temples
Chinatown has three tourist attraction temples that individually are not too spectacular especially after spend months in Hong Kong and India. Collectively though they demonstrate the diversity and relative religious freedom in Singapore. Merely two blocks apart is the Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore's first Hindu temple constructed in 1843, and the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. Both temples are "active" and while the practitioners continue to represent the corresponding historical religion and ethic matches it's still noteworthy that they practice in peace.
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THIAN HOCK KENG TEMPLE
Daoist Temple so it has the bad ass gods. Locals continue to worship and leave candy, tea, and other items to curry favor with the gods. The central temple complex is surrounded by a few other smaller shrines. |
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BUDDHA TOOTH RELIC TEMPLE
Constructed in 2007, the Buddha tooth is not on public display. It's still worth a quick look inside and circling through the temple to admire the 100 Buddhas lining the walls of the inner temple. |
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SRI MARIAMMAN TEMPLE
South Indian temples are distinct for their statue adorned "steeples." There's always a slight let down once you head inside as the rest of the temple doesn't have the same wow factor as the gods and goddesses steeple. |
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