sikhs as the houses were a decent size (especially for Singapore) and I saw a lot of Panjabi families walking in and out of the houses.

The exterior facade blends traditional Sikh architecture, with modern styles, like a glass frontage. The architectural design is relatively unique when compared to Gurdwareh that I have visited around the world, and that's what makes it so unforgettable.

Inside, there is a beautiful darbar hall, while downstairs there is a very large langar hall and kitchen that straddles inside and outside the main building. I noticed several kids playing football downstairs and it took me back to my childhood when we would do the same in my local Gurdwara in England. I loved the energy, the Gurdwara was quite full, lots of youngsters, and it was a brilliant experience. In that respect it was a little like the Gurdwara I visited in Hong Kong (that you can read about here).

2. Central Sikh Gurdwara

There is no doubt that the Central Sikh Gurdwara is the largest Gurdwara on this list, and a key visual representation of the Sikh influence in Singapore.

​The Gurdwara is also known as the Baddha Gurdwara (big Gurdwara) and it is not only large, but also extremely influential. Outside, the Gurdwara lives up to its name, standing out on the cross junction that it stands on with a huge footprint that seems to cover most of the block. On the street there are signs with descriptions about the history of Sikhs in Singapore as well as the building of the Gurdwara, which has been in one form or another since 1912.

Hanging from the walls of the Gurdwara on the exterior facade was a very large banner with a quote from Guru Gobind Singh from Bachittar Natak, and it is something everyone passing by can see. Inside, the Gurdwara is about as unique as they come. The description also shared how at one point they had to ban western tourists as the Gurdwara was being filled with drugged up hippies. The Gurdwara, as with a few others, also had guidelines on what men and women should (and shouldn't) do and wear when visiting, which makes me think this has been a problem over the years.

​There is a decent sized langar hall downstairs, but as you go upstairs, the first thing you see is a large water pool and you need to walk past it in order the get into the darbar hall. The pool is large, relaxing, and I've never seen anything like this in any other Gurdwara before.

Inside, the darbar hall is very large, again, wider than it is long, and rather than walking directly through the centre of the hall, in order to get darshan (blessings) from Guru Granth Sahib, you first walk around the edge of the hall near the wall, a unique way of entering the darbar sahib. It also means the genders can mix together as they used to in Panjab before the British influenced protestant beliefs led to a separation of men and women into different sides. Again, the takht is absolutely stunning, it's more covered than the one at Pardesi Khalsa Darmik Diwan, and is a beautiful white with a lattice pattern.

1. Bhai Maharaj Singh Memorial + Silat Road Gurdwara

If you want a microcosm of the Sikh community in Singapore, the Silat Road Gurdwara is the place to visit. The original Gurdwara was built by the Sikh police contingent in Singapore in 1924 and today's Gurdwara stands on the side of an incredibly busy dual carriageway on the perimeter of the city centre.

A small bridge crosses the main road a short distance from the Gurdwara, and from here you can really see the Gurdwara, built in traditional Sikh architecture with a large bunga (tower), stand next to more modern or western style buildings which show an incredible contrast. The main entrance is large and well signposted, and directly inside is a well-proportioned langar hall. The langar hall was busy, but the darbar hall was completely quiet during my visit. Again, the takht, in white, looked beautiful, and there were also screens to translate Gurbani.

Downstairs, and to the side of the main Gurdwara side, is one of the most important Sikh sites in Singapore and for me the place that belongs unequivocally at the top of this list. The Bhai Maharaj Singh Memorial is a small memorial dedicated to a Sikh freedom fighter who led one of the first ever independence movements against British rule in the subcontinent. After the First Anglo Sikh War, Bhai Maharaj Singh, born Nihal Singh, was a key player in Sikh revolutionary activities and his story (which you can read here) is absolutely incredible.

Today, the Bhai Maharaj Singh Memorial stands beside the Silat Road Gurdwara, having been moved several times throughout Singapore's history. There is a small darbar hall which is perhaps the most perfect darbar hall I have ever visited. The darbar hall is circular in shape and worshippers sit all around the Guru Granth Sahib. I've visited this shrine several times during my trips to Singapore, and each time I've found it beautiful, peaceful, and an important part of Sikh history in the country. I barely visit the interior of the Silat Road Gurdwara and instead spend all my time here.