Flickr, N_Quah

Telok Ayer Market (Chinese: 直落亚逸巴刹), also known as Lau Pa Sat ('old market'; 老巴刹), is a historic building in Singapore, located in the Downtown Core, in Singapore's Central Area. It currently serves as a food center. Inside the structure are several shops, a shoe repair workshop, and the like. On weekend evenings a live band performs in the center of the market. Lau Pa Sat was designated a national monument on 6 July 1973.[1] At the beginning of the 19th century, Telok Ayer Market was a simple wooden structure standing on piles above the waters of Telok Ayer Bay, from which it got its name. In Malay, Telok Ayer means 'water bay'. Because of its Victorian iron structure, it is also referred to in Malay as pasar besi (iron market). Lau (老) means 'old'; pa sat in the Southern Min dialect of Chinese is equivalent to the Persian 'bazaar'.

Flickr, penttja

Thian Hock Keng (Traditional Chinese: 天福宫, pinyin: Thian-hok-kiong, literally: 'Temple of Heavenly Bliss', English: Thian Hock Keng) is the oldest and most important Fujian, or Hokkien, temple complex in Singapore. The main temple is dedicated to the goddess Mazu, the Taoist patroness of seafarers in later Chinese mythology, while the second temple behind the first is Buddhist and dedicated to Guanyin, the bodhisattva who protects the women of the household and saves people from all kinds of misfortunes. Thian Hock Keng was designated a national monument on 6 July 1973. Originally, before land reclamation, the temple stood right on the seashore and was a wooden structure built without a single nail. It was erected by Chinese sailors arriving here. In 1841 it was decided to rebuild the temple; for this purpose construction materials were brought to Singapore from various parts of the world: from China, from Scotland - the gates, from the Netherlands - tiles for decorating the facade[1].

Flickr, LeX Quek Jun Jie 2

A relic of immeasurable value, in the opinion of Buddhists, is kept in Singapore - the Sacred Buddha Tooth. According to the official version, the Tooth was found in 1980 in Myanmar, and in Singapore a temple was specially built for it, which was given the straightforward name Buddha Tooth Relic Temple.

What sort of tooth is it, you may ask? There is a legend according to which Buddha's disciples found four teeth after his cremation, three of which are kept in Sri Lanka, China, and Mongolia, while the fourth was lost and found in Myanmar only relatively recently. According to another, more 'pragmatic' version, there was only one tooth in the funeral pyre, and it is in a temple in Sri Lanka. In any case, everyone has the right to their own opinion - what to regard as truth and what as myth.

You... won't be able to see the Tooth in the Singapore temple! It is hidden on the fourth floor in a richly decorated casket that is not only not opened to ordinary visitors, but not even shown to them at all. However, the temple itself is interesting to look around as well; it is very beautiful even without the Tooth.

On the first floor is the Hall of One Hundred Dragons. Here you will see statues of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas, and you will also be able to observe Buddhist ceremonies. The second floor is devoted to a museum, where unique Buddhist texts are kept and exhibitions related to religion are held. The souvenir shop is also located here. On the third floor there is a museum entirely dedicated to the Buddha, housing various artifacts that describe the course of his life.

Flickr, uemii2010

Sri Mariamman is the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore. The temple is built in the Dravidian style. It is located at 244 South Bridge Road, in Singapore's Chinatown district, and serves as a place of worship for most Singaporeans of Indian descent. Because of its architectural and historical significance, the temple was declared a national monument and is considered one of Singapore's main attractions. Sri Mariamman falls under the Hindu Endowments Board, a statutory board under Singapore's Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. Sri Mariamman Temple was founded in 1827 through the efforts of Narayana Pillai, 8 years after the British East India Company established a trading settlement in Singapore. Pillai served as a government clerk in Penang before arriving in Singapore with Stamford Raffles during his second visit to the island in May 1819.

Flickr, Eos7dspider82

Singapore's Chinatown differs from other such places in the world both in its size and its importance. Chinese people are the main component of the local ethnic makeup, so their culture and traditions are present everywhere. Chinatown does not stand out much against the city's general background, but it is an integral and sizeable part of it.

It is located in the very center of Singapore, so you won't have to search for it. Hardly any residential buildings remain here; mostly all the buildings are offices of various companies, since ordinary housing in the center is very expensive.

There are many establishments in Chinatown aimed at tourists, so be sure - there is plenty to stroll around and plenty to see here. Traditional Chinese food is on every corner, and there are also a huge number of souvenir shops, entire streets of them, noisy and lively.

Among the attractions, one can highlight, for example, Sri Mariamman - the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore, a unique and very colorful structure. Thian Hock Keng is also located here - a Fujian temple complex, the oldest and most important religious center of Taoism, built in 1839. The first Chinese school was founded in this same quarter. Many of the area's sites have been designated national monuments. So you are in for not just a walk through Chinatown, but a full-fledged sightseeing tour of Singapore.

Flickr, lightmeister

Tan Si Chong Su (Traditional Chinese: 陳氏宗祠, Simplified: 陈氏宗祠, pinyin: Chénshì zōngcí, Pe̍h-ōe-jī Tân-sī-tsong-sû, Tansichongsu; also Baochi Temple Chinese: 保赤宫, pinyin: bǎochìgōng) is a Chinese temple in Singapore, located on Magazine Road in the center of the city-state. The temple was built between 1876 and 1878; it received its name from the Chen (Tan/Tan) clan in connection with the Chinese belief that people with the same name inherit the same fate. Tan Si Chong Su was built on the bank of the Singapore River in 1876 to meet the needs of the influential Chen clan. At that time the temple stood near the small island of Pulau Saigon. Since then part of the river has changed course, the island has ceased to exist, and the temple is now no longer directly on the shore. The funds needed to build the temple were provided by two representatives of the most prominent Chen families in Singapore: Tan Kim Ching Chen Jingzhong[en] (1824—1892) and Tan Beng Swee (陈明水; 1828—1884).

Flickr, chooyutshing

Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, better known as the Chettiar Temple, is one of the most important Hindu monuments in Singapore. It was built in 1859 by the community of Indian 'Chettiars' (moneylenders). The temple plays an important role in the lives of Shaivites in Singapore. It marks the end point of the procession that begins at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple during the annual Thaipusam festival. The modern temple building, dedicated to the god Shiva, was built in 1984 on the site of the old 1859 structure. The interior of the temple is notable for 48 glass panels engraved with images of deities, made, among other decorative details, by craftsmen from South India. The temple premises consist of the 'mandapam' and the 'antarala', through which a believer passes while performing rituals. The 'antarala' leads to the 'garbhagriha', which only a priest may enter. The entrance to the temple is crowned by a five-tiered gopuram. The main temple deity is Murugan, shown in his six sacred abodes.

marctey.com

The history of Jews in Singapore begins in the second half of the 19th century, when the first Jewish settlers, mainly from Central Asia, appeared in these lands. At present their number is about a thousand people.

Hesed El Synagogue (which translates as 'Gift of God') was opened in 1905, under the patronage of one of the wealthiest Jews in the Far East, Singapore community leader Manasseh Meyer. At that time it was only the second synagogue in the city. Its construction was prompted by the growing number of Jews in Singapore - the community needed another meeting place, since the first synagogue Magain Aboth could no longer accommodate everyone. In addition, Jews from Asia and Europe, despite their common faith, had some differences in their rituals, and to avoid disagreements it was decided to separate them.

The Hesed El Synagogue building is a fine example of Neo-Renaissance architecture. It was built by “Swan and MacLaren” - Singapore's largest construction company in the early 20th century. The interior is very beautiful: large columns, a marble floor, inscriptions in Hebrew...

According to some sources, Hesed El is considered the first place in Singapore where gas lighting began to be used at the beginning of the 20th century. Now, naturally, electricity has been installed in the synagogue, but the gas tubes still remain as a beautiful reminder of the history of this place.

Flickr, wuzanru

The National Museum of Singapore is the oldest museum in Singapore. The history of this institution begins in 1849, when it was created as one of the sections of the library of the Singapore Institution. After several moves, the museum finally settled in 1887 in its current building on Stamford Road. This institution is one of the country's four national museums, alongside two Asian Civilisations Museums and the Singapore Art Museum. The National Museum of Singapore specializes in exