Around Penang Island you will find plenty of Penang Temples, Mosques and Churches from all faiths, Malay, Indian, Chinese and old Colonial Churches built during the British rule of the island. Below you will find the beautiful temples in Penang to visit.
Dhammikarama Burmese Temple
Situated right across the street from Wat Chaiyamangalaran Temple, Dhammikarama Temple is a Burmese Buddhist temple. It is interesting to visit it after visiting the Wat Chaiyamangalaran Temple which is a Thai Buddhist temple and try to notice the differences between them.
This temple was built in 1803 and it now includes several statues and buildings. With splashes of colors and statues which feature mythical creatures, this temple is definitely one of the most beautiful temples in George Town, Penang.
Kek Lok Si
If you move away from the coastline towards inner Penang island, you will find this majestic castle-like temple featuring a 99-feet-tall (30.2 meter) statue of the Goddess of Mercy. With several different temple halls and walkways to link them together, the hodgepodge architecture (incorporating the best of Chinese, Thai and Burmese designs) reflects the amalgamation of different Buddhist sects, including Mahayana Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism.
Yap Kongsi Temple
Just a few meters away from Khoo Kongsi Temple is the Yap Kongsi Temple. Built in 1924, this temple is also a clan house for the people in the Yap Chinese clan. The origin of the Yap clan starts in 439 BC when warrior Shen Zhu Liang defeated the troops of the Qin Dynasty. In return, Shen received a piece of land which was called the Yap district. He took the Yap surname and Yap clan was born.
The Yap Kongsi Temple’s architecture is impressive although the temple is a bit smaller than the others in this article. If you are planning to see the George Town street art or visit Clan Jetties of
Penang, you should definitely visit the Yao Kongsi Temple too.
Wat Chayamangkalaram
Wat Chayamangkalaram is a Thai Temple in Penang famous for its large gold plated Reclining Buddha (not a Sleeping Buddha), which at 33 metres, is one of the largest in the world and not too easy to get the whole length in a photograph, as you can see below.
Hean Boo Thean (Kuan Yin) Temple
Hean Boo Thean Temple is one of the hidden gems of George Town. If you want to avoid the crowds from the more famous temples, a visit to Hean Boo Thean is a great opportunity to explore the Malay culture. Dedicated to Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, this temple was built in 1972.
Also called the ‘floating temple’ of George Town, Hean Boo Thean Temple was initially much smaller (a shrine built on stilts) but it was fortified over the years to face the tides. Hean Boo Thean Temple is definitely one of George Town’s best temples.
See more:
What to eat when traveling to Penang, Malaysia
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