Chulia Street, George Town on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
Chulia Street is one of the oldest roads in the city of George Town within the
Originally, the street was named Malabar Street, after the Indians from Malabar who moved to George Town.
The term '
Malabar Street was laid out soon after the founding of
Malaysian state
Malaysia is a federation of thirteen states and three federal territories, which form the primary administrative divisions of the country. Eleven states and two territories are part of Peninsular Malaysia, while two states and one territory ...
of Penang
Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. Th ...
. Created after the founding of George Town in 1786, it forms part of the city's Little India
Little India (also known as Indian Street, India Bazaar, or India Town) is an Indian people, Indian or South Asian sociocultural environment outside India or the Indian subcontinent. It especially refers to an area with a significant concentra ...
enclave, whilst also boasting a multicultural character due to Indian Muslim and Chinese influences.
In addition, Chulia Street has a large concentration of budget accommodation for tourists, as several shophouses along the road have been converted into hostels and guesthouses. Chulia Street is also well-known as a food paradise within Penang
Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. Th ...
, due to the numerous hawker stalls and restaurants along the street that serve local cuisine.
Etymology
Originally, the street was named Malabar Street, after the Indians from Malabar who moved to George Town.
The term 'Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
in India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
. That particular region was formerly part of the Chola Kingdom
The Chola dynasty () was a Tamil dynasty originating from Southern India. At its height, it ruled over the Chola Empire, an expansive maritime empire. The earliest datable references to the Chola are from inscriptions dated to the 3rd cent ...
, hence the term Chulier''History
Malabar Street was laid out soon after the founding of Penang
Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. Th ...
in 1786 by Captain Francis Light
Francis Light ( – 21 October 1794) was a British sailor and explorer best known for founding the colony of Penang and its capital city of George Town in 1786. Light was the father of William Light, who founded the city of Adelaide in South A ...
. The road marked the original southern limits of the new settlement of George Town.
The street was renamed Chulia Street in 1798, as the British recognised that most of the Indians
Indian or Indians may refer to:
Associated with India
* of or related to India
** Indian people
** Indian diaspora
** Languages of India
** Indian English, a dialect of the English language
** Indian cuisine
Associated with indigenous peoples o ...
who moved to the street were, in fact, from Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
. The early inhabitants were Muslims, and they subsequently built a number of religious buildings along Chulia Street, such as the Nagore Durgha Shrine and the Noordin Family Tomb.
Due to the influx of ethnic Indians
Indian or Indians may refer to:
Associated with India
* of or related to India
** Indian people
** Indian diaspora
** Languages of India
** Indian English, a dialect of the English language
** Indian cuisine
Associated with indigenous peoples o ...
along Chulia Street, the road has become part of George Town's Little India
Little India (also known as Indian Street, India Bazaar, or India Town) is an Indian people, Indian or South Asian sociocultural environment outside India or the Indian subcontinent. It especially refers to an area with a significant concentra ...
enclave. However, while the population of Indian Muslims along Chulia Street began to decline in the late 19th century, ethnic Chinese
Chinese may refer to:
* Something related to China
* Chinese people, people identified with China, through nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity
**Han Chinese, East Asian ethnic group native to China.
**'' Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic ...
were simultaneously moving into the road, thus contributing to Chulia Street's multicultural character.
Since the early 20th century, Chulia Street has gained its reputation as the destination for budget tourists. Budget hostels and guesthouses, along with businesses such as laundries, restaurants, bars and travel agencies, now operate out of the rows of shophouses lining the road. In recent years, upmarket hotels have also been established along Chulia Street.
See also
* List of roads in George TownReferences
{{GTRoad Chulia