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Address: Kek Lok Si, Ayer Hitam 11500, Penang, Malaysia

Kek Lok Si or The temple of Supreme Bliss is a 120-year-old temple stands magnificently in the a hill in Air Hitam. It is one of the largest and finest Buddhist temples in south-east Asia. This impressive monastery features many gardens, shrines, sculptures and ponds.

The construction of the temple began in 1890 and was inspired by the chief monk of the Goddess of Mercy Temple at Pitt Street. With the support of the consular representative of Ching Dynasty in Penang, the project received the sanction of the Emperor Guangxu, who bestowed a tablet and gift of 70,000 volumes of the Imperial Edition of the Buddhist Sutras.

The primary benefactor of the Kek Lok Si Temple in 1906 was none other than Kapitan Chung Keng Quee.

The main attraction is the pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas which was completed in 1930. This pagoda combines a Chinese octagonal base with a middle tier of Thai design, and a Burmese crown; reflecting the temple’s embrace of both Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism.

The pagoda is made up of many tiers, each accessible by a narrow staircase leading up from the preceding level. Each tier is ornamented with hundreds of intricately painted ceramic tiles, many grateful arches and niches, and dozens of statures of Buddha.

In a garden, lies a pond of tortoises, where visitors may feed them with fresh vegetables. According to Chinese belief, a tortoise is regarded as a symbol for long life. Unfortunately, the thieves had often stolen these tortoises from the temple for its delicacy meat.

The bronze stature of “The Goddess of Mercy” was erected on a hill within the ground of Kek Lok Si Temple. A octagonal pavilion was built to provide shelter to Kuan Yi stature.

Three Malaysia Book of Records achieved by temple for the tallest pavilion at 89.23m, the tallest bronze Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) statue at 33.67m, and the tallest granite pillars at 42.24m.

There is an inclined lift to carry pilgrims and visitors further uphill to Kuan Yi stature from the main buildings at the downhill. The ticket is RM2 for an uphill or downhill trip.

Kok Lok Si temple will be light up with few thousand of lanterns and more than 200,000 bulbs one week before each Chinese Lunar New Year and this festival mood is lasting for one month.

Location map

GPS Coordinates: 5.399452N, 100.273708E Show on map

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Posted by admin on March 3, 2011 under Tourist Attraction.