As a multi-cultural country, Singapore Temples is a great choice for a holiday destination, be it for family, newlyweds, or even for you alone. The country has plenty to offer from mouth-watering cuisine, beautiful sandy beaches, breathtaking architectural structures, and many other things. Thanks to the diverse backgrounds of its inhabitants, there are different ethnicities that allow the island state have plenty of beautiful prayer houses and temples all over.
The following are some of the most magnificent temples in Singapore, but you need to have a map to not pass them unnoticed:
Sri Mariamman Temple
This is the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore. Sri Mariamman Temple was established in 1827 by Naraina Pillai, a Southern Indian business pioneer. It is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess of rain, Mariamman. It originally served as a shelter for the South Indian Tamil Hindu immigrants before they found employment and homes. Nowadays, it serves the Singaporean Tamil Hindus. In recent times, it is famous for its annual fire-walking ceremony (timiti) which typically happens in October. The most eye-catching elements for tourists in this temple are the Dravidian style elements with gopurams featuring different males and females representing various stories. The mythological statues inside of the temple complex are also great marvels.
The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum
This temple was opened in 2007 with much fanfare, but it represents a history dating back many centuries. It is undoubtedly one of the most iconic landmarks in Chinatown and the most famous Buddhist temple thanks to housing what is believed to be the tooth of Buddha, which is deemed a holy relic in Buddhism. It also houses tons of beautiful artwork associated with the life of Buddha as well as a garden and bookstore. Due to these, the temple can never be missed on the must-visit Singaporean Buddhist temple list or any other guided tour.
You cannot miss visiting the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum and others on your Singapore tour, which you can easily plan and make happen. While planning it, check out singapore-visa.net to help you process your visa hassle-free.
Thian Hock Keng Temple
This is one of the most significant and oldest temples for the Singaporean Chinese Hokkien community. It is dedicated to Ma Zu, the Chinese Goddess of the sea. The temple began as a joss house in 1821 and has gone through several makeovers over the years using community funds to become the impressive building complex that it is today. It represents Chinese architectural design and is made up of a cluster of buildings surrounding a central courtyard. With its rich Chinese history, customs, and culture, this temple is worth a visit when you get to Singapore.
Lian Shan Shuang Lin Temple (Monastery)
Also referred to as the Siong Lim Temple or the Shuang Lin Temple, this temple is famous as the oldest monastery in Singapore dating back to 1902. Concerning architecture, this temple mirrors others in the Southern Chinese provinces of Zhangzhou and Fujian. The temple’s several-tier gold-topped pagoda together with other signature Singaporean structures make a perfect and unique Singaporean shot for visitors who are photograph lovers.
Sri Krishnan Temple
This is a 148-year-old Hindu temple on the outskirts of the Bugis heritage district. It is dedicated to the Krishna, the Hindu savior, and Rukmini, Krishna’s wife. The temple was comprehensively restored in 2018 after four years of painstaking repair work. Today the temple is a great collection of Southern Indian religious items and art. The best day to schedule a visit to the temple is on Fridays in the evening when the temple is beautifully lit and prayers are happening. The beautiful exotic sculptures, blend of jasmine flowers and incense, and sing-song prayers are all magical experiences that will take a long time to fade from your memory.
Conclusion
The above are just a few of the most gorgeous temples that you should consider visiting while in Singapore, but there are so many. It is critical to plan in advance and have a map and guide so that you do not miss any of the temples or other places you may wish to visit.
