You don’t have to be religious at heart to explore Singapore’s alluring temples. These beautiful places of worship draw visitors not only for their spiritual atmosphere, but also for spellbinding locations, incredible architectural features, show-stopping views, and rich historical heritage.
Visiting Singapore’s temples provides travelers with the opportunity to experience the cultural side of the city at its best. But with over 20 temples, all unique in their own way, there’s a lot to witness at the same time.
To help you narrow down where to go, we’ve rounded up the 10 most beautiful temples in Singapore. Read on to discover more, and to get an insight into the historical tales behind these magical sites!
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The 10 Most Incredible Temples In Singapore
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is one of Singapore’s most impressive sites. Located in the historic Chinatown area, this Chinese Buddhist temple is famed worldwide for housing what is supposedly the left canine tooth of Lord Buddha, recovered from his funeral pyre in Kushinagar, India.
Built-in 2007, this beautiful temple is housed in a gigantic 320 kg solid gold stupa, which has been extensively researched to replicate the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty and the Buddhist Mandala. It boasts richly designed interiors and comprehensive exhibits on Buddhist art and history.
Address: 288 South Bridge Rd, Singapore 058840
Burmese Buddhist Temple
The Burmese Buddhist Temple is one of the most beautiful Buddhist temples in Singapore. Founded in 1875, it is the oldest Theravada institution and the only Burmese Buddhist temple of its kind in the city.
This alluring temple is smothered top to bottom with precious details that will instantly captivate you. Some of its top highlights are the largest pure white marble statue of the Buddha outside Myanmar, and a majestic Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa), which can be seen in the compound grown from a seed from its parent tree at Mangala Vihara Buddhist Temple. A Buddha image lies under the Bodhi tree to remind people that Sakyamuni Buddha attained Enlightenment while meditating under a Bo tree at Bodh Gaya, in the Ganges valley, around 600 BCE.
Address: 14 Tai Gin Rd, Singapore 327873
Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
Located in Little India, Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple is one of the oldest temples in Singapore. The temple was built in 1855 in dedication to Lord Perumal (Krishna), a personification of Lord Vishnu, and largely reflects the style of South Indian shrines.
On the walls of the temple’s entrance, you’ll find a row of statues of gods and goddesses. Sri Srinivasa Perumal also boasts a six-tiered ‘gopuram’ beautifully decorated with sculptures that throw light on Lord Vishnu’s diverse manifestations. Inside, you’ll come across a statue of Perumal, or Vishnu, his consorts Lakshmi and Andal, and his bird mount, Garuda. The temple ceiling is artfully embellished with a colorful circular pattern depicting the nine planets of the universe.
The Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple hosts several traditional festivities, including Brahmotsavam, Vaikunda Ekathesi, and Purattasi Sani.
Address: 397 Serangoon Rd, Singapore 218123
Thian Hock Keng Temple
Thian Hock Keng Temple is the oldest Chinese temple in Singapore. Also known as the temple of Heavenly Happiness, this Taoist-Buddhist temple was built circa 1820 in honor of Ma Zu Po, the Mother of Heavenly Sages and the protector of sailors. Not by chance, the temple used to be visited by immigrants that went there to give thanks for their safe passage across the vast waves of the South China Sea.
Steeped in rich history, the temple is praised for its strikingly beautiful architecture in the traditional southern Chinese style. The Thian Hock Keng Temple is artfully ornate with detailed carvings and sculptures of dragons, phoenixes, and deities, as well as the colorful broken porcelain on the roof ridges, a Fujian decorating technique.
Address: 158 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068613
Sri Mariamman Temple
Welcome to the Sri Mariamman Temple, the biggest and oldest Hindu temple in Singapore. This serene temple is dedicated to Goddess Mariamman, known for her power in curing epidemic illnesses and diseases, and served as a refuge for new immigrants during colonial times.
