Pagoda Street
Pagoda Street was named after the pagoda-like gopuram of Sri Mariamman Temple, the largest and oldest Hindu temple in Singapore.
Pagoda, meaning a temple, is also used to refer to a temple's pyramidal tower, called gopuram in Tamil.
In the early days, Pagoda Street was known for its opium smoking dens.
By the 1950s, the shophouses here were mainly involved in retail trade and services.