Singapore Heritage Site~Chinatown

Chinatown Heritage Centre

Singapore offers many excellent museums. Visit the Chinatown Heritage Centre if you want to learn more about the rich history of old Chinatown and life of its migrants in Singapore.

Sri Mariamman Temple

This active temple is the oldest and the most important Hindu temple on the island. It was built about 1843 in the South Indian Dravidian style by Naraina Pillai. The work and carvings on gopuram (the tower above the entrance) are so beautiful it's truly worth a visit. In the early days Sri Mariamman Temple was not used solely as a holy place for the South Indian Tamil Hindus; it was a place where many new immigrants lived before they got work and found their own places. Nowadays it serves not only as a place of worship but for many cultural social events such as wedding ceremonies and an annual fire-walking ceremony.

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is a remarkable four-story temple. When entering the gate, you’ll immediately notice the stunning main hall with its high ceiling. The bell tower and drum tower are on the same floor. However, the main focus for most visitors is the solid gold two-metre stupa on the fourth floor which is the place where the sacred relic is kept. Continuing up to the roof, there is a pagoda that has a large prayer wheel. The temple is built in a style based on the Buddhist mandala and integrated with the Buddhism of the Tang dynasty.

Chinese Methodist Church

Chinatown is home to many cultural buildings including Singapore’s first Methodist church. It is located on Telok Ayer Street and features an art deco style with a Chinese roof. Very interesting to see.

Jamae Mosque

Another holy place to visit is Jamae Mosque which built around 1830s by Chulia Indians (Muslim merchants and moneylenders from India's Coromandel Coast). It is considered one of Singapore’s oldest mosques.

Nagore Durgha Shrine

The shrine has a unique blend of classical molded arches and columns and Indian Muslim motifs and was built by the Muslims of southern India.