Known among devotees as the Temple of the Supreme Bliss, Kek Lok Si is Penang’s largest and most important Buddhist temple. Just three kilometres away from Penang Hill, it is partly carved into the Air Itam hilltops and is a significant site for Buddhists from all over the region.
At the entrance to the temple, there’s a lively marketplace where you’ll be met with the heady cooking smells of delicious laksa and noodles, not to mention the keen attentions of vendors at the nearby stalls. At the temple, marvel at its 30-metre-tall pagoda into which 10,000 Buddha figures are carved. Join in the Buddhist tradition of releasing a turtle into the pond, believed to bring luck. Or you can simply enjoy the incredible views of the city afforded from the mountain.
When you enter the temple grounds, you’ll notice it’s divided into main halves, along with the marketplace situated around the entrance. Visitors flock to the central grounds where you can find the giant pagoda as well as statues of four heavenly kings standing in the prayer hall. Each of the statues is believed to control a different compass point.
Beyond this point, the grounds of the temple appear to climb up the side of the mountain. For a small fee, you can take a lift up to the top. If you’re feeling fit, you can of course walk if you prefer. Once at the top, you can’t miss the towering 30-metre-high statue of Kuan Yin, Goddess of Mercy, next to a large koi-filled pond.
All through the year, different festivals take place here. Among them, the Chinese New Year festivities are particularly popular. For the first 33 days of the New year, you can come to enjoy the visual feast of colour and light here, as well as the costume parades, decorative lanterns, music and dance.
Situated in Georgetown, you can reach Kek Lok Si on different bus routes that ride along the Rapid Penang Route. The temple opens every day and you’ll be charged a modest entry fee.
