The painted tower
A twenty-two-metre gateway covered in carved figures.
Chainwit. — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jorge Láscar from Australia — CC BY 2.0 · Shesmax — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Shesmax — CC BY-SA 4.0
A twenty-two-metre gateway tower covered in hundreds of painted carved figures rises abruptly out of a busy Chinatown street. This is the oldest working Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur, founded by the Tamil community in 1873, and one of the most richly decorated in Malaysia. The entrance tower, a South Indian gopuram, is what draws visitors, and for many people looking at it from the pavement opposite is enough. Inside the temple is kept a huge silver chariot that comes out once a year for the Thaipusam procession to Batu Caves. It is a working temple with daily rituals, so entering means taking off your shoes and dressing modestly, photographing worshippers up close is inappropriate, and a token fee may be asked for minding shoes. Entry itself is free. The visit is short, and it fits best into a walk around Petaling Street and Chinatown next door. Anyone who prefers not to go in can enjoy the painted tower from outside, which is the best of it.
A twenty-two-metre gateway covered in carved figures.
Founded in 1873 by the Tamil community.
Leaves once a year in the Thaipusam procession to Batu Caves.
Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur
Guan Di TempleOne of the oldest Chinese temples in Kuala Lumpur, founded by the Cantonese Kwon1 minute walk
Petaling Street (Chinatown)A street under a long green canopy, lined with stalls of bags, watches, clothes 3 minutes walk4.0
Central Market (Pasar Seni)A pale-blue Art Deco building from 1937 that was once the city's fish and vegeta3 minutes walk4.5
Sin Sze Si Ya TempleThe oldest Taoist temple in Kuala Lumpur, built in the 1860s by Yap Ah Loy, the 3 minutes walk
Kwai Chai HongA small back lane behind the shophouses of Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown, neglected f3 minutes walkNo. The painted tower outside is the best of it, and viewing it from across the street is enough for anyone who prefers not to enter the prayer hall.