Saturday, April 10, 2010

Singapore's Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

Right in the heart of Chinatown lies a relatively new Buddhist Temple that houses a Buddha Tooth Relic. Officially opened on May, 2007, the temple-museum has since became the symbol of faith for the Chinese-dominated Singapore.

This temple has got to be one of the best temples I have seen. The walls of the temple on the first floor is covered by miniature statues of Buddhas in different forms. And since red is considered by Chinese as their lucky color, almost everything in the temple is red, from the walls to the floors and the ceilings as well. Even the chairs, tables and stand are red... perfectly complimenting the three Golden Buddhas glowing in the altar.

The temple has four floors. The first floor is the prayer and worship floor where an altar and hundreds of Buddhas are located. The second floor is where commercial activities are happening like mini tea house and souvenir shops. The third floor serves as the museum where several Buddha collection from all over the world are located. The fourth floor is where the actual Buddha Tooth Relic is located. Here are some shots I have taken at the temple:

Temple Gate


Temple Facade from the Courtyard


Maitreya Hall


Praying at the Universal Wisdom Hall


Lots of Small Buddha Walls


Warrior Guarding the Temple I


Warrior Guarding the Temple II


Located at 288 South Bridge Road, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum is open everyday including holidays from 7 am to 7 pm. Just a word of caution, please abide by their rules specifically the wearing of appropriate attire to show respect. No bare backs, off-shoulders, shorts, mini-skirts, etc should be worn. Further, no non-vegetarian food and pets are allowed inside the temple. For further inquiries, please visit their website here.

28 comments:

  1. ito ba ung madaming nakabalot na statues?

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  2. ay napuntahan din namin to pero di kami nakapasok sa loob. nagpicturan lang kami sa labas haha.

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  3. How beautiful! I would love to be able to visit! What a wonderful capture! It's almost like being there! Thanks as always for your beautiful posts/photos! And thanks for your visit and your lovely comment! I do feel that we are friends, if only through blogging, and I'm very grateful for that. Have a lovely weekend, my friend!

    Sylvia

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  4. I am totally interested in Buddhism. I think what Buddha taught them is more like my beliefs.

    Their temples are really fascinating, very sleek. Now this is more like a place of worship, very peaceful.

    Thanks for bringing us these shots.

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  5. All your pictures are great but the first one is AWESOME !

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  6. fantastic shots. i still regret not being able to see the inside of this temple. ang tamad ko kasi eh.

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  7. i have always been fascinated with temples. it was the reason why i went to Thailand a few years ago, to see real temples.:p this one is so grand!

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  8. yeah gorgeous temple :) i been there once... did you go out the roof garden?

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  9. Nice pictures, i wish i could go to Singapore too, pero malabo pa for now, maybe when there's enough extra, kayod muna, hehehe. Fantastic photos!

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  10. it's really fun visiting chinese temples specially when you're allowed to take photos and of course not disturbing their rituals.

    nice temple, one that i might visit when i go there again.

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  11. Nice photo shot of the temple. Great information too. I hope you have a great time in chinatown.

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  12. The first pic is just awesome and taken on a perfect timing. Felt like I was there.

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  13. I loved the photo of the monks!

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  14. meron ding ganyan sa may pque... but ive never been in one... feeling ko haunted house siya or something... hehehe

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  15. Those are mean-looking warriors guarding the temple, very opposite to the calming presence of monks on the first photo. Well done Lawstude!

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  16. Good Day Everyone!!!

    @ the scud - hindi ito yun bro. yung Hindu temple yun.

    @ princess_dyanie - maganda ang loob, maaamaze ka sa dami ng mga Buddha at sa ganda ng walls.

    @ sylvia k - thank you, singapore is very small and i highly recommend this to every tourist who will go there.

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  17. @ halfcrazy - one concept i learn about Buddhism is tolerance and living in harmony. you can do what you want as long as you harm nobody. :)

    @ sidney - thanks. just got the monks at the right time i guess.

    @ photo cache - another reason to go back in singapore :)

    @ luna miranda - i love temples too but back in thainland i had a case of temple overload. bawat kasi kanto doon may temple :)

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  18. @ fufu - i wasn't able to go on top. i never knew that there was a garden there. :(

    @ the dong - korek bro. kaya lang di na allowed ang photo sa 4th floor. pero ok din kasi ang dami talaga details na makikita sa temple.

    @ alicesg - i do had a great time in chinatown. i even ate egg pie there and got me some cheap souvenirs. :)

    @ vinzent - thanks bro. swerte lang.

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  19. @ sheng - medyo mahal nga singapore compared to thailand or hongkong. buti na lang may nag blow-out lol.

    @ witsandnuts - thanks.

    @ gillboard - hahaha. talaga? malapit lang sila dongho doon. masabi nga.

    @ the nomadic pinoy - tama. these warriors seem to guard the place so evil beware :)

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  20. Lucky you, I did not see all these goodies when I was there!

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  21. Sayang! We were only able to see the first floor. Akala kasi namin wala nang makikita sa upper floors. I only knew about it when we got home and I saw the pics in Ferdz's site.
    But I do agree, it's one awesome temple.

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  22. Ang ganda nung first pic with the monks. Hope to visit this someday.

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  23. Wow, love the angles! You got the monks there too. Cool. :)

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  24. Hi Norman! Wonderful post! Like those guardians!!

    Blogtrotter Two is waiting for you in Turkey... ;) Enjoy and have a great week!!

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  25. LS: A wonderful temple and you captured it perfectly.

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  26. monks are the coolest persons on the face of the planet
    at saludo din ako sa lifestyle nila

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  27. Love the temple pic with the monks in saffron robes! Nice! Makes me curious about visiting if and when I get the opportunity to do so.

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  28. very impressive looking Buddhist temples. Lots of culture indeed.

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