Indian Heritage Centre preserves migration history in Johor Bahru

The Indian Heritage Centre in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, displays artifacts that trace the history of Indian migrants who traveled to Malaya.

Located within the grounds of the 115-year-old Arulmigu Rajamariamman Devasthanam Temple, the center opened in 2023 to showcase the lives and work of generations of Indian people. The collection features original ship tickets from the SS Rajula and MV Chidambaram, which transported passengers from India to Penang and later to rubber estates.

Other exhibits include rubber-tapping tools, goldsmithing equipment, and transaction records from the Chettiar community. These objects illustrate how migrants established communities and worked in various industries in the region. Visitors can also view cultural items such as traditional cooking utensils, musical instruments, and various types of thaali, which are marriage necklaces worn by Hindu women.

The center also houses official documents, including a 1911 land grant from Sultan Sir Ibrahim Sultan Abu Bakar that allowed for the construction of the temple. The center attracts an average of 100 visitors daily and relies on authentic items donated by the local Indian community.