The Buddhist and Hindu communities in Malaysia have their daily rituals and religious celebrations at the temples.
Each temple has its unique architectural designs and history, dedicated to its ancestors and holy deities. If you started exploring Malaysia or planning to visit the country, here are 10 of the most visited temples in Malaysia to add to your bucket list.
- Chin Swee Cave Temple
- Kek Lok Si Temple
- Snake Temple
- Thean Hou Temple
- Sam Poh Tong Temple
- Khoo Kongsi Temple
- Ling Sen Tong Temple
- Sri Mahamariamman Temple
- Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple
- Batu Caves Temple
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJPRK1d6jBSR3TjHsElQMJg?sub_confirmation=1
Temples in Malaysia
1. Chin Swee Cave Temple
Chin Swee Cave Temple is at a rocky slope near the peak of Genting Highlands Resort. A temple is a sacred place for devotees to pray to Buddha and the Goddess of Mercy.
Discover the essence of Chinese traditions and beliefs within this religious temple. Explore the iconic nine-story pagoda, lit with 10,000 blessing lamps placed by the devotees and figurines of Buddha.
Sink in the wondrous panoramic views of Genting Highlands and enjoy the
the gentle cool breeze at the observation deck.
2. Kek Lok Si Temple
Located at the top of the hills of Penang Islands, Kek Lok Si Temple is an ornate 19th
century Buddhist temple. You can find millions of beautiful images of Buddha in the temple’s interior and exterior halls including hundreds of outstanding detailed carvings, sculptures, and murals.
The detailed architectural designs tell the significant meaning of Chinese culture
and Buddhist teachings.
There is a temple garden outside which you can walk and witness the beauty of this temple, including the three-tiered Kek Lok Si Pagoda with each tier having its architectural style related to Buddhism.
3. Snake Temple
Honoring the Buddhist priest and healer Choo Soo Kong, this temple was built in 1950. According to the legend, the priest provided shelter for the jungle snakes which are believed to have become the priest’s disciples.
These snakes made the temple their home after he passed away. If you walk through the temple entrance, you will see a big incense burner in the middle of the temple hall sculptured statues and carvings.
At the back of the temple is a snake pool with fruit trees coiled with snakes.
4. Thean Hou Temple
Known as the Temple of the Goddes of Heaven, Thean Hou is a six-tiered Buddhist temple.
It is also a shrine for worshippers of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism along with
contemporary architectural details and traditional ornate carvings.
Be amazed by its majestic entrance with red pillars of the temple’s dragon-inspired columns and pagoda rooftops.
Then Hou Temple has a Chinese medicinal herbs garden and tortoise pond.
5. Sam Poh Tong Temple
Sam Poh Tong Temple is located within a limestone hill of Gunung Rapat, Ipoh. It is a
magnificent temple of art and faith, with various Buddhist statues among natural
stalactites and stalagmites.
Sam Poh Tong Temple has a beautifully decorated pavilion and a mesmerizing landscape garden with a fish pond. In 1993, this area was celebrated as Malaysia’s “Best Landscape Garden”.
It has a 246-step staircase, at the top you can see the beauty of Ipoh and the temple surroundings.
6. Khoo Kongsi Temple
Khoo Kongsi Temple is one of Penang’s iconic heritage that represents the Hakka community.
Built-in the 19th century, Khoo Kongsi Temple was decorated with stone carvings and murals of divine guardians, deities, carps, immortals, and dragons.
It is a gathering place for Chinese families with the surname to come to worship their ancestors. The temple is located at Cannon Square in the heart of old Georgetown.
Maintaining its unique history including an association house, a traditional theatre, and rowhouses for the clan members gathered at a granite-paved square.
7.Ling Sen Tong Temple
In Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia, Ling Sen Tong Temple is a Taoist cave temple at the foot of a limestone hill. Its name is translated as ‘rock of heavenly spirits’.
It is right next to the Sam Poh Tong Temple along Jalan Gopeng. The temple consists of many designs, such as animals, deities, and other characters of Chinese folklore.
You will find colorful statues of Chinese mythology, including the legendary Monkey King from the popular classic tale Journey to the West.
8. Sri Mahamariamman Temple
Sri Mahamarianmman temple, a holy shrine visited by Hindu devotees. The five-tiered
the temple entrance is decorated with 228 sculpted Hindu deities relating to the scenes of Ramayana.
The temple is adorned with Hindu motifs narrated stories of early Hinduism. The main prayer hall has its three main shrines and decorated ceiling.
Four small shrines are located surrounding the main prayer hall. These shrines are the house of Lord Ganesha, Lord Muruga, Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth), and other deities.
It has a Silver Chariot, with 240 bells and a pair of horses dedicated to Lord Murugan, at the upper right side of the main prayer hall.
9. Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple
The Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple is known as the Waterfall Hill Temple or Hill Top Murugan Temple located in Georgetown, Penang.
Based on an old belief, a holy man chose the spot near the waterfall for the shrine dedicated to Lord Murugan.
To reach the temple, visitors need to climb up 513 stairs. It is also one of the holy shrines, gathered with Hindu devotees to do their daily prayers and celebrate Thaipusam. (see other cultural festivals in Asia).
Public rituals are normally performed at the pillared outer hall. The hilltop temple has a seven-story gopuram, embellished with statues of deities.
10. Batu Caves Temple
Batu Caves Temple is always visited by Hindu devotees to make their prayers. Together with the holy shrines, they also celebrate Thaipusam which they dedicate
to lord morgan.
The temple is located within the Gombak’s limestone hills. The golden statue of Lord Murgan stands tall at the temple’s entrance with a flight of 272 steep stairs to climb up to the caves.
This holy place consists of three main caves and a few ornate Hindu shrines, statues, and paintings that tell the stories about how Lord Murgan defeated the demon Soorapadan.
Travel Zoom 