Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple
The Temple of Thousand Lights
One of the largest and most popular Buddhist temples in Singapore was founded in 1927 by a Thai monk named Vutthisara. Not surprisingly, Thai influences are visible throughout the Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple. The temple’s centerpiece is a gigantic, 15-meter-high statue of a seated Buddha, weighing several tons and surrounded by numerous light bulbs, which are lit at night and represent the Buddha’s aura. Thanks to them, the temple has become known as the “Temple of Thousand Lights.”
Don’t forget to pay your respects to the tigers at the entrance—they symbolize vitality and are the temple’s sacred guardians. In you visit during celebrations of the Buddha’s birth and enlightenment in May, you’ll see a statue of the deity (there are many!) completely covered in paper-thin gold leaf. According to local custom, donors to the temple receive gold leaf that they place on the Buddha as a gesture of gratitude and to curry his favor.
FYI: It’s forbidden to enter the temple with your shoes on.
