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Chinatown Family Learning Journey (Part 1)
By Chan Hoi Ki on 14/04/2022
With the recent relaxations in Singapore’s COVID-19 regulations, going outdoors as a family is not so much of a chore anymore. An idea for a weekend kid-friendly outdoor event will be a learning trip to Chinatown to not only soak in the enriched Chinese culture, it also houses cultural & architectural treasures to other ethnicities as well!
A gentle reminder that for places of worship – please wear appropriate attire as a sign of respect when visiting the premises. Shoulders should always be covered and no trousers/skirts length above the knee.
- Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum (佛牙寺)
The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum was officially opened in 2007 Vesak Day. The temple was built to house the sacred Buddha Tooth Relic for veneration by their devotees – including Singaporeans and overseas Buddhists.
The temple is a five-storey building fitted with a mezzanine, a basement storey and a rooftop garden free for exploration. Not only is it a place of worship, the temple is decorated with thousands of beautiful artworks related to Buddhism, it is also fitted with a museum, library, a vegetarian restaurant and a bookstore. If you happen to visit during meal times, the vegetarian restaurant will even provide vegetarian meals free-of-charge!
Fun fact: the Buddha Tooth Relic is housed in a giant golden stupa weighing an outstanding amount of 3,500 kilograms and made from 320 kilograms of gold. Out of which, 234 kilograms were donated by devotees. Only monks are allowed into the relic chamber, but visitors will be able to see the tooth relic from the public viewing area.
Admission to the temple is free of charge.
Opening Hours:
Monday – Sunday
09:00AM to 05:00PM
For more info, visit the official website for Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum.
- Sri Mariamman Temple
Sri Mariamman Temple dates back to 1827 (built almost 2 centuries ago!) and is Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Mariamman, known for her power to cure illnesses and diseases. The majestic, six-tiered gopuram (grand tower) is an iconic landmark for both Hindu worshippers and Singaporeans as it is detailed with colourful sculptures of deities and mythological figures.
Don’t forget to look up whilst you’re visiting the temple, or you’ll miss the beautiful paintings found on the ceilings as well!
Fun fact: The main festival celebrated at Sri Mariamman temple is Theemithi (Fire walking ceremony) held annually for Deepavali celebrations.
Admission to the temple is free of charge.
Opening Hours:
Monday – Sunday
6:00AM to 12:00PM
6:00PM to 9:00PM
For more info, visit the official website for Sri Mariamman Temple.
We’ll be back in Part 2 continuation of this post next week for more sights to visit in Chinatown!
Image source: nerve_ex/Flickr