The Indian Heritage Centre (IHC), under the management of the National Heritage Board and with support from the Indian community, traces the history of the Indian and South Asian communities in the Southeast Asian region. The four-storey IHC building is an iconic, unique and sustainable building that blends both traditional Indian as well as modern architectural elements. The architectural design
for the facade of IHC is inspired by the baoli (or Indian stepwell), and seeks to create an urban forum for the celebration and appreciation of Indian culture. It houses five permanent galleries, small scale museum facilities, a museum shop as well as programming and activity spaces. Situated at 5 Campbell Lane, the Centre also serves as a springboard for visitors to explore Little India and enjoy the sights, sounds and scents of the historical precinct. IHC’s permanent galleries (located at levels 4 and 3) feature five themes which are arranged chronologically to span 1st century CE to the 21st century. The galleries present, through artefact and interactive displays, the history of interactions between South and Southeast Asia, depict the experiences of the Indian community in both Singapore and Malaya in the colonial period, and highlight the contributions of the Indian and South Asian communities to Singapore’s nation-building efforts. IHC was opened by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 7th May 2015 and will offer year-round exhibitions, programmes and activities to promote greater public awareness and appreciation of Indian heritage, arts and culture.
