Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum is a red-and-gold Buddhist temple in the heart of Chinatown. It opened on Vesak Day, 31 May 2007, and was built to house a relic that devotees revere as a tooth of the Buddha. The design draws on the architecture of China's Tang dynasty, regarded as a golden age of Chinese arts, combined with the layout of a Buddhist mandala, and the building has quickly become one of the most visited sights in the district.

The temple rises over several floors, each with its own halls and shrines. The ground-floor Hundred Dragons Hall holds a large statue of Maitreya, the future Buddha, flanked by rows of smaller figures, and it is the setting for daily chanting and ceremonies. On the upper floors, the temple's museum displays Buddhist art and artefacts from across Asia, along with sacred relics, and a gallery tells the stories of eminent monks. The relic itself is kept on the fourth floor in a large stupa made with hundreds of kilograms of gold, which visitors can view from a public area. On the roof, a garden surrounds the Ten Thousand Buddha Pavilion, at the centre of which stands a large prayer wheel that visitors may turn.

This is an active place of worship, so visit quietly and dress modestly: bare backs, off-shoulder tops, shorts and mini-skirts are not permitted inside, and non-vegetarian food and pets cannot be brought in. Photography is restricted in some areas, particularly around the relic, so follow the signs. Entry is free, and donations are welcome. Morning ceremonies are atmospheric to watch, but try not to disrupt worshippers.

Allow an hour to see the main hall, the museum and the rooftop, and longer if you want to sit through chanting. The temple suits anyone interested in Buddhism, architecture or Chinatown's living culture. The basement holds a vegetarian dining hall, where simple meals are offered to visitors.

The temple is at 288 South Bridge Road, and Maxwell MRT station on the Thomson-East Coast line is right beside it, with Chinatown and Telok Ayer stations a few minutes' walk away. Maxwell Food Centre, home of Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, is directly opposite, and Sri Mariamman Temple is a short walk along South Bridge Road.