Built in 1827 in the Dravidian style, Sri Mariamman boasts a gopuram richly decorated with six tiers of sculptures of Hindu deities, other figures, and ornamental decorations. Within the walled compound, the temple encompasses a combination of covered halls, shrines, and breezy courtyards open to the sky. Leading directly from the gopuram entrance through a covered hall is the main prayer area, with ornamented columns and ceilings with frescoes.
Address: 244 South Bridge Rd, Singapore 058793
Sri Krishnan Temple
Sri Krishnan Temple is Singapore’s only temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and his wife, Goddess Rukmini. Erected in 1870 and gazetted as a national monument of Singapore in 2014, this spectacular temple is a sight to behold with its main shrine is made of manually ground Chinese pebbles and granite, and a dome adorned with deities, as well as copper and gold plating with intricate design.
The temple’s main entrance welcomes visitors with statues depicting the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu, a wedding scene, and Garuda, Vishnu’s mount. The gopuram is double-sided and embellished with statues studded with semi-precious stones.
Address: 152 Waterloo St, Singapore 187961
Wat Ananda Metyarama
Buddhist Temple is the oldest and only Thai Buddhist temple in Singapore that receives royal patronage from the Thai Royal Family. In 2014, the temple received a new extension designed by Czarl Architects, and thanks to its striking juxtaposition of traditional and modern, the building was nominated for the 2014 World Architecture Festival Awards.
One of the temple’s most incredible features is the mural depicting the major landmarks of Singapore.
Address: 50B Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 169545
Sri Murugan Hill Temple
One of Singapore’s most famous Hindu temples, Sri Murugan Hill Temple was founded by Shanmugam, a plumber attached to the RAF who spotted a small statue that resembled a shrine of the Hindu god Sri Muneeswaran.
The principal deity of Sri Murugan is Lord Muruga, but other deities like Lord Shiv & Shakti, Lord Ganesha, NavGraha, Shre sai baba, Shri Hanuman, Shri Annapoorni, Shri Durga, Aiyappan, Shri Subramaniyam, Rahu Ketu, Shri Naga Rajar, Shri Vairavar, and Shri Idumbar also grace the temple.
Sri Murugan boasts a unique structure, quite unlike any other temple in Singapore. It features a basement doubling up as a wedding hall, and an upper floor that contains the temple. There are three sanctums: Murugan, Vinayagar, and Siva-Shakti.
Address: 931 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678207
Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple
Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is one of the busiest temples in the Little India district. The Temple was built in 1881 by Bengali immigrants to honor the Hindu goddess Kali, which is known to be the destroyer of all evil.
Images of Kali within the temple show her wearing a garland of skulls and ripping out the insides of her victims. Known for its hypnotizing beauty, this otherworldly temple also has colorful and intricate statues and detailing, making it one of the most spectacular places of worship in Singapore.
Address: 141 Serangoon Rd, Singapore 218042
Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple
Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple is a major place of worship for devotees of Guan Yin (Kuan Yin), the Chinese goddess of mercy. The temple was originally built in 1884, but rebuilt in 1982 to increase its capacity due to the high number of worshipers visiting the site. Especially during the Chinese New Year period, the temple is visited by thousands of devotees that plant their Chinese Fortune Sticks sticks at the stroke of midnight in order to ask goddess Kuan Yin for good luck.
Address: 178 Waterloo St, Singapore 187964
FAQ
What is the biggest temple in Singapore?
Built by Zhuan Dao in the early 20th century, the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery is the largest Buddhist temple in Singapore.
How many temples does Singapore have?
There are over 25 temples in Singapore.
What is the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore?
Built in 1827, The Sri Mariamman Temple is Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple.
What are the most famous temples in Singapore?
The best temples in Singapore are:
- Buddha Tooth Relic Temple;
- Burmese Buddhist Temple;
- Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple;
- Thian Hock Keng Temple;
- Sri Mariamman Temple;
- Sri Krishnan Temple;
- Wat Ananda Metyarama;
- Sri Murugan Hill Temple;
- Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple;
- Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple.
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