Sashidaran Gunathevan
Deepavali falls on Sunday, 8 November, and many families will travel for the festive break. Five temples across Malaysia offer a way to mark it. They range from a landmark in Kuala Selangor to an 18th-century shrine in Melaka.
Each temple tells a different story of migration, devotion and community. Once the decorating is done, consider a day trip. You could go after shopping at the malls.
Here are the five, with the history behind each and what to see.
1. Sri Shakti Devasthanam, Kuala Selangor
Tucked away in Bukit Rotan, this temple is dedicated to Goddess Shakti Mari Amman. Visitors know it for its five-tiered entrance tower, which rises about 74 feet.
Inside, a corridor holds 51 Shakti statues. They represent the 51 Shakti Peedams, the sacred sites of the Mother Goddess. However, the building took time. FMT reports the temple was consecrated in 2013 after about four years of work.
The project cost about RM12 million, according to The Star. Travellers from Kuala Lumpur can take the Kuala Selangor bus route, then transfer locally, as redBus suggests.
2. Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Kuala Lumpur
Near Chinatown, this temple is widely described as Kuala Lumpur’s oldest Hindu temple. K. Thamboosamy Pillai founded it in 1873 as a private family shrine. It later opened to the wider community.
The temple honours Goddess Mariamman, a mother goddess linked to protection and healing. For early Tamil migrants far from home, she therefore offered reassurance.
Then look up at the five-tiered raja gopuram. It is crowded with colourful sculpted figures, each telling part of a religious story.
3. Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple, Penang
More than 500 steps lead up to this hilltop temple, known as the Waterfall Hilltop Temple. It is dedicated to Lord Murugan and is billed as the largest Murugan temple outside India.
Its roots go back to about 1850. Back then, land near the waterfall was set aside for a temple as the area became a reservoir. The older temple was the main Thaipusam venue from 1850 to 2012, according to Penang Harmony.
Today the hilltop complex hosts Thaipusam. It has a seven-storey gopuram about 21.6 metres tall. The design draws on Chola and Pallava styles from South India. Inside, six pillars represent the six main Murugan temples.
So allow time for the climb. Buses run to Penang Sentral from Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Melaka and Ipoh, as redBus notes.
4. Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple, Johor Bahru
This temple began in 1922, yet its interior glitters like new. About 300,000 pieces of coloured glass cover its walls and ceilings. The Malaysia Book of Records listed it in 2010 as the country’s first glass temple.
Later, a restoration costing nearly RM2 million finished in March 2024. The work rebuilt the gopuram and replaced about 90 per cent of the old glass, Malay Mail reported.
Meanwhile, the temple is dedicated to Goddess Kaliamman, a form of the Divine Mother linked to strength and protection. It sits about a 10-minute drive from Larkin Sentral.
Singaporeans who plan to cross should note one thing. Woodlands and Tuas expect heavy traffic from 6 to 9 November.
5. Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple, Melaka
Built in 1781 on land granted by the Dutch, this temple belongs to Melaka’s Chetti community. FMT calls it the oldest functioning Hindu temple in Southeast Asia.
It is dedicated to Lord Vinayagar, also called Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. As a result, devotees seek his blessings before starting important ventures.
By contrast, the façade is plain compared with the towers elsewhere on this list. The Nyonya-style tiles are more than 100 years old, and the structure has been left largely untouched.
It stands on Jalan Tukang Emas, near Jonker Street. In short, this Deepavali temple stands for continuity: one community keeping its faith through generations of change.
Each temple follows its own calendar of worship. So check opening hours and visitor access with the temple before you go.
This Deepavali, redBus says you can book bus tickets to start your temple trip. V
Visiting any of these temples calls for respect. Dress modestly and remove your footwear where required. Ask before taking photographs, and give worshippers space during prayers.
Navin Kumar Perianen
Amirull Salihing
Yalinie Mathan
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