5 TOP

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.
 
Getting there: Take the MRT to Bugis (E1) and head for Rochor Road/Jalan Besar.

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.
 
Getting there: Take the MRT to Lavender (E2) and walk towards Beach Road.

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.
 
Getting there: Take the MRT to Raffles Place (C1).

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.
 
Getting there: Take the MRT to Bugis (E1) or Lavender (E2) station.

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 colourful festivals at different times of the year.

CENTRAK 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.
 
Getting there: Take a taxi towards the junction of Towner Road and Serangoon Road. 

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.
 
Getting there: Take the MRT to Dhoby Ghaut (N1) and walk towards Penang Road/ Clemenceau Avenue.

TOP

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.
 
Getting there: Take the MRT to Raffles Place (C1).

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 tranquillity.
 
Getting there: Take a taxi from Bishan MRT (N8).

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.  

5 TOP

Getting there: Take the MRT to Toa Payoh (N6).

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.
 
Getting there: Take the MRT to Tanjong Pagar (Wl). 

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.
 
Getting there: Take a taxi from Raffles Place MRT (C2) or Dhoby Ghaut MRT (N1) station.

 TOP

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 (N1) MRT.

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.
 
Getting there: Walk from Raffles Place MRT (C1).

SUBURBAN SINGAPORE
 
CHANGI VILLAGE
Off the beaten track, Changi Village shows a more relaxed side of Singapore. The local beach has clean sand that attracts fishermen and bathers alike-especially at weekends the village itself, there are plenty of bargains to be had-T-shirts, electronics, car- pets, Indian cotton clothing, shoes, batik dresses, kimonos and all types of table linen. When hunger strikes, head for the food centre or try one of the restaurants along the main street. Relax in the shade of an umbrella, order up some fresh seafood and watch the world go by.

Getting there: Take the Ml to Tanah Merah (E9) and board SBS bus 2.

GEYLANG
Geylang, traditionally the home of Singapore's Malay, Arab and Indonesian communities, is alive with market stalls and bustling crowds, particularly during Muslim festivals. Spices and rattan from Indonesia, gems from Burma, cotton and gold from India and perfumes from Arabia - this is the place for the adventurous shopper who enjoys old shophouses as a backdrop to bargain hunting.

The Malay influence is strong throughout Geylang and this is reflected in both the shops and the food centres where nasi padang,a dish served with rice, vegetables and meat, is a particular favourite. Wander through the numerous lanes off Geylang Road for some delightful scenarios of local life and stroll down Joo Chiat Road for a glimpse of traditional Chinese businesses such as joss stick and candle makers. Also, drop by at Malay Village. Its shops display a potpourri of Malay traditional items like handicrafts, fabrics, prayer rugs, furniture and antiques.
 
Getting there: Take the MRT to Paya Lebar (E5). 

TOP 

KATONG
Neighbouring Katong is a quiet residential area formerly colonised by wealthy Straits Chinese families or the Peranakans. Many of Katong's new apartment blocks have spectacular sea views, while the older Peranakan homes, once seaside villas, now stand back from the sea. Parkway Parade is the place to find shopping bargains, but Katong is best known for its wonderful eating houses specialising m Peranakan cuisine and bakeries selling delicious curry puffs. For Chinese seafood, the shophouses along East Coast Road offer a really tasty treat.
 
Getting there: Take SBS bus 14 or 16 from Orchard Road.

HOLLAND VILLAGE
This small area of Singapore still has the feel of a village about it, with its own wet market and shophouses selling everything from straw brooms to valuable antiques. Holland Village is a microcosm of Singaporean life, a curious mix between old and new old coffee shops and hawker stalls jostle for space with ritzy new wine bars and restaurants. The Holland Road Shopping Centre is alive with busy shops, including some selling Asian arts, crafts and antiques. Electronics and factory outlet clothing are other good buys. Weekends are especially busy, when much of Singapore seem to gather at Holland Village to shop, chat and have a meal.
 
Getting there: A 1 5-minute walk from Buona Vista MRT (W7).

HOUSING ESTATES - WOODLANDS, YISHUN TOA PAYOH AND TAMPINES
Many visitors to Singapore like nothing rnore than to get off the beaten path to discover how the locals live and enjoy life.

Woodlands, on the Singapore side of the Causeway leading to Malaysia, has a strong Malay influence. The busy Woodlands Shopping Centre is one of the best places to buy fabric. Many of the colourful fabrics on display are used to make the shimmering traditional dress favoured by Muslim women.
 
Yishun is a satellite suburb in Singapore's north - the last stop on the MRT. Step straight off the MRT into the six-level Northpoint Centre, a modern shopping mall complete with all the big brand names to be found along Orchard Road. Right next to Northpoint is a high quality, eight-cinema multiplex. And on the other side is a row of shophouses selling food and bargain goods.

Visitors to Toa Payoh will find its central shopping area reminiscent of Singapore's older shophouses. Here you can pick up garments at ridiculously low prices T-shirts and shorts at $10 for three items or children's clothes for as little as $2. Toa Payoh town centre includes cinemas, hawker centres, coffee shops and a library, but it also boasts a nearby park with streams and lily ponds alive with Chinese carp and goldfish.
 
Tampines, an HDB estate in the north-east of Singapore, has the distinction of having won the coveted United Nations World Habitat Award for Excellence in Housing Design. With new schools, shops, markets, beautiful playgrounds, two golf courses, a swimming pool, a badminton hall and a stadium, it has all the facilities its residents could want. A Japanese department store, supermarkets and food chains have already been attracted to Tampines.