Georgetown has a profusion of sites of worship of all different faiths.
Dharmmikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple
Kapitan Keling Mosque
Wat Chaiyamangalaram, Burma Lane (Lorong Burma), was founded in 1845. A Thai-style Buddhist temple that is famous for its reclining Buddha (33 m), one of the world's longest. The temple was built on a piece of land given by Queen Victoria to 4 women trustees as a gesture of goodwill to boost trading relations with Thailand. The guardian dragon and statue at the entrance are both ostentatious and spectacular.
Dhammikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple located opposite of Wat Chaiyamangalaram, Burma Lane, was founded in 1803. A pair of white elephants (sacred beasts in Buddhism) guard the entrance while within a bodhi tree and wishing pond greets the visitor.
Kapitan Keling Mosque, Pitt St (Jl. Masjid Kapitan Keling) was built in the early 19th century and is named after an Indian Muslim merchant, Caudeer Mohudeen, who was also the Kapitan Keling (headman). It is the most prominent historic mosque in Penang and features a dome-shaped minaret reflecting Moorish Islamic influence. The Kapitan Keling Mosque is the place of worship of the Indian Muslim community which has lived and worked around the mosque for over 200 years. Unlike modern mosques which are heavily frequented on Fridays, the Kapitan Keling Mosque is popular with worshippers 5 times a day, 7 days a week. It is extremely well maintained compared to its rundown neighborhood, and tourists can get free tours of the Mosque during non-prayer times. You must take off your shoes prior to entering the building or threshold, follow the lead of others and just look for the shoes they have left behind. Women must wear a heavy robe provided by the staff.
Kuan Yin Teng (观音亭, "Goddess of Mercy Temple"), Pitt Street (Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling) Open daily. This is one of the oldest Chinese temples in Penang. Built in 1801 by early immigrant settlers from China, the building is decorated with intricately crafted dragons and a pair of stone sculptured lions which are said to be its guardians. Undoubtedly the most popular Chinese temple in Penang, the Kuan Yin Teng, is flocked to by pilgrims and followers all year round, particularly on the 1st and 15th day of each lunar month. There is a lovely square where puppet shows and Chinese operas are staged on the Goddess of Mercy's feast days. The square is always a centre of bustling activity, and there is an octagonal well in one corner, which was once a public well for the Chinese community. Free admission.
St. George's Church, 1 Farquhar Street (Lebuh Farquhar), is named after the patron saint of England. Built by convict labour in 1818, it is the oldest Anglican Church in South-East Asia. The building was designed by Captain Robert Smith, a military engineer whose oil paintings of early Penang can be seen in the Penang State Museum. A memorial in the form of a Greek temple with a marble slab dedicated to Captain Francis Light, stands in the grounds of the St. George's Church.
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Georgetown (Malaysia) Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
