Best Temples in Singapore

Sri Mariamman Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore, dedicated to Goddess Mariamman, a Hindu deity known for curing illness, disease and epidemics. The temple reflects the Dravidian style of architecture prevalent in South India. The gopuram, a typical feature of this architectural style, is widely regarded as an architectural delight, drawing tourists and pilgrims.

Type: Hinduism

Located in the historic Chinatown district of Singapore, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is a Chinese Buddhist Temple. The five-storey temple is famed worldwide for storing what is supposedly the left canine tooth of Lord Buddha, recovered from his funeral pyre in Kushinagar, India.

Type: Buddhist

Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple is one of Singapore's major Buddhist temples, located at the Waterloo Street. Dedicated to Kuan Yin or Avalokitesvara, the Goddess of Mercy, devotees believe that they are blessed after worshipping at this temple, which makes it important to the Chinese community living in Singapore. Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple is also very popular for its divination predictions, which are claimed to be highly accurate.

Type: Buddhist

Leong San See Temple is a Buddhist temple in Singapore located in Little India in Singapore’s Kampong Glam area. First built in 1926, this shrine is dedicated to Guan Yin or Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, the Taoist Goddess of Mercy. Literally translating to ‘Dragon Mountain Temple,’ Leong San See Temple is famed for its intricate, ornate roof carvings and serene locale. The altar of the shrine holds a dedication to the Chinese philosopher Confucius – families come here in droves to pray for intelligence, piety, and critical thinking.

Type: Buddhist

The Thian Hock Keng Temple is Chinatown's oldest and most important Hokkien temple in Singapore, translating into a 'Palace of Heavenly Happiness. Also known as Tianfu Temple, it was built for the worship of Mazu, a Chinese sea Goddess. A tranquil refuge, the beautiful temple features highly symbolic architectural designs: the stone lions standing at the entrance supposedly ward off evil spirits, and phoenix and peony paintings (in the central hall) epitomizes peace and good tidings.

Type: Hokkien

Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple is a Buddhist monastery situated at the Race Course Road in Singapore. Known for housing one of the tallest Buddha statues, the temple is regarded as one of the most significant religious sites in Singapore. The 15 feet high statue and the architecture of the temple are known to be influenced by Thai, Indian, and Chinese styles.

Type: Buddhist

Situated at the Mohamed Sultan Road in the river valley region within the central area, Hong San See is a Chinese temple in Singapore dedicated to Guang Ze Zun Wang, the Chinese God of Fortune. Hong San See, meaning 'Temple on Phoenix Hill', is built on a slightly elevated ground. The temple is beautifully preserved and is an epitome of Southern-Chinese temple architecture, making it worth visiting while in the area.

Type: Hinduism

Located in the heart of Singapore's 'Little India', Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is one of the oldest and grandest Hindu temples in Singapore. A riot of colours and magnificence, the temple is dedicated to Veeramakaliamman or the goddess Kali, the fierce embodiment of Shakti, and the 'destroyer of evil'. Built in the South-Indian Dravidian style of architecture, the spectacular temple is the nexus of the Hindu community in the Lion City, along with being visited by tourists in large numbers.

Type: Hinduism

The Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple is a Hindu place of worship located along Serangoon Road in Little India, Singapore. A shrine to Lord Vishnu, the Hindu God of Preservation, this temple is known for its magnificently ornate 20-metre-high Gopuram (entrance tower) which depicts the various incarnations of the deity. The Dravidian architecture is a visual masterpiece, with thousands of intricate sculptures and paintings adorning the five-tiered tower and ceiling.

Type: Hinduism

Impossible to miss while visiting Waterloo Street, the colourful Sri Krishnan Temple is a Hindu temple in Singapore dedicated to Lord Krishna and his consort Rukmini. Initially established as a tiny shrine under a banyan tree, the temple today comprises of a large prayer hall and a massive four-storeyed annexe. Standing in close proximity to the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, Sri Krishnan Temple draws pilgrims and tourists from various religious and ethnic backgrounds.

Type: Hinduism

Another temple located paradoxically in Chinatown neighbourhood of Singapore, Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesh, brother or Lord Murugan. Like the other South Indian temples, this marvellous temple also stuns with its exquisite architecture and vibrantly carved gopuram. Hordes of worshippers throng the temple between Thursdays and Sundays to circumambulate 108 times to fulfil their vows.

Type: Hinduism

The sacred Taoist temple Siang Cho Keong Temple, sitting in a quiet corner of Amory Lane in Singapore, was established in 1867 by the local Hokkien Community. Formerly known as Zhi Yun Miao, the humble sanctuary was built on its chosen site because it is resembled good feng shui, with a sea in front and a hill behind this holy structure, and has stood on the same location. The Siang Cho Keong Temple is usually overlooked by many since it does not draw a lot of attention as compared to the other Chinese temples in Singapore. However, it can be considered as one of the most underrated temples in the Lion City.

Type: Taoism

Situated at the Geylang Avenue in Singapore, the stupendous Sri Sivan Temple is a place of worship of the Hindu God, Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the temple. This magnificent temple can very well be considered as a modern structure, with the fusion of both South and North Indian architectural influences adding to the aura of this holy place.

Type: Hinduism

Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple is a Hindu Temple located on 555 Serangoon Road of Little India in Singapore. It is dedicated to Vadapathira and Kaliamman deities who were worshipped by the Chola Kings during their reign for power and protection. The Goddess is the female counterpart of Brihadeeswarar Temple located in Thanjavur of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Type: Hinduism

The Balasubramaniar Temple, located at Yishun Industrial Park in Singapore, is one of the most popular Hindu temples in the metropolitan. It is mostly visited during the annual Panguni Uthiram’ festival held in March-April, during which the idol of Lord Murugan is carried out in a huge colourful procession.

Type: Hinduism

Located at Ceylon Road in Singapore, the Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple is a 150-year-old Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The temple is most famous for the four granite structures depicting Lord Ganesha in 32 poses. This was the successful work of 20 Indian artisans who spent 20 years on this masterpiece. The Vinayagar Shrine is from the time of the earliest groups of Sri Lankan Tamil immigrants in Singapore.

Type: Hinduism

Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, on Tank Road, is one of Singapore's most beautiful and vibrant temples. Completed in 1859, it is also one of the oldest. Since the temple was built by the Nattukkotai Chettiyar community, who were Shaivas or worshipers of Lord Shiva, the temple is also often called Chettiyar's Temple. It is constructed in Dravidian, or South Indian style of architecture, whose highlight is the colourful roof, or the gopuram.

Type: Hinduism

Sri Muneeswaran Temple, considered to be the largest shrine in Southeast Asia dedicated to Sri Muneeswaran, is situated on the Tanglin Halt Road at Commonwealth Drive Singapore. Along with the presiding deity, the temple also includes the idols of several well-known Hindu gods like Lord Vinayagar, Sri Durgai Amman, Sri Ayappan, Sri Krishna and Sri Mariamman, to name a few. It is also said to be the only temple in Singapore to house the deities of Sri Naga Raja and Rani.

Type: Hinduism

Sitting behind the crimson gates at Peck Seah Street, the quirky Seng Wong Beo Temple, also known as the Du Cheng Huang Gu Miao Temple, has unflinchingly preserved the age-old practice of hosting ghost marriages. Devoted to Wei Ling Gong, the Chinese City God, this temple is where the wedding bells are chimed for the deceased.

Type: Hinduism

Burmese Buddhist Temple is one of the most popular among the myriad of Buddhist temples in Singapore, located near the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall. This place of worship is the oldest Theravada institution and the sole Burmese Buddhist Temple with traditional Burmese architecture in Singapore. The colossal temple is guarded by two lion-like figures, known as chinthes, along with a huge, pure white marble statue of Buddha, which is a sight to behold.

Type: Buddhist

Situated in Changi Village of Singapore, Sri Ramar Temple is dedicated to the Hindu God Rama. One of the most popular Vaishnavite temples in the city, it houses the idols of Lord Rama, Lord Buddha and Quan Yin - the Chinese Goddess of Mercy. This makes it one of the few temples enshrining varied religions. The highlight of the temple is the colossal statue of Lord Hanuman.

Type: Hinduism

Well known as Wak Hai Cheng Bio, Yueh Hai Ching Temple is one of the oldest Taoist temples in Singapore. Located in Raffles Place in the heart of Singapore’s central business district, the temple is dedicated to Xuan Tian Shang Di and Tian Hou Sheng Mu, and is also known as the 'Temple of Love'. Yueh Hai Ching Temple has a mesmerising asymmetric layout that reflects Chinese architecture with immense Taoist influence making it a must-visit for people who love exploring ancient architecture or have a spiritual bent of mind.

Type: Taoism

The sacred Wei Tuo Fa Gong Temple is a Buddhist place of worship situated at the gorgeous island, Pulau Ubin in Singapore. Seated on a small hillock that offers a beautiful view of a nearby pond teeming with turtles and carps, this pristine temple houses shrines dedicated to different Hindu and Buddhist gods. The sight of innumerable coloured prayer flags adorning the area is breathtaking, beckoning a considerable number of visitors. The exquisite Wei Tuo Fa Gong Temple emits a serene aura that is perfect to meditate in peace.

Type: Buddhist

Another Murugan temple in Singapore, Sri Murugan Hill Temple is located along the Upper Bukit Timah Road. Located on top of a hillock, the vibrant architecture and intricate carvings are what makes the temple worth visiting. The major draw of the Murugan Temple is the commanding view of the entire city.

Type: Hinduism

The Lakshmi Narayan Temple, located in the Little India neighbourhood, is the only temple catering to the North Indian Hindu community in Singapore. Quite unlike the captivating South Indian temples, it is built somberly in plain architectural style with no towering gopuram or exquisite carvings. The temple is worth visiting to experience North Indan traditions and culture.

Type: Hinduism

The vibrant Kuan Im Tng Temple is situated at the heart of Joo Chiat in Tembeling Road Singapore and is thronged by devotees throughout the year. In addition to being a temple, Kuan Im Tng (devoted to Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy) also doubles as a spiritual hub for the Buddhist fraternity and home to the religions of Taoism and Confucianism. This feature makes Kuan Im Tng Temple stand out from the other temples, as it has managed to accommodate the essence of three different religions with panache into the "Xian Tian Sect". If seeking peace and quietude, make sure to visit this temple in Singapore on weekdays.

Type: Taoism

The Loyang Tua Pek Kong is a multi-religious temple in Singapore, hosting three varied religions under a single roof - Hinduism, Buddhist and Taoism. En route Changi Village, this all-faith temple even has a shrine dedicated to Datuk Kung, a Malay mystic saint. Epitomizing the cosmopolitan soul of Singapore, Loyang Tua Pek Kong houses a 2-metre tall statue of Lord Ganesh, believed to the tallest in the country. Marvel at the intricate wooden carvings and hundreds of dazzling sculptures of different deities.

Type: Hindu, Buddhist and Taoism