Tuesday, March 2, 2004

Sri Mariamman Temple

Getting there....

The oldest road in Chinatown also housed the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore. It was originally made of wood and attap in 1827, before being replaced by a brick structure in 1843. It was built by an Indian Pioneer, Naraina Pillai, who had his shop burnt to the ground by a fire. Assisted by Raffles, he revived his business and constructed the temple to honour the Goddess Mariamman, the curer of diseases. This temple also gave Pagoda Street, a neighbouring street, its name, due to the gopuram, its pyramidal structure that was mistaken to be a pagoda.

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