A famously known temple that is hundreds of years old (Kek Lok Si, Penang)

Malaysia is a tourist’s dream destination. What’s the reason? Let me tell you more about that! ☺☺☺
The richness of culture and serene beauty coupled with historical sites and famous sites in Malaysia that look larger than life, make it like a dream. The history of Malaysia is fascinating and brings along with it mix of numerous cultures across Southeast Asia. Malaysia is unique and interesting with an most flawless blend of historical and modern place.

Its is good to be back! Now I would like to share with you guys the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia, Kek Lok Si Temple which has become one of the main attractions in Penang. I shall start my full post on the most impressive temple on the island ; Kek Lok Si (極樂寺) !!

It had attracts hundreds of thousands of photography’s admirers every year.
Accompanied by the moonlight, people build a tripod dedicated to the soul of the night lantern lighting. The crowd surged in order to take photos during the short period of bright lights at night wearing cassock temple.

Do you guys know why Kek Lok Si Temple is a historical place in Malaysia? Do you know the interesting history of Kek Lok Si Temple? Do you want to know?

Kek Lok Si Temple is one of the largest and finest temple complexes in Southeast Asia, located on the island of Penang, Malaysia. and it was built since the year 1891. With millions of wonderful Buddha images and hundreds of beautiful meaningful sculptures, carvings and wall paintings within the interior and exterior of the temple halls, pagodas and archways. Kek Lok Si Temple isn’t a center for Chinses culture and Buddha teaching, but too an special legacy treasures that have Mahayana Buddhism and tradisional Chinese customs mix into a harmonious entire,in temple architecture and daily activities of worshipers.

source from :http://kekloksitemple.com/?page_id=5

It Located in Air Itam, the area’s mountains which is known as Crane Hill have long been considered a richness of “FENG SUI” location. Kek Lok Si Temple was founded by a Venerable which called Beow Lean, from a branch of the Buddhist Vatican in Drum Mountain in Foochow in Hokkien province. With the blessing of his superiors and the support of a few liberal donors, the Kek Lok Si temple started to take shape. The earliest building completed was the Corridor of Bodhisattvas in 1891; taken after by the Hall of Devas in 1895, the Hall of Dewira in 1896 and the Tower of Sacred Books in 1899.

Giant Statue- GuanYin 观音 ☀☀☀

This Temple covers an area of 12 hectares and is magnificent building on the hill. The Kek Lok Si Temple is a mixture of Chinese, Thai, and Burmese temple designs. You can also see a giant statue of GuanYin at a height of 30.2 meters after taking a cable car to the top of temple.

Here is some picture to show you a better idea of the statue’s enormous size. It’s said to be the biggest statue of GuanYin within the world. It’s look amazing !!!

THE WAYS TO REACH TO THE TEMPLE

There are 2 ways leading to Temple.
1) by using stairs and the other one is by Jalan Balik Pulau. You can drive all the way up to the temple and there are many parking lot.
2) There are 2 tiers of double-lane inclined to carry pilgrims and visitors further uphill. Walking along the stairs, there are occupies with shops which mainly sell for the tourists. Those visitors will pass by a so-called Liberation Pond.
For your information, the well known stairways leading up the hill to the temple is closed at night. Hence, you’ll be able either park your vehicle at the foot of the hill or drive all the way up the hill.

Anyway, I’ll suggest you to walk all the way up no matter the distance is quite far but the scenery along the way is worth it and you’ll have a different experience.

LIBERATION POND ” 解放池塘 “
, following the Buddhist tradition of merit-making, turtles may be released into freedom, albeit a limited one. This pond bridge became a scenic spot, the tourists will walk to the bridge, swamp vegetables thrown into the pond to feed the turtle.

Passing the Tortoise Pond, one will come to the Central Court. The most attractions here are the Seven Level Pagoda and Circular Structure. From here, a covered walkway will take tourists to the iconic seven storey white pagoda, The Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas (BAN PO THAR).

The Ban Po Thar Pagoda Buddhas 万佛宝塔 ☝☝☝☝☝

The Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas does undoubtedly have at least this numerous Buddhas included interior and exterior of the pagoda. Most of the Buddhas are on the interior within the form of alabaster tiles and numerous more Buddhas have been incorporated into the architectural design of the exterior.
The view at the top of the pagoda was amazing.

“Ten thousand Buddha pagoda”…
As the name implies, there are ten thousand buddhas in it.
I don’t know if it includes the ones printed on the tiles. I guess it should include!?

ANNUAL EVENT AT THE TEMPLE

The temple could be a central point of celebrations of the Chinese community in Penang. The Chinese New Year celebrations are particularly impressive.The temple remains open until late at night while thousands of lights turn the scenery into a sea of light for 30 days taking after CNY.During the celebration days, tens of thousands of LED, neon light,and lanterns representing donations offered by devotees is used to decorating the complex.The traditional lanterns lining the temple interchange between yellow and red,making it a fabulous sight.Besides that,another festive feature is that hundreds of monks will undertaken long marches from Thailand to the temple,once or twice.

THE SPECTACULAR NIGHT OF ILLUMINATION AT KEK LOK SI TEMPLE ♥♥♥♥♥

The majestic hilltop location of Kek Lok Si Temple offers excellent night time views of the George Town city lights.

LOVELY TRADITION- WISHING RIBBON ☺☺

This colorful wishing ribbon is for people to wishing and hang it on a wishing tree. I also had tried it. You can pray anything you wish to be such as family and friends good health and happiness, lasting prosperity, live a happy life and everything goes well. This ribbon only cost RM1, you can choose any colour of ribbon pertaining to a specific wish and hang it on a wishing tree, so you wishing will be come true. You can go for the yellow colour of ribbon which asks for “success in everything” when you don’t have any particular wish in mind.

That day, I pray for my family and friends for a happy, good luck and good health………

MINI CABLE CAR IN KEK LOK SI

This is the cable car service hours, you guys can refer on it.
If you can’t find it or have any problem, can ask the staff who are working at the shop there.
The entrance is free but you have to pay a small amount for the cable car to the top, which is a MUST! Bought the to and fro ticket to take the cable car to view the Goddess of Mercy statue, at RM6, then entered the slanted elevator, which just took about a minute,And it whisked you to the top. Beautiful views and an unbelievable tall statue on the top.

Main prayer hall of any Buddhist temple; The Mahavira Hall (大雄寶殿).

Colorful painted relief entryway

In the middle of the garden was a memorial hall, in which sat three gods as golden bodies.

On the walls on either side of the garden are neat rows of buddhist statues

Candles in a

pineapple shaped glass jars – the significance of the pineapple for the Chinese is prosperity;the wealthier the better! It’s kind of like a wishing bright light in the sense,
You can put your name on it,
Then light the candles in the middle to pray.

Kek Lok Si Tample极乐寺
（ can be search in the google map)
Address :196, Jalan Balim Pulau, 11500 Ayer Itam, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hour: Everyday, 7am — 9pm
Contact No. : +604-828 3317
Tips :
The best time to visit the temple is during the Chinese lunar New Year, when the temple is decorated with lights and colorful decorations

Kek Lok Si is easily one of the most unimaginable places I have ever been to. It distant surpassed each expectation I had.
In case you get a chance to go during Chinese New Year, you ought to definitely take it. Seeing the lanterns light up at night and enlighten the whole temple complex was a mysterious moment. It felt like a totally different place at night.
Kek Lok Si is the real deal. Kek Lok Si is possibly my favorite place to visit on Penang, I’d highly recommend it for everyone, not just those are travelling with kids, you can easily spend half a day wandering the temples and pagodas.Don’t miss out on it.