"Penang's most popular attraction, the Kek Lok Si Temple is the biggest and most beautiful Buddhist temple complex in Malaysia. It is also one of the first being built in the South East Asia region."
Introduction Arguably the largest and most beautiful Buddhist temple complex in Malaysia, the Kek Lok Si temple, which is also referred to as the 'Temple of Supreme Bliss' or the 'Pure Land Temple', covers the expanse of a sloping, east-facing hillside at Air Itam, just to the west of the city of Georgetown. As you walk into the temple's compound, you will notice large boulders that bear inscriptions of Chinese verses, beautiful sculptures. The serene air and peaceful ambience of the compound grounds reflects the tranquility borne of meditation and prayers within the temple's interior.
One of the most impressive feature of the temple is the 'Ban Po That Pagoda', or the Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas. As the name goes, this pagoda is made of octagonal tiers adorned with quite a number of statues of the Buddha. This pagoda was built in honour of Boddhisattva Tsi Tsuang Wang, an enlightened soul who, despite having attained the state, declined to enter Nirvana and chose, instead, to help bring others to salvation.
History The temple was constructed over a period of over three decades, between 1893 and 1905, while the Ban Po That pagoda was only completed in 1930. Construction of the temple benefited from donations from several benefactors who also happened to be prominent figures in Penang at the time, including Cheong Fatt Tze.
People A great number of the Chinese community in Penang are Buddhist devotees. There are also a significant number of Thai and Burmese Buddhist descendants, whose predecessors arrived in Penang under the 'open door' policy of Francis Light. Interestingly, during the construction of the Ban Po That pagoda, the (then) Thai monarch had graciously laid the foundation stone for the pagoda, which is also adorned with a Burmese crown.
Events & Festivals The temple becomes notably busier whenever there is a religious Buddhist festival including Songkran and Loy Krathong.
For more information, please contact: Penang Tourism Action Council 56th Floor, KOMTAR 10000 Penang Tel : 604-262 0202 Fax : 604-2631020 Email : enquiry@tourismpenang.gov.my
OR
Penang Tourist Centre on Persiaran KingEdward, at +604-261 6663
Last viewed - May 17, 2008
Getting there
By Bus
From Georgetown, take a Transit Link bus No 1, or No 101, or Lim Seng bus No 91, or minibus No 21 from Lebuh Chulia to the Air Itam Terminal.
Express buses ply the route from Penang to / from Kuala Lumpur and major cities in the country. Please visit (http://www.plusliner.com/) for more info. The main bus terminal in Penang is located next to the Ferry Terminal.
By Taxi
To get to Penang Island, long distance taxi service can be hired at Weld Quay, Penang. Tel: +604-2625721
By Plane
Daily flights via Malaysia Airlines (www.malaysiaairlines.com, tel:1 300 88 3000 ) and AirAsia (www.airasia.com, tel: 1-300-88 9933) to / from Penang to major cities in Malaysia. Penang's Bayan lepas International Airport is roughly 20km (45-minnute drive) from the Georgetown city centre.
By Rail
You can take the train from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, where it stops at the Penang Railway Station, close to the ferry terminal. For more information, visit www.ktmb.com.my or call their call centre at +603-22671200.
By Boat
Ferries can be boarded at Butterworth, in the mainland portion of Penang. Among Ferry Services available are:
Langkawi Ferry Services (Tel: +604-2643088
Ekspress Bahagia (Tel: +604-2636255)
From the Ferry Terminal you can easily get a taxi ride into Georgetown city centre.
This temple located beyond the town of Air Itam. A trishaw ride is also an ideal way to negotiate Georgetown's streets, and it costs around RM1.50 per kilometre.
To drive to Penang, from Kuala Lumpur, get onto the North-South Expressway heading north. Get onto the Penang Bridge (Tol is RM7 for cars), then head for Georgetown.
User recommendation
"memang meletihkan bila panjat tangga.. tapi nasib baik sepanjag perjalanan banyak kedai menjual cenderamata.
tempat yang menarik untuk dilawati sekirannya ke pulau pinang" by moose
"" nice place to visit.... the stairs way up...waaaaaaaa "" by sheena
"this temple is very astonish and fuill of aesthetic values. " by ezian
"Best ever place i have been visited in malaysia" by ramesh
"Just been there once (so long time ago). I just remember the log stairs to the temple, the pond with tortoise and some statues. and it's quite crowded too." by On Foot
"the interior is so lovely. i was mesmerised with the beuty of it. " by Scalia
"Songkran and Loy Krathong only celebrated in Thai temple so called Wat Chayamangkalaram in Penang."
"well worth the visit if your a tourist.. no offence but i find it boring visiting places like temples or any other religious building.. i'm more to nature.. =)" by rifdy
"beautiful tempel.....sangat cantik dan unik" by vicney
"Tempat yang popular untuk para pelancong. Keadaan di dalamnya amt mengagumkan." by Eliza Qistina
"beautiful temple" by edward
"well well
the place is beautiful especially when the place is lit up during festive season" by simon
"never been there in a long time. but as a kid back then, the temple did give me a good impression." by Ole
"A very beautifully constructed place. It is still undergoing change even right at this moment. A must must visit for locals and tourist alike. You can take it's famous laksa before going up there." by Frank Martin
