SINGAPORE - A heritage trail taking people through nine stops in the heart of Little India - including a traditional Indian goldsmith, a spice merchant and the Sree Veeramakaliamman Temple - will be launched as part of this year's Deepavali celebrations.

Developed by the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association, the trail is targeted at both tourists and locals and is part of its SG50 efforts.

The kit can be purchased from participating outlets and the Little India Arcade for $29. It comes with a mobile app featuring a map, videos and audio commentary of the stops along the trail.

The association's chairman Rajakumar Chandra said: "We planned it to be an experiential tour of the historic district and to encourage people to explore the treasures of Little India."

Annual Deepavali celebrations will kick off with a light-up ceremony on Friday and run until Nov 2. The light-up will stretch from Selegie Road through Serangoon Road and Race Course Road.

A festival village covering 15,000 sq ft will also be set up. The association expects about two million people to visit the area during the festive period.