Chinese temples in Singapore

In Singapore, you are free to follow your religion irrespective of what you are. Mainly three religions are prevalent in Singapore and these are Islamic, Christian, and Jewish. The main Asian religions such as Buddhism and Taoism are also there. They also have their places of worship in Singapore. Some of the Chinese temple’s name and location is mentioned so that you can visit them while in Singapore.

Temple of 1,000 Lights: The Temple of 1,000 Lights is the common name for the Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple. This is located at 336, Race Course Road which is situated near Searngoon Road.

The temple is surrounded by hundreds of lights and this is the main reason behind its naming. Worth seeing is 15-metre tall sitting Buddha in the centre of the temple. The architecture of the temple and its bright colours was inspired by a Thai monk called Vutthisasara. A smaller Buddha is positioned in a reclining posture. This was the last pose of the enlightened one as he prepared to enter nirvana. Some of the other artifacts include a figure of the Hindu elephant god i.e. Ganesh, a wax model of Mahatma Ghandhi, and a huge Buddha footprint inlaid with mother-of-pearl.

Thian Hock Keng temple: Thian Hock Keng is also known as the Temple of Heavenly Happiness. This is the oldest and also the most interesting Chinese temple in Singapore. This Thian Hock Keng was built circa 1820. This is a Taoist-Buddhist temple. Dedicated to to Ma Zu Po i.e. the Mother of Heavenly Sages and the protector of sailors, this temple is truly a heritage artifact.

You can visit this colourful temple at Telok Ayer Street which his situated in the middle of Chinatown. Previously, the temple was at the waterfront before Singapore embarked on its land reclamation. This was place where many sailors and early settlers came to offer thanks for a safe journey by sea. Elaborately painted doors as well as gold-leafed panels and highly-decorated beams are the attractive features of this temple.