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Kek Lok Si Temple

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ashford
ashford
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Kek Lok Si Temple (part II)

  • September 25, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Koentje3000 from Hamme, Belgium
Kek Lok Si Temple (part II)

The steps from the Garden Pavilion of Lord Buddha will bring you to the higher levels and newer additions of the temple complex, built after 1915 and enclosed by a concrete wall. The first building you see is the Amitabha Buddha pagoda, dedicated to a person who reached Buddhahood due to its merits. The temple roof is topped with a pagoda containing a yellow Buddha statue flanked with red and white painted greeting figurines. From the temple's terrace you will have excellent views on the whole complex and Penang island. Another notable temple is the Hall of Devas, with beautiful statues of the four heavenly kings or devas, Buddhist deities watching over each of the four cardinal directions. If you walk a little further, you will pass the Mahawira Hall, a brightly coloured temple housing a few golden statues, and the Hall of the Buddha of 5 regions with stone carved pilars and windows.

An impressive sight here is the bright white Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda, completed in 1930. The structure is 30m high and contains 7 storeys and a gold-coloured roof. It is visible from far away already. The name comes from the many carved Buddha figurines you will see when taking the staircase to the top of the pagoda. At each storey you can exit the pagoda to a terrace where panoramic views on the island will unfold. Take an inclined lift ride (RM2) from behind the great prayer hall to the top-most building in the complex, devoted to Kuan Yin, the Bodhisattva (a kind of deity) of Compassion. Alternatively you can go out of the complex from entrance 2 and walk further up along the road towards entrance 3 to get there. The oldest temple here, next to a pond, is topped with a painted bust of the goddess. A little further is the great hall. You can take the stairs to its flat roof, where the latest addition to the temple complex is located, an awesome 30m high bronze statue of the "Greatly Compassionate and Sagely Kuan Yin" and two other statues of ugly guardians. From the roof you have an excellent view on George Town and the Penang Straight.

For even more stunning views on the island walk back to nearby Ayer Hitam village and take the funicular (RM 5 or €1; 30 minutes) from the station to its final stop at Penang Hill (830m). On a clear day you can see the whole island and as far as the mainland. On the top you can find a kiosk, souvenir stalls and a restaurant. After you've enjoyed the views, you can do the same way back or walk downhill for 1 to 2 hours along the paved road towards the botanical garden entrance, where you can take a bus or taxi back to George Town.

From journal Pulau Pinang - As Chinese as it Gets in Malaysia

Kek Lok Si Temple (part I)

  • September 23, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Koentje3000 from Hamme, Belgium
Kek Lok Si Temple (part I)

The Kek Lok Si temple complex is arguably the most impressive structure in Penang province. It is located right in the centre of the island on the slopes of Penang Hill near Ayer Hitam village (sometimes spelled Air Itam; called "Black Water" in English). Ayer Hitam village can be reached by bus 101 or 130 from the white KOMTAR building in Georgetown (RM1 or 25¢) or a taxi ride here from anywhere in Penang will cost you around RM15-25. Take the bus to its final stop in the village, where a short walk eastwards will bring you to a narrow stepped passageway leading up to the temple. The path is lined with stalls selling tourist stuff like T-shirts or more spiritual items like inscence sticks. The atmosphere here is not very religious but feels more like a market and some sellers are quite a nuisance. Once you climb the steps leading towards the real entrence shopkeepers are not allowed to do their businesses anymore and everything gets suddenly more quiet.

Just beyond the entrance lies the "turtle liberation pond", a little pond where people released a turtle to set their sins free. This practise is now discouraged because the animals didn't seem very liberated anymore in this overcrowded pond. A little further on the left side is the coulourful Hall of Bodhisattvas, the oldest building of Kek Lok Si. Inside are beautiful statuettes of notable Bodhisattvas, persons who are assisting others to reach Buddhahood, sometimes erroneously translated as "gods". Here you may be able to get a free and very useful guide booklet in Chinese and Englsih about the temple complex. Just nearby is the beautiful Garden Pavilion of Lord Buddha, a small pavilion with a statue of Buddha teaching the monks. From here you have a beautiful view on the higher levels of the temple, reachable via a stepped pathway around the pavilion and the nearby Lotus Pond pagoda.

(continued on part II)

From journal Pulau Pinang - As Chinese as it Gets in Malaysia

Kek Lok Si Temple

  • April 19, 2001
  • Rated 4 of 5 by ashford from Subang Jaya, Malaysia
Kek Lok Si is the biggest Buddhist temple in Malaysia. It is perched majestically on a hill in Air Hitam. The temple is well worth a visit - it features scenic gardens, shrines, a turtle pond, sculptures and the 30 meter high Pagoda of a Thousand Buddhas. This majestic feature combines Chinese, Thai and Burmese architecture and craftsmanship and reminds you that Penang is a cosmopolitan place.

From journal Penang : The Pearl of the Orient

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