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    Brickfields (Little India)
    Renek78 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Malaysia

    Brickfields (Little India)

    CityCulture

    Brickfields is Kuala Lumpur's Indian quarter, right next to the transport hub KL Sentral. Along Jalan Tun Sambanthan the air smells of jasmine and spices, and Tamil film music drifts out of the shops.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Malaysia
    7. Kuala Lumpur
    9. Brickfields (Little India)
    Brickfields is Kuala Lumpur's Indian quarter, right next to the transport hub KL Sentral. Along Jalan Tun Sambanthan the air smells of jasmine and spices, and Tamil film music drifts out of the shops. Here you can buy saris and gold jewelry, eat banana-leaf rice or dosa, and visit temples of three religions within a few hundred meters.The area is well suited to half a day, for example before or after a trip from the airport.

    Sights in Brickfields (Little India)

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Jalan Tun Sambanthan
    Market

    1Jalan Tun Sambanthan

    The main street of Little India is adorned with colourful arches and columns. Here, sari and gold shops, flower vendors with jasmine garlands, and stores selling spices and sweets line up. It's busiest here before Deepavali in October or November.
    Open in Google Maps
    Sri-Kandaswamy Temple
    Temple

    2Sri-Kandaswamy Temple

    The Hindu temple on Jalan Scott was built in 1902 by the Tamil community from Ceylon and is dedicated to the god Murugan (Skanda). Morning and evening Pujas are held, which you can respectfully observe. Weddings are also celebrated in the temple's festival hall.
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    Buddhist Maha Vihara
    Place of Worship

    3Buddhist Maha Vihara

    The Sasana Abhiwurdhi Wardhana Society, an association of Sinhalese Buddhists, founded the Theravada monastery in 1894. It is one of the city's oldest Buddhist temples and is still managed by the Sinhalese community today. For the Vesak Festival, the temple is the focal point of the celebrations. Visitors are welcome.
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    Essen & Trinken

    1

    Vishal Food & Catering

    Chettinad restaurant on Jalan Scott, known for banana leaf rice with spicy Tamil Nadu-style curries. On the banana leaf, you get white rice or biryani with vegetable curries, dhal, and rasam; rice and vegetables are refilled. Open daily from morning till late evening, with queues on Sundays.
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    2

    Sri Paandi

    This spot on Jalan Tun Sambanthan is a hub for breakfast and late meals. You'll find Dosa and Idli with chutneys; for lunch, banana leaf rice. Simple decor, affordable, and usually busy.
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    3

    Saravanaa Bhavan

    Branch of a South Indian chain with purely vegetarian cuisine. Known for its many dosa varieties, Thali platters at lunchtime, and filter coffee. Air-conditioned and clean, it's a good introduction if you're trying South Indian food for the first time.
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    History and Culture

    From the late 19th century, the railway brought workers from South India and Ceylon to Brickfields. They established temples, schools, and associations that continue to shape the district today. Some of the old railway quarters can still be found on Jalan Rozario.Their diversity is reflected in the places of worship: The Sri-Kandaswamy-Temple of the Sri Lankan Tamils, the Sinhalese Buddhist Maha Vihara, the Holy Rosary Church from 1903, and the Chinese Sam-Kow-Tong-Temple from 1916 are just minutes apart.The biggest festival is Deepavali, the Festival of Lights in October or November. The streets then fill with stalls selling sweets, clothes, and oil lamps.

    Exploring locally

    Brickfields borders KL Sentral, the city's main train station. LRT, MRT, Monorail, commuter trains, and the KLIA Ekspres to the airport all stop here. The Tun Sambanthan Monorail station is located right in the district.You can best explore the paths between temples, shops, and restaurants on foot. For destinations further away like Bangsar or the Lake Gardens, you order a car via the Grab app.

    Accommodations in Brickfields (Little India)

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    Nearby

    Perdana Botanical Garden

    Perdana Botanical Garden

    The Perdana Botanical Garden, still known to locals as Lake Gardens, is the green lung in the west of the city centre. Around a lake, you'll find lawns, ancient giant trees, themed gardens, and shady paths where people jog and practice Tai Chi in the mornings.Within and around the park, you'll discover the Orchid Garden and the Hibiscus Garden, the KL Bird Park, the National Monument Tugu Negara, and the National Museum. Come in the early morning or late afternoon, as it gets very hot on the open spaces at midday.
    Chinatown

    Chinatown

    Chinatown is Kuala Lumpur's oldest district. Around the covered Petaling Street, market stalls, street food vendors, and shophouses from the city's early days jostle for space. Between the stalls, a Taoist and a Hindu temple lie almost side-by-side; a few steps further, the Central Market sells handicrafts from all over Malaysia.By day, explore temples and alleys like Kwai Chai Hong; in the evening, noodle stalls and bars in the restored shophouses come alive. Bargaining is common when shopping at the market.
    Kuala Lumpur

    Kuala Lumpur

    Malaysia's capital combines the Petronas Towers and modern shopping districts with colonial buildings around Merdeka Square, a vibrant Chinatown, and the hawker stalls of Jalan Alor and Kampung Baru. Malays, Chinese, and Indians equally shape the city's appearance, which is particularly evident in its cuisine.
    Bukit Bintang

    Bukit Bintang

    Bukit Bintang is Kuala Lumpur's shopping and entertainment district. Along the eponymous street are large malls like Pavilion and Lot 10, and behind them lie the food street Jalan Alor and the bar strip Changkat Bukit Bintang. Many of the city's hotels are located here.
    KLCC and Petronas Towers

    KLCC and Petronas Towers

    The Kuala Lumpur City Centre district around the Petronas Towers is the city's modern showpiece. At the foot of the twin towers are the Suria KLCC shopping mall, a large park, and Aquaria. Covered walkways connect KLCC with Bukit Bintang.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI