Dhoby Ghaut (/ˌdoʊbi ˈɡɔːt/ DOH-bee GAWT) is a place in Singapore that often refers to the MRT station of the same name, which is a major interchange station on Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit network connecting the North-South Line, North East Line, and the Circle Line. As a place, Dhoby Ghaut lies along the eastern end of Orchard Road. There is a shopping mall above the MRT station called Plaza Singapura.
Dhoby Ghaut | |
|---|---|
Subzone of Museum Planning Area | |
| Name transcription(s) | |
| • Chinese | 多美歌 |
| • Pinyin | Duōměigē |
| • Malay | Dhoby Ghaut |
| • Tamil | தோபி காட் |
 Plaza Singapura, a mall in Dhoby Ghaut before refurbishment | |
.svg)  Dhoby Ghaut Location of Dhoby Ghaut within Singapore | |
| Coordinates: 1°17′54″N 103°50′46″E / 1.29833°N 103.84611°E | |
| Country | Singapore |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.2220 km2 (0.0857 sq mi) |
| Population (2020)[1] | |
• Total | 320 |
| • Density | 1,400/km2 (3,700/sq mi) |
Etymology
editDhoby Ghaut was influenced from Dhobi Ghat, which literally means washerman's place in Hindi, from dhobi, "washerman" or one that does laundry, and ghat, referring to a series of steps leading down to a body of water,[2] as in the case of the Varanasi ghats by the Ganges. The Hindi term ghat passed into English usage during the British occupation of India, and was later anglicised to ghaut.[3]
Around this time, the British had also ruled Singapore, which influenced the naming of this area.[4]
Early history
editUntil the early 1900s, the dhobis used water from a clear stream that flowed into Sungai Bras Basah, now Stamford Canal. This stream now exists as a large drain beside Handy Road. The ghats, or steps leading down to the stream, were demolished when Sungai Bras Basah was canalised. The dhobis would then dry the laundry at Dhoby Green, the open park bounded by Stamford Road, Handy Road, Bras Basah Road and Prinsep Street.
See also
edit- Dhoby Ghaut, Penang, Malaysia
- Dhobi Ghat, Mumbai, India
References
edit- ^ "Dhoby Ghaut (Subzone, Singapore) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ^ "Dhoby Ghaut | Infopedia". Archived from the original on 11 December 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ Allsopp, Richard; Allsopp, Jeannette (2003). Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage. ISBN 9789766401450.
- ^ "Dhoby Ghaut". www.roots.sg. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
External links
edit
 | This Singapore location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |