The 5 Best Temples to Visit in Malaysia
Up for a tour of the most spectacular pieces of architecture in Malaysia? Then you should visit some of the best Malaysian and Chinese temples in the country!
Malaysia may contain one of the most impressive collections of temples in the world. Plus, not only are these structures magnificent in terms of how they’re built, but they also hold a special purpose for devotees in the country.
If you’re looking to see some beautiful sights across Malaysia, make sure to include these temples on your list:
Batu Caves Temple
Website: https://batucaves.com
Address: Gombak, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 3-6189 6284
Operating hours: Opens daily from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Entrance fee:
- Main temple complex: Free
- Ramayana Cave: RM5
- Dark Cave: RM35
Visiting Batu Caves is one of the most iconic things to do for first-timers in Malaysia, so you must include it in your list. This magnificent tourist attraction is a wonderful destination because it’s where the gigantic Lord Murugan statue and 272-step staircase can be found.
This flight of stairs isn’t just for show, however, as it’s what you’ll need to climb to reach the majestic temples that the caves house inside. Only those with the strongest can go up and worship their deities and be treated to beautiful limestone formations as well.
What makes the temples inside these caves extra special is that they’re some of the oldest ones discovered in Malaysia. This is because it’s believed that the Batu Caves have been around for over 400 million years.
If you want your visit to these caves a bit more special, we recommend visiting during the Thaipusam Festival. It’s one of the best annual festivals here in Malaysia and it’s held in Batu Caves.
Pro tip:
If you want to avoid the sea of tourists during your visit, we recommend arriving around 7 to 8:00 AM. This way, you won’t have to go through the hassle of squeezing through crowds just to get to the temples.
Sri Maha Mariamman Temple
Website: https://www.sreemahamariamman.org
Address: Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 3-2078 3467
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday, Sunday: 6:00 AM to 8:30 PM
- Friday: 6:30 AM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Monday: 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Entrance fee: Free
Sri Maha Maramman Temple is located in one of the busiest districts in Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown. It’s a must-visit because of its sheer beauty plus it’s conveniently located nearby other tourist attractions, so win-win!
Diving deeper into its aforementioned beauty, we think that this can be attributed to its use of Dravidian architecture. This is mostly evident through the marvellous Raja Gopuram Tower that greets you at the temple’s entrance.
It also holds strong historical significance, as it’s the oldest temple of the goddess, Mariamman, which is why you’ll often see Tamils here worshipping her. Aside from that, it’s also the oldest Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur, so if you want to visit a historical site, this is a must-visit for you!
Fun fact:
The Raja Gopuram Tower in front of the temple consists of five tiers, each of which features various sculptures depicting mythological figures and deities.
Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple
Address: Jalan Tun Abdul Razak 1/1, Wadi Hana, 80300 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 7-224 5152
Operating hours: Opens daily from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM and re-opens at 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Entrance fee: RM10 for sightseeing visitors
The famous Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple in Johor is one of the most glamorous temples in the country. As soon as you enter its doors, you’ll be greeted by the sparkles coming courtesy of the bright lights bouncing off of the glass structures.
It’s also the world’s first temple that’s mostly made out of glass, which is an impressive feat in itself! These pieces of glass come in different vibrant colours and they surround the various figures inside the temple including the sculptures of Gautam Buddha and Mother Teresa.
Pro tip:
If you want to offer a gift to one of the deities in the temple, don’t attempt to bring it into the inner chamber where you’ll find the idol. Instead, simply place it in the hand of the priest that can be found sitting outside the idol’s room.
Kek Lok Si Temple
Website: https://kekloksitemple.com
Address: Kek Lok Si Temple, Jln Balik Pulau, 11500 Air Itam, Penang, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 4-828 3317
Operating hours: Opens daily from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Entrance fee: Free
Located on top of the hills of Penang Island is Kek Lok Si Temple, one of the biggest and most magnificent Buddhist temples in Malaysia.
The outside of this building is worth mentioning because of the impressive architecture that perfectly captures the ornate 19th century. It’s just as impressive when you enter its doors, as you’ll find countless beautiful pictures, murals and carvings of Buddha.
Aside from the temple itself, you can also explore the tranquil garden outside where you can view the temple from a different POV. It’s also the best spot to admire the towering Kek Lok Si Pagoda, which consists of three tiers that each feature different architectural styles.
You can also enter the said Pagoda for a dirt-cheap price of RM2 (RM1 for children under 13 years of age).
Pro tip:
Make sure to pace yourself and don’t spend all your energy in one go because you’ll have to take quite some time to explore this massive temple. More specifically, it can take you up to 2 hours before you see everything that this temple has to offer!
Thean Hou Temple
Address: 65, Persiaran Endah, Taman Persiaran Desa, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 3-2274 7088
Operating hours: Opens daily from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Entrance fee: Free
Thean Hou Temple is another Buddhist temple that we recommend you visit during your trip to Malaysia because of its majesty and sheer size. It’s dedicated to the goddess of heaven but you;l also find shrines dedicated to worshipping Guan Yin, the goddess of mercy.
As for its design, it’s mostly inspired by oriental architecture, with its pointed roofs and red lanterns. It also features powder-white walkways that you can use to get around the massive temple.