Rochor

Rochor is a planning area located in the Central Region of Singapore. Within the planning area, there are various sub-zones such as Bencoolen, Farrer Park, Kampong Glam and Little India. Overall, residents of Rochor enjoy close proximity to the CBD which makes it a popular choice for expats. It is also an ideal location for locals with children who are still schooling due to the wide range of quality educational institutions available. Homebuyers can choose from HDB to private properties such as condominiums. 

Public transport and amenities in Rochor

To say Rochor is history-rich is not an overstatement. Rochor was populated even before Sir Stamford Raffles arrived in Singapore. It was a vibrant neighbourhood where Singapore’s first race course was built, and where businessmen resided to transport goods through the Rochor Canal. It was also the place of Singapore’s many firsts - the Cattle Trade, the building of municipal incinerators and the Sungei Road Thieves’ Market just to name a few. Today, Rochor is a good blend of the modern and the traditional, with new HDB and private developments, as well as many shophouses which have been preserved. 

Stay - Rochor

There’s a wide range of accommodation types in Rochor. Be it temporary or permanent housing, Rochor has them. A popular hotel is the Citadines Rochor which is a serviced apartment filled with dining, retail, fitness and cultural options spread across the area. It is also a few minutes' walk to Rochor MRT, perfect for tourists to access other attractions. 

Under the new Prime Location Public Housing (PLH) model, Rochor BTO projects (River Peaks I & II) have been launched, creating greater diversity and accessibility with its relatively cheaper prices compared to the private options around the area. 

The private developments in the area consist of both new launches and resale. Most recently, the former three-storey residences at 2,4 and 6 Emily Road have been sold and a new launch condo is in the works.

There are also many resale options available and some of the more prominent ones include The Bencoolen, Sophia Hills, Sophia Residence, Liv on Wilkie, Parc Emily and more which range from big to small developments. 

Shop - Rochor

Rochor is a haven for shopaholics. Within a short walk from Rochor MRT Station, there are several shopping malls. Sim Lim Square is known for its variety of electronic goods and services. Bugis Street nearby is popular with tourists as it sells plenty of souvenirs and local snacks. Just beside it is Bugis+, a decent-sized shopping mall with retail options like UNIQLO, Sephora, Bershka and Samsonite. 

Part of what Rochor has to offer is Little India. Little India is home to Mustafa Centre, which is described as ‘Singapore’s Walmart’. The shopping centre sells everything stacked to the rafters. Think shelves and shelves of everything from shampoos to painkillers, to shoes to jewellery in brands and varieties that you haven’t seen before. Then, just when you thought you have gone through all of it, another section opens up for you to explore.

On top of that, true to its name, Little India is the go-to place for Indian accessories. Prices of clothing range widely with Stylemart on Selegie Road charging hundreds of dollars for a sari to more affordable options at Tekka Centre and the shophouses along Serangoon Road. If you are looking for fresh produce, visit Tekka Market or the stalls at the shophouses selling spices, fresh fruit, and vegetables.

For more fashionable items and boutique stores, the Kampong Glam district is the place to go. Haji Lane is filled with vintage finds, independent designer stores and quirky street art. If you’re into fabrics and textiles, Arab Street is also the place for you. 

Rochor is also bordered by other exciting shopping options. Near to Farrer Park MRT is the 700,000 sq ft City Square Mall. It’s packed with over 200 retail stores that cater to your every need. Rochor is also a short distance to malls in the Orchard Road Shopping Belt such as Plaza Singapura, The Cathay and the many malls along Orchard Road like 313@Somerset, Orchard Central, ION Orchard, Paragon, Ngee Ann City and more. 

Eat and Drink - Rochor

Rochor is truly a food haven. From traditional to modern cuisine, Rochor has it all. Top of the list of popular food in the area would be the Rochor Beancurd offered by Rochor Beancurd House. A traditional dessert adored by both the old and the young, Rochor ‘Tau Huay’ continues its legacy. 

You will also find many delicacies in seemingly obscure places of Rochor. An example will be Salted Egg Yolk Pork Ribs from Taste Good (好味), located on the second level of Sim Lim Square. Another traditional option will be Win Seong Fatty’s Restaurant which dishes up affordable zi char. 

Even more affordable options include Tom Yam Fried Fish U-Mian and White BeeHoon at Hot Spot Cafe Restaurant, Thai Boat Noodles (Boat Noodle Express), Japanese Curry Express and more. 

There are plenty of Instagrammable food options such as cafes and ice cream parlours. Merely Ice cream, Le Cafe Confectionery and Pastry serve up affordable desserts that are also picture-perfect for the gram. Lowercase Cafe @ Lasalle serves up simple and affordable cafe food. May’s Kafe @ The Bencoolen serves up aesthetic food with a bright furniture theme. 

