Dhoby Ghaut, Singapore

Dhoby Ghaut Green Amphitheatre, Dhoby Ghaut, Singapore

Molly Dasca, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dhoby Ghaut (GPS: 1.2985, 103.84595) is an urban neighbourhood or subzone within the Central Business District of Singapore. It is located west of the Civic District, within the Museum Planning Area, and is today marked by the Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station. It also marks the eastern end of Orchard Road.

Dhoby Ghaut was named after the older Dhoby Ghaut of George Town, Penang, which in turn borrowed the name from the ghats in India.

The name comes from two Indian words, "dhobi" (धोबी in Hindi) referring to a caste group of Indians who maintained the laundry profession, and "ghat" (घाट), referring to a pier or stone steps leading down to the water edge. The water in question refers to Sungai Bras Basah, which was later canalised as Stamford Canal, and is today entirely covered and out of sight.

Today the dhobys and their laundry profession has entirely disappeared from the Dhoby Ghaut area in Singapore, although it is still being practised at the Dhoby Ghaut in Penang.

Places of interest in Dhoby Ghaut include Dhoby Ghaut Green and The Atrium @ Orchard.