Influential Buddhist temples in Singapore

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Buddhism in Singapore is the largest religion in Singapore. Buddhism was introduced in Singapore primarily by migrants from around the world, particularly ethnic Chinese people, over the past centuries.

The first recorded histories of Buddhism in Singapore can be observed in early monasteries and temples such as Thian Hock Keng and Jin Long Si Temple that were built by settlers that came from various parts of Asia.

Hua Giam Si

Hua Giam Si, is a Buddhist monastery in Singapore. The center was originally set up by Venerable Zhen Ding. The present premises are located at Geylang, Singapore.

Amitabha Buddhist Centre

Amitabha Buddhist Centre is a Buddhist institution in Geylang, Singapore. It is affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), an international non-profit organisation, founded by Lama Thubten Yeshe.

Buddha of Medicine Welfare Society

Buddha of Medicine Welfare Society, is a Buddhist monastery in Singapore. The society was originally set up by Venerable Neng Du. The present premises are located at Geylang, Singapore.

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum is a Buddhist temple and museum complex located in the Chinatown district of Singapore. The temple’s monastics and devotees officially practice Chinese Buddhism.

Tzu Chi Singapore

Tzu Chi Singapore, also the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore), is the Singapore branch of the Tzu Chi Buddhist organisation. The foundation was originally set up by Venerable Cheng Yen and based in Hualien, Taiwan. The present premises of the Singapore branch is located at Elias Road in Pasir Ris, Singapore.

Hai Inn Temple

Hai Inn Temple, is a Buddhist monastery in Singapore. The present premises are located at Brickland Road in Tengah, Singapore.

Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre

Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre is one of the several Tibetan Buddhism Vajrayana centers in Singapore, as of 2015 operating from temporary premises while the permanent building is undergoing reconstruction. The temporary and permanent premises are both in Geylang.

Kwan Yin Chan Lin

Kwan Yin Chan Lin Zen Meditation Centre (KYCL) is a Buddhist zen centre in Singapore and Malaysia. The organization was set up by Venerable Chi Boon (釋繼聞法師) in 1991. The present KYCL centres are located at Geylang, Singapore, KYCL International Zen Centre at Pengerang, Desaru and Fu Hui Yuan at Muar in Johor, Malaysia.

Palelai Buddhist Temple

Palelai Buddhist Temple is a Buddhist temple located in Bedok, Singapore. It was founded in 1963 by Phrakhru Prakassa Dhammakhun.

Vipassana Meditation Centre

Vipassana Meditation Centre is a Buddhist monastery in Singapore set up in 1993 to propagate and perpetuating Theravada Buddhism and provide opportunity for the practice of Vipassana meditation in Singapore. This group is not related to non-sectarian society “Vipassana International Center (Singapore)”, which offers 10 Day residential meditation courses, taught by SN Goenka, in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin.

Thian Hock Keng

Thian Hock Keng, is a temple built for the worship of Mazu, a Chinese sea goddess, located in Singapore. It is the oldest and most important temple of the Hokkien (Hoklo) people in the country. Another shrine at the back is Buddhist dedicated to Guanyin, the Mahayana Buddhist bodhisattva of mercy.

Sri Lankaramaya Buddhist Temple

The Sri Lankaramaya Buddhist Temple is located at St. Michael’s Road in Bendemeer, Singapore. The temple is the primary Sri Lanka Buddhist temple of its kind in Singapore.It is one of the Theravada Buddhist temples in Singapore which is founded years back from Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka. It is operated by the Singapore Sinhala Buddhist Association which was established in 1920.

Siong Lim Temple

Siong Lim Temple, also known as Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery, is a Buddhist monastery located in Toa Payoh, Singapore, next to the Pan Island Expressway. The temple was founded in 1898, but the construction of the premises only began in 1902 by Low Kim Pong and was completed in 1907. The monastery was gazetted as a national monument in 1980 and subsequently underwent a decade-long restoration that began in 1991. The temple now boasts a seven storey gold-topped pagoda which is a replica of the 800-year-old Shanfeng temple pagoda in Fujian. It has a Columbarium for Tomb Sweeping Day.

Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple

Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple is a Buddhist monastery in Singapore. The temple was originally set up by Venerable Vutthisara of Thailand. The present premises are located at Race Course Road in Singapore.

Poh Ern Shih Temple

Poh Ern Shih is located on a small hilltop at Chwee Chian Road, off Pasir Panjang Road, on Singapore’s southern coast. The Buddhist temple was built as a memorial to those who lost their lives during the Battle of Pasir Panjang in 1942, villagers as well as Allied and Japanese soldiers. The temple’s first abbot, Sumangalo, an American Theravadin monk, was the first Westerner to be appointed abbot of a Buddhist temple in Singapore.

Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery

The Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, is a Buddhist temple and monastery in Bishan, Singapore. Built by Zhuan Dao in the early 20th century to propagate Buddhism and to provide lodging for monks, this monastery is the largest Buddhist temple in Singapore. It is the parent organization of the Buddhist College of Singapore founded in 2006. It is one of the two private crematoria, while the other one is Tse Toh Aum Temple.

Miao Xin Vihara

Miao Xin Vihara, also known as Good Hearts Garden, is a Buddhist community in Singapore. The community established by Venerable Jian Xin. The present premises are located at Eunos, Singapore.

Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple

Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple is a traditional Chinese temple situated at 178 Waterloo Street in Singapore. The temple is of significance to the Buddhist community among Chinese Singaporeans, and is believed to bring worshippers good luck after praying to the Kuan Yin (觀世音菩薩), or Avalokiteśvara, the Goddess of Mercy. The temple is also involved in charity work, contributing to several health and educational organisations.

Ang Chee Sia Ong Temple

Ang Chee Sia Ong Temple is a Taoist, Mahayana Buddhism and Confucianism temple located in West Coast, Singapore. The main hall is dedicated to the Lord Green Dragon.

Jin Long Si Temple

Jin Long Si Temple is a temple located at 32 Tai Seng Avenue, Singapore.

Foo Hai Ch’an Monastery

Foo Hai Ch’an Monastery, is a Buddhist monastery in Singapore. The foundation was originally set up by Venerable Hong Zong of Taiwan. The present premises are located, adjacent to Sri Sivan Temple, in front of Paya Lebar MRT station, exit C at Geylang East Avenue 2, Singapore.

Drigar Thubten Dargye Ling

Drigar Thubten Dargye Ling, is a Buddhist center in Singapore. The foundation was originally set up by Guru Garchen Rinpoche. The present premises are located at Geylang, Singapore.

Cheng Beng Buddhist Society

Cheng Beng Buddhist Society, also the Vimalakirti Buddhist Centre, is a Buddhist monastery in Singapore. The foundation was originally set up by Venerable Wen Ming Hu. The present premises are located at Geylang, Singapore.

Burmese Buddhist Temple (Singapore)

The Burmese Buddhist Temple is the oldest Theravada institution and the only Burmese Buddhist temple of its kind in Singapore. Founded in 1875, the temple moved from its original Kinta Road premises to Tai Gin Road off Ah Hood Road in Novena in 1988. The temple houses the largest pure white marble statue of the Buddha outside Myanmar, and has become a religious landmark for Burmese and Singaporean devotees to make merit and take part in merit-sharing activities alike.

Wat Ananda Metyarama Thai Buddhist Temple

Wat Ananda Metyarama Thai Buddhist Temple is a Theravada Buddhist monastery and temple in Singapore. The monastery was originally set up by Venerable Luang Phor Hong Dhammaratano with his disciple Samanera Boonler. The temple is located at 50B Jalan Bukit Merah.