288 South Bridge Rd
You’ll want to set aside at least 2 hours for this astounding Buddhist temple. Just a few minutes away from Heritage Collection on South Bridge, this temple has been captivating its visitors with its staggering opulence and lavish quantities of gold incorporated into its Tang Dynasty-inspired architecture and artefacts.
Yes, the sight of this iconic temple with its red pillars and detailed sculptures is simply breathtaking and a masterpiece. Dedicated to the Maitreya devotees, this temple was built in the heart of Chinatown to house the holy relic that was discovered in a collapsed golden stupa in Myanmar in 1998.
The construction of the temple would not have been possible without the kind donations and sponsorship, which mainly consisted of donations of gold which were melted to construct the stupa for the tooth relic. All in all, the temple raised S$43 million from more than 60,000 donors. The construction of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum was completed in 2008, and a consecration ceremony was held on 17 May 2008.
What’s interesting about this temple is that it has 4 storeys, a basement level and a rooftop. On the rooftop, you can check out the Vairocana Buddha Prayer Wheel, Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda, and also a roof garden.
