Joanna James
When you think of Singapore, temples are not typically the first things that come to mind. Yet, for those seeking a dose of spirituality in the Lion City, the city-state is home to a host of ornate temples that also treat you to a slice of traditional architecture and ancient history.
Five storeys high in the historic quarter of Singapore’s vibrant Chinatown, the Chinese Buddhist temple is renowned for housing one of Buddhism’s most precious relics in the world, a left canine tooth of the Lord Buddha himself. The invaluable tooth is said to have been sourced from Kushinagar, India, following the death of the Buddha, and presently rests in the sanctuary of a majestic 320-kilogram gold stupa deposited on the fourth floor of the five-storey temple. While the sacred tooth relic is the obvious highlight, the temple’s striking style and structure are also worthy of your admiration, which is meticulously designed to resemble the Tang Dynasty architectural style and the Buddhist Mandala.
The rather small Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple might not be among the city-state’s most visited temples, but a visit surely wouldn’t be in vain. Despite its yet-to-be-discovered popularity, the temple is one of the oldest in Singapore and an important landmark in Little India. Take a wander around the tranquil place of worship and retreat to one of the finest hotels in Singapore Central the likes of Hotel 81 Heritage.
Sri Mariamman Temple in downtown Chinatown basks in the glory of being Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple. Dating all the way back to the early 19th century, the ancient temple has seen devotees in droves ever since. The temple boasts a remarkable ancient Dravidian architectural style, with beautiful sculptures galore complementing the incredible architectural magnificence. Since Colonial times, the historical temple has been the only temple in the city-state authorised to perform Hindu marriages and is a popular choice for weddings in the Singaporean Hindu culture to date.
Among the whole host of temples that call the historical quarter of Singapore’s Chinatown home, Thian Hock Keng Temple is the oldest, and moreover, the most prominent of Hokkien culture. The history of the striking temple goes back as far as the early 19th century and has been built for the worship of Mazu, a Chinese sea goddess. As Singapore embraced its seafaring era, the temple consistently served as a preferred destination for Chinese traders and sailors.
Dating back to 1875, the Burmese Buddhist Temple is the oldest Theravada institution and the only Burmese Buddhist temple of its kind in Singapore. The architectural magnificence boasted throughout the temple is as impressive as its long history and certainly makes for a treat for the eyes of all visitors.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