Hawker options range from Tekka Centre to Berseh Food Centre on Jalan Besar and more, serving authentic local food at economical prices. 

Play And Live - Rochor

Living in the Rochor neighbourhood, you’ll enjoy living in a vibrant cultural hotspot. Little India is one of Singapore’s liveliest and most colourful districts. With narrow little lanes and a bustling community, it is quite unlike the rest of orderly Singapore. 

There is so much history and culture in Little India that attracts tourists and locals alike to visit. For starters, there are many temples to see; from The Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, one of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore to The Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple which is also called the Temple of a Thousand Lights.

Besides visiting the temples, you can also wander the colourful roads, streets, lanes and alleys, admire the architecture, try on a sari or get a henna tattoo. 

Rochor is extremely liveable as well with medical facilities around such as the famous Rochor Dental Clinic and Rochor Centre Clinic. Rochor is also located near Farrer Park Hospital, Raffles Hospital and the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. 

Rochor Neighbourhood Police Centre (Rochor NPC) also ensures the security of the area. 

Learn - Rochor

There are two rather prominent primary schools in the vicinity, Anglo-Chinese School (Junior), Farrer Park Primary, St. Margaret’s School (Primary) and Stamford Primary. Stamford Primary has had a long history in the neighbourhood since it was established in the year 1951. Moreover, artists and dreamers may come to nearby Little India. This is why the LASALLE College of the Arts, the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and the School of the Arts, all leading art schools in Singapore, are situated in the vicinity. 

For higher levels of education, Singapore Management University (SMU) is also in the area. First of its kind in Singapore, SMU announced its new College of Integrative Studies in 2022 that will focus on interdisciplinary education. 

The Rochor neighbourhood is also a short drive to schools in the highly coveted Bukit Timah area, where schools such as Singapore Chinese Girls’ School, St. Joseph’s Institution, Raffles Girls’ Primary, Nanyang Girls’ High and Hwa Chong Institution are located.

Move - Rochor

Image source: By ZKang123 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=98882201

Rochor has excellent transport links. The Rochor MRT station sits on the Downtown Line which provides easy access to Chinatown, Bayfront, Telok Ayer, Bukit Timah as well as the eastern and western parts of Singapore. Little India MRT station is also in the vicinity and provides access to Outram Park, Clarke Quay, HarbourFront and Serangoon all in under twenty minutes on the Northeast Line. Situated in an area where the MRT network is dense, there is also the Bencoolen MRT station (Downtown line) and Bugis MRT station (East West and Downtown line) which are very accessible. 

There are also plenty of buses to Bugis, Dhoby Ghaut, Lavender, Boon Keng, Novena and Bukit Timah. On top of that, residents will also be able to get to other parts of Singapore via the Central Expressway (CTE).

Park and Gardens - Rochor

The Rochor neighbourhood is a true inner-city suburb with some nature. Nature lovers can step out to Mount Emily Park, take a stroll down to Dhoby Ghaut Green, or perhaps even visit the famous Fort Canning Park. There are also smaller neighbourhood parks like Somme Road Playground for casual sporting activities like running and games. 

Adventurous nature lovers can even wander down to the Kallang River, and Rochor Canal all the way to the Singapore River. Perhaps that is the charm of living near the CBD. 

Another exciting development by NParks will be the Bukit Timah-Rochor Green Corridor. The Bukit Timah-Rochor Green Corridor, as its name suggests, will be a new linear park built along the Bukit Timah Canal, connected up to the Kallang Riverside Park. It will be lined with lush greenery and completed in phases set to be completed from 2025 onwards. When it is completed, Rochor’s appeal will greatly increase as residents get to engage in more sporting activities like hiking. 

Sports Facility - Rochor

Sports fans and outdoorsy types frequent the Farrer Park Tennis Centre and Swimming Complex and the Jalan Besar Sports Centre. Farrer Park Tennis Centre is a tennis centre managed by Sport Singapore. It is one of the most centrally located tennis facilities in Singapore and it has 8 well-maintained tennis courts and 2 tennis walls with good lighting. 

Located at 1 Rutland Road, the tennis centre is about a 10-minute walk from Farrer Park MRT or Little India MRT. It is also accessible via the CTE or Bukit Timah Road. Next to the tennis centre is Farrer Park Swimming Complex. There is also the Farrer Park Fields which is a nice spot for soccer and Frisbee. On top of that, Jalan Besar Sports Centre is also in the vicinity. Located along Tyrwhitt Road, Jalan Besar Stadium is a 6,000-capacity football stadium, a home base for the Young Lions, one of the S.League football teams. Other than the stadium, the community sports facility also includes a swimming complex as well.

For gym-goers, the F45 Training Gym at Rochor is also a popular choice for residents in the neighbourhood. F45 Rochor offers its signature workouts that cover cardio, resistance and core strengthening.