Places Of Worship
The places of worships in Penang tells you alot about our heritage, culture and tradition. In almost every corners of Georgetown, you see a mixture of of temples, churches, mosques and memorial Halls. The early Europeans memorials though not places of worship reminds us the contributions in the beginning of the 19th century. When you walk around Georgetown, it is a common sight seeing all kinds of prayers being conducted in temples, churches and mosques. It is not strange to say, almost every week there is an event or temple celebration, be it in a Chinese, Hindu or the minority groups like the Burmese and Thais prayer houses. The bells ringing in the Indian temples, the incense fragrances permeating from the Chinese temples and calling five times prayers from the Muslim mosques. What about the lovely architecture, mystical beings all in gold and red. The intricate carvings on the doors, ceiling is a sight to behold. Personally I need two to three trips to grasp the wonder and beauty of our places of worship.
The knowledgeable TouristLocals and tourist alike are attracted to the nostalgic part of the places they visit. In a good way it forces our local authority to take proactive measures to help maintain and restored these historical asset. Some tourist I observed during my visit too come to Penang searching for their forefathers or ancestor origin. So this new breed of tourist has changed holidays destinations like Penang not so much for escape but for information and knowledge. It is no longer a place only for visiting. If only you could see them basking in the sun in cemeteries, or temples, churches reading through the little information we have prepared, I guessed you and I must become more knowledgeable of our own forefathers before all is lost. They not only desire to observe the culture in the galleries, but also to experience it, to feel the fragrances of the place and every aroma that Penang has got to offer. Our beautiful impressive architecture, the colors, the sound and the smells. And it is not only food they are here!
Do you have any places of worship you want to share? Tell us your favorites. If not, come back periodically to find more of these buildings with historical background. Our Penang PeopleThe multi ethnic society of present day Penang was largely created during the British administration in the late 19th and 20th centuries. The Chinese were bought here to work in the mines from Mainland China and the Indians to work in the plantations.
So our fore fathers bought with them distinct social and cultural identities. The Nyonyas, Babas and Mamaks are among the oldest groups of foreign origin that completes the cultural fusion and wonders of Penang. My husband and I both 5th generation to our forefathers. We spend our time to rediscover "ours" or "your" Penang places of worship. Chinese Temples in PenangI find it so fascinating whenever I have time to learn more about places of worship in Penang. It has become a tourist attraction in Penang. I watch in awe the carvings on the doors, the roof and architecture of different Chinese descendant from China. If you observe closely, you learned and understand more of the folklores, beliefs maybe become superstitious too. The architectures of Taoist, Buddhist, Burmese or a fusion of Chinese, Indian or Straits Eclectic architecture into Chinese Temples makes it very fascinating for us locals too.
Not for nothing, our fore fathers try so hard to imitate what they have left behind when they traveled the seven seas in tongkangs or Chinese junks. Whenever I listened to older generation reminiscing the past, I cannot let all this go only in my own memory. A cherish, treasured wonderful time with my elders. Here is our unique Penang places of worships, temples, mosques and churches.
Penang Jade Emperor Temple - Penang Hill Railway Road, Air Itam. The temple is worth you making your time to visit. See more photos here. Chinese Temples in ButterworthIn Mainland Butterworth Malaysia, just a ferry away, you will find opulent embellished temples. Admire the recent beautiful works of Chinese artisans recently restoring and expanding this once small community temples. Community donations have helped expand and restored and have turn it into the pride of Butterworth. Tow Boo Kong Temple in Jalan Raja Uda, near to Mak Mandin Industrial Estate. The activity leading to theNine Emperors festival is just as important as the celebration itself.
Burmese or Thai Temples in PenangIn the early days, the sleeping Buddha temple was called Pulau Tikus Siamese Temple. And opposite is the Burmese temple granted by East India company on behalf of Queen Victoria to Nongmay and Boonkhan, the first two of many women benfactors who contributed to the expansion of the temples. Wat Chayamangkalaram - The Sleeping Buddha Temple Mosques in PenangThe mosque has been the locus of both social and economic activities, which can still be seen around it. Acheen Street Mosque - Lebuh Acheen One obvious symbol of the Islamic community is the Lebuh Acheh Mosque, reflecting an area once richly populated by people from Acheh, Indonesia, confirmed by the existence of graveyards with stones resembling those of Sumatra’s and Riau’s. The famous mosques in Penang are Acheen Street Mosque built by an Arab merchant prince who settled in Penang in 1792. The famous Iman Naqshabandiah Sufi leader Sheikh Omar Basheer lived in the mosque compound.
The Kapitan Kling Mosque built in 1801 was named after Cauder Mohideen who was the captain of the South Indian community. His first wife Fatimah Nachiar Merican or Pathini Ama as she is fondly known to many people in Penang till this very day. Pathini Ama is important because she is considered to be a female saint by many people throughout time. Churches in PenangThe oldest Anglican Church is the St George Church built in 1817. Way back in early 20th century it has a Tamil mission and Chinese mission school. Colonial Hutchings is the man behind the St. George's Girl School together with Anglo Tamil Boys and Girls School. More photos of the Church. There are more churches in our Penang Heritage City. Church of Immaculate Conception, Pulau Tikus Church in Bukit MertajamSt Anne Church - Bukit Mertajam
Hindu Temples in PenangThe oldest Hindu Temple is Rama Temple which was founded by the Queen of the launderers, Ranee Dhoby in 1802. This is one of the most impressive temple I have seen in all of Penang. The original Ranee Temple forms the inner sanctum of the places of worship which used to house the tomb of Ranee Dhoby. To see this temple, one can enter from York Road through anarrow lane to Dhoby Ghaut village which the Tamils called Vannan Thora Tedal (Laundryman's district). Not forgetting the Waterfall Hilltop temple, Nattukkottai Chettiar Temple, Sri Veeramakaliamman Devasthanam Temple,Nagarathar Sivan Temple, the Thaipusam festivals made these temples a popular place of worship. Sri Maha Mariamman Temple - Queen Street Hindu Temple in Butterworth
Arulmigu Karumariaman Temple - Jalan Todak Sikh Temples in PenangGurudwara Sahib Khalsa Dharmak Jatha, Jalan Gurdwara, Penang Sikh Temples in ButterworthGurudwara Sahib Perai, Penang Penang is an extremely tolerant society which accommodates many different beliefs. The historic religious enclave in inner George Town lays testament to this. On the same short street of Masjid Kapitan Keling (formerly Pitt Street), one can find the Kapitan Keling Mosque, the Goddess of Mercy Temple and the St George's Church. Further away are the Maha Mariamman Temple on Queen Street and the Acheen Street Mosque. Go to Top of Places of Worship Page Back to Jade Emperor Photos Page Back to Penang Goddess of Mercy Photos Page Back to Photos of St George Church Page Back to Snake Temple Photos Page Back to My Island Penang Home Page  For specific search results for keywords related to My Island Penang.com, please use the following search box:
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