Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple, Singapore

Advantages: Exotic ethnic enclave.
Disadvantages: Noisy.

...,built their shophouses along Temple Street,Pagoda Street and Mosque Street. This specialisation is not the really surprising thing about Chinatown- what is surprising is that Singapore's oldest Hindu temple, the Sri Mariamman,is located at the heart of Chinatown in South Bridge Road.It was constructed back in 1827 and in 1973 was delared a national monument.It is dedicated to the goddess Mariamman who is known among believers for curing serious epidemics such as cholera, chicken pox and small-pox - that tells you something about sanitary standards in early 19 th century Singapore. The temple's most significant ceremony is Thimithi,in honour of the Goddess. During this ceremony,well worth watching,the devotees walk over hot coals to test their spirituality. Other religious buildings in this fascinating ethnic enclave include the Al-Abrar Mosque,the Nagore... Read review

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Advantages: The colours, the temples, the shops.
Disadvantages: Very pushy shop owners

...by the gold, life-size paintings and models and the wonderful incense smell. If you visit be sure to look at the ceiling because it's decorated with the most intricately carved pictures and models. Sri Mariamman Temple is the oldest Indian temple in Singapore. It's based in Chinatown because Singapore was originally split into areas for the Malays, Chinese and Indians by Raffles. The land-reclaiming done since has really changed Singapore so that to the modern visitor things seem out of place. This temple is bright and very colourful and as it's free to enter then definitely go for a look but if you want to take photos then you have to pay £1. If you wander around Chinatown then you'll find a plethora of cafes, restaurants, bars and art galleries. It really is quite a nice walk as well. I used the Lonely Planet walking tour as a guide but it... Read review

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Advantages: People, food, shopping, the price.
Disadvantages: Pushy shop owners.

...find yourself suffering from information overload at the end. Temples are another love of mine and because of the diverse cultures in Singapore you'll find Chinese temples, Hindu temples, mosques and churches. The Thian Hock Keng Temple in Chinatown, the Sri Veermakaliamman Temple in Little India and the Sultan Mosque in Kampong Glam are definitely worth a visit. Temples are free to visit (although a Hindu temple in Chinatown charges £1 if you want to take photos) but the opening times vary quite a bit. If you're interested in military history then the Changi War Memorial is worth a visit. Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari are fascinating and should interest all ages. Entry is around £5 for adults and £3 for children. If you have children then the science museum and Snow City should keep them occupied. The Esplanade theatres were showing... Read review

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