Oldest working Hindu temple
In all of Malaysia.
Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Marcin Konsek — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · User:Vmenkov — CC BY-SA 3.0
The oldest Hindu temple still in use in Malaysia, built in 1781 by the leader of the Chitty, Indians who settled in Malacca centuries ago and intermarried with Malays, on land granted by the Dutch government. The temple is dedicated to Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of the Hindu faith. It stands on Jalan Tukang Emas, known as Harmony Street, because the temple sits next to Kampung Kling Mosque and only steps from the Chinese Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, so three faiths have shared one street since the eighteenth century. Unlike the huge temples of South India it is small, with a simple facade topped by a stepped, colourful tower whose colour has changed between yellow and blue over the renovations. It is a working place of worship, so shoes come off at the door and quiet is expected. A visit is short and best made part of a walk through Chinatown, from Jonker Street to Kampung Kling Mosque and Cheng Hoon Teng Temple.
In all of Malaysia.
A mosque and two temples side by side.
An old Indian-Malay community.
Jalan Tukang Emas, Malacca's Chinatown, next to Kampung Kling Mosque
Kampung Kling MosqueOne of the oldest mosques on the Malay Peninsula, founded by Indian Muslim trade1 minute walk
Cheng Hoon Teng TempleThe oldest functioning Chinese temple in Malaysia, founded by the leader of Mala2 minutes walk
Cheng Ho Cultural MuseumA museum about the life of Admiral Zheng He, the Ming dynasty's Muslim naval com2 minutes walk
Baba & Nyonya Heritage MuseumThree adjoining houses behind one ornate facade, turned into a museum of the lif2 minutes walk4.5
Jonker Street Night MarketEvery Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening Jonker Street closes to cars and turns3 minutes walk4.4The name given to Jalan Tukang Emas, because Kampung Kling Mosque, the Hindu Sri Poyatha Moorthi Temple and the Chinese Cheng Hoon Teng Temple have stood on or just off it since the eighteenth century.