Landmarks & Memorials

Arab Street
Arabs were among the first to arrive in Singapore to trade, bringing with them the Islamic religion and converting many indigenous Malays to their belief. Today the old section of the city around Arab Street provides an intriguing glimpse into the Muslim way of life.
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Civilian War Memorial
This strikingly simple memorial is dedicated to the civilians who lost their lives during the Japanese occupation in the Second World War. The locals affectionately call it the "Chopsticks" memorial because of its unusual design.
Location: Near Raffles City Complex.
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Kranji War Memorial
The beautifully landscaped grounds of the Kranji War Memorial are dedicated to the Allied troops who died in the battle for Singapore during World War II. The memorial's walls are inscribed with the names of those who died, and a register is available for inspection from the custodian.
Location: 9 Woodlands Road,
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Merlion
Merlion, the tourism symbol of Singapore, the Merlion is a mythical beast, said to be half lion, half fish. The eight-metre high Merlion statue stands guard at the mouth of the Singapore River.
Opening hours: 7am to 10pm daily (the Merlion spouts water from 10am to 10pm). Admission: Free
Location: Fullerton Road (near mouth of Singapore River).
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Parliament House
Once a stately colonial mansion which was built in 1827, Singapore's oldest government building is today the home of the Republic's Parliament. A bronze elephant stands in front of the building, a gift from King Chulalongkorn of Siam in 1871.
Admission: Free. By appointment only.
Location: Empress Place and environs, Tel :6336 8811.
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Statues of Sir Stamford Raffles
The founder of modern Singapore has two statues to his memory. The original bronze cast by Thomas Woolner in 1887 stands outside the Victoria Theatre, while a replica stands on North Boat Quay, behind Parliament House - at the site where Raffles is thought to have landed on January 29, 1819.
Location: Empress Place and environs.
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Supreme Court and City Hall
The last classical building to be completed in Singapore, the Supreme Court opened in 1939 as the first stage of a grand design to replace Parliament House, the Victoria Theatre and the Singapore Cricket Club. However, World War II intervened and the plan was fortunately, shelved. Neighboring City Hall was the scene of the Japanese surrender to Lord Louis Mountbatten in 1945. Visitors are allowed.
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The Sultan Mosque
Sultan Mosque dominates the area, a fantastic building with its impressive gold dome and vast prayer hall. Arab Street itself is a riot of colorful textiles from all over Asia at very low prices. Also on sale, overflowing from the shop houses onto the pavement, are saris and batik, basketry, leather goods, cane and rattan, jewelry and hand-beaten brass, perfumes and a host of other treasures.
 

Places of Worship
 

Churches

Singapore's churches and cathedrals were built well before the turn of the century and many are still used today as places of worship. Visitors are reminded to observe proper etiquette, particularly when a service is being held.

Armenian Church Singapore's oldest church, the Armenian Church in Hill Street, was completed in 1835 to a design by colonial architect George Coleman. Regarded as Coleman's masterpiece, the church is dedicated to St Gregory the Illuminator. It is designated as a national monument.
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Cathedral of the Good Shepherd
Completed in 1846, the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd in Queen Street was designed by Dennis McSwiney, formerly a clerk to George Coleman. Its tower and spire were added a year later by Charles Dyce.
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St Andrew's Cathedral
Built between 1856 and 1861, St Andrew's Cathedral was erected on the site of an earlier church which was twice struck by lightning. Designed by Colonel Ronald McPherson and built by Indian convict labor, its glossy white exterior results from the use of Madras Chunam, a mixture of shell lime, egg white and sugar.
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St Joseph's Church
Every Good Friday Singapore's Catholic community commemorates the crucifixion of Christ with a procession through the grounds of this church at 143 Victoria Street. It was built in the early part of this century to replace an earlier church erected by the Portuguese mission to Singapore.
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Mosques

Singapore's many mosques are easily recognizable by their distinctive minarets and domes. Visitors should leave their footwear at the door, women must not be dressed in shorts or revealing dresses and only men are allowed into the main prayer hall.

Abdul Gaffoor Mosque
Tucked away from the bustle of Little India, this mosque, at 41 Dunlop Street, was completed in 1910 to replace a more modest building. Of particular interest is the framed family tree to the left of the prayer area which traces the Muslim prophets.
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Hajjah Fatimah Mosque
Named after its female benefactor, a Malaccan born Malay who married a wealthy Bugis Sultan, the mosque was built in 1846 at 4001 Beach Road. A combination of architectural influences, it has a decidedly British flavour.
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Nagore Durgha Shrine
This shrine, in Telok Ayer Street, was completed in 1830 by Southern Indian Muslims, the land being granted on condition that it not be used for a wooden or attap building. It has a unique blend of Classical and IndianMuslim motifs.
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Sultan Mosque
With its massive golden dome and huge prayer hall, the Sultan Mosque is one of Singapore's most imposing religious buildings and a focal point for Muslim Singapore. The original mosque on this site m North Bridge Road was built with the help of a $3,000 grant from Sir Stamford Raffles. The present mosque, designed by Denis Santry, was completed in 1928.
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Temples

Temples are the places of worship for a variety of religions m Singapore Hindu, Buddhist, Shentoist and Taoist. Many have survived intact for well over 100 years, and most celebrate colorful festivals at different times of the year.
Central Sikh Temple
The chief place of worship for Singapore's 15,000 Sikhs, the temples architecture is a skillful blend of modern and traditional. The Granth Sahib, or holy book, is enshrined in a magnificent prayer hall which has a 13-metre wide dome.
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Chettiar's Hindu Temple
(Sri Thandayuthapani temple) This Southern Indian temple at 15 Tank Road was rebuilt completely in the early 1980s on a site that had been occupied by earlier temples since the 1850s. Its courtyard and numerous shrines are covered by a roof with 48 engraved glass panels angled to catch the rising and setting sun. This temple traditionally sees the culmination of Thaipusam as well as the Navarathiri Festival.
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Fuk Tak Ch'i Temple
This Shentoist temple, one of the oldest surviving buildings in Singapore, was rebuilt in 1825 and is also called the Temple of Prosperity and Virtue. Shentoism combines Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism, and deals particularly with communication with spirits through mediums. Inside the temple, in Telok Ayer Street, is an effigy of the God of Wealth. Nearby is a horse statue with its legs bound. In bygone days, Hakka women would tie the legs of horses at the temple to ensure the safe return of their menfolk when they had ridden off in search of work.
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Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Temple
Spread over a hillside, this recently built complex of Buddhist temples at 88 Bright Hill Drive, is one of the largest worshipping places in Singapore. The buildings feature fine examples of Chinese decorations, statues and shrines. A large turtle pool, peaceful gardens and the constant hum of prayer add to the air of tranquility.
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Siong Lim Temple
A national monument, this Buddhist temple, at 184E Jalan Toa Payoh, was completed in 1908 and commemorates Buddha's birth and death. The temple has an elaborately decorated gateway, reached by a bridge, which opens into a courtyard. Visitors can see beautifully carved Buddhas imported from Thailand.
Getting there: Take the MRT to Toa Payoh (NS19).
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Sri Mariamman Temple
This magnificent temple at 244 South Bridge Road is Singapore's oldest Hindu temple. There was a wood and attap temple on the site by 1827 and the original brick bones of the present building were built around 1843. Since then, there have been many additions, with a profusion of deities being carved all over its walls, its doors bedecked with bells and frescoes added to the ceilings. The fire-walking festival, Thimithi, is celebrated here.
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Tan Si Chong Su Temple
This ancestral Hokkien temple in Magazine Road is also a community centre f'or the Tan clan in Singapore. The decorations in the temple, built in 1876, are very well preserved, particularly the altars with their ancestral tablets. Much of the materials used to build this riverside temple arrived in Singapore as ballast.
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Temple of 1,000 Lights
A 15-metre high statue of Buddha, surrounded by a seemingly endless chain of lights, is the focal point of this simple but impressive building at 366 Race Course Road. A fresco at the base of the statue depicts important events in Buddha's life.
Getting there: Take SBS buses 111, 106, 65, 64, 92, 198 from Dhoby Ghaut (NS24) MRT.
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Thian Hock Keng Temple
This Taoist-Buddhist temple, built in 1841 by seamen grateful for a safe passage, stands in Telok Ayer Street where Singapore's waterfront used to be before reclamation. The materials d to construct the temple are truly international, with ironwork from Scotland, tiles from England and Delft, and towering granite pillars entwined with dragons. Many ancestral tablets stand the courtyard, and massive lions mount guard on the doors.