Little India
George Town
An open public neighbourhood — free to wander any time; most shops and eateries run from daytime into the evening.
Free
What is Little India?
Little India is George Town's Indian quarter, centred on Market Street (Lebuh Pasar) and the surrounding lanes in the heart of Penang's UNESCO zone. It is packed with sari and textile shops, spice and jewellery traders, flower-garland sellers and South Indian and Indian-Muslim eateries, and is free to explore on foot.
Little India is the Indian enclave at the heart of George Town, centred on Market Street (Lebuh Pasar) and spilling into Lebuh Queen, Lebuh Penang and part of Lebuh Chulia. It is one of the most vivid corners of the UNESCO World Heritage zone: shophouses sell saris, embroidered silk and cotton, Kashmiri shawls, gold jewellery, stainless-steel ware, spices, foodstuffs and fresh flower garlands, while restaurants and roadside stalls serve South Indian and Indian-Muslim food. Among the shops you'll also find barbers, astrologers and money changers — a working neighbourhood as much as a tourist sight. Market Street is known in Tamil as Kadai Teru, the 'street of shops', and takes its English name from a market that once stood on the nearby shore. It's free to wander and sits within easy walking distance of George Town's clan houses, temples and mosques.
History
Read the full history of Little India
Market Street (Lebuh Pasar) was named after a market that once stood on the shore at what is today Market Street Ghaut. The surrounding streets were settled by South Indian migrants, whose presence remains conspicuous today, and the area lies within the core zone of the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 2008.
Map & Directions
Insider Tips
- •Come hungry — the South Indian and Indian-Muslim stalls and banana-leaf restaurants are the real draw.
- •Market Street is the place for textiles and spices: saris, embroidered silk, Kashmiri shawls and fresh flower garlands.
- •It's compact and central, so fold it into a George Town heritage walk with the nearby clan houses and Street of Harmony.
- •Explore on foot and slowly — the character is in the narrow, shop-lined streets, not any single building.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Little India in Penang?
It is the Indian enclave in the heart of George Town — a cluster of streets, centred on Market Street, full of Indian shops, traders and eateries within the UNESCO World Heritage zone.
Where is Little India in George Town?
Around Market Street (Lebuh Pasar) and the adjoining Lebuh Queen, Lebuh Penang and part of Lebuh Chulia, running between Beach Street and Pitt Street in central George Town.
What can you buy or do in Little India?
Shops sell saris and textiles, embroidered silk and cotton, Kashmiri shawls, gold jewellery, stainless-steel ware, spices, foodstuffs and flower garlands. You'll also find barbers, astrologers and money changers.
What food is there in Little India?
Restaurants and roadside stalls serve a wide variety of South Indian and Indian-Muslim food.
Why is Market Street also called Kadai Teru?
Kadai Teru is the street's Tamil name, meaning 'street of shops'. The English name, Market Street, comes from a market that once stood on the nearby shore.
Is it free to visit Little India?
Yes — it is a public neighbourhood of open streets, free to wander on foot at any time.
