Little India and Masjid India Mosque in Kuala Lumpur: is it worth going, what to buy and how to get there on your own

Description and is it worth visiting

The Little India district on Jalan Masjid India is located in the central tourist part of the city, next to Chinatown and the Golden Triangle. Don't confuse it with the larger Little India area in Brickfields, which is located near KL Sentral station (link to a separate guide). There's only one street here, but it's very vibrant. Like in Chinatown, there's a street market here, only the traders are from India. In our opinion, shopping here isn't as exciting as on Petaling Street, because the Indian traders are more aggressive. But on the other hand, it's noticeably cleaner and more spacious here. If on Petaling Street in the evening you have to literally squeeze between the rows, here you can walk calmly and browse the goods. They mainly sell clothes, fabrics, shoes, souvenirs, and lots of brand counterfeits. You definitely need to haggle. It's probably not worth coming across town just for this market, but if you're already walking around the center or came out of Masjid Jamek station, it's worth checking out.

Even if you don't plan to buy anything, it's worth taking a walk through this colorful area. The main attraction is the Masjid India mosque. It is built in a unique architectural style and faced with red polished granite — it looks very impressive in photos. The mosque is active, so tourists need to follow the rules: covered clothing and silence. They let you inside outside of prayer times. Around the mosque is the same market, but the atmosphere here is more relaxed than in neighboring Chinatown. We ourselves walked here with a camera, took real photos (all the pictures in this article are ours, not stock), and never regretted turning in here instead of spending another hour in a shopping mall.

On the main street Jalan Masjid India, there is a whole row of cash currency exchange offices. In our experience, this is one of the best rates in this part of the city. If you're staying in the Golden Triangle or Chinatown, feel free to come here to exchange — the difference can be significant.

There are also many hotels and guesthouses in the area at good prices. The atmosphere here is calmer, neater, and cleaner than in Chinatown near Petaling Street. So if you're looking for budget accommodation in the center, but don't want the night noise and dirt, pay attention to this area. Read more about choosing a hotel district in our guide: Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur: complete guide to districts and hotels with map and prices.

Watch our video of a walk through this area to see the atmosphere of Little India and the Masjid India mosque with your own eyes. We filmed it without embellishment, as it is.