Haji Lane

About this place

Haji Lane is a narrow street in Kampong Glam, near Masjid Sultan. It is known today for independent shops, cafes and colourful walls, drawing young people and photographers, yet its name tells an older story tied to the Hajj and Arab traders. The name comes from the businesses once found here, where Arab pilgrim-brokers arranged the Hajj for Muslims from Singapore and nearby islands such as Java. From the 1800s to the 1960s its shophouses served as lodgings for pilgrims on their journeys, and some worked nearby as hawkers to save enough to continue on their way. The lane runs between low old shophouses painted in bright green, blue and pink, some covered with large murals. Below them are clothing shops, independent stores, cafes and small bars. Modern towers rise above the roofs, setting two eras in one picture. The mood changes completely from a quiet morning to a loud, music-filled night. It is 100 m from Masjid Sultan and 500 m from the Hajjah Fatimah and Malabar mosques, so add it to a Kampong Glam walk. Mornings are best for pictures, most shops open around midday, and you may find bars at night, so choose your time. Be considerate when taking pictures, and watch for small vehicles, since the street is narrow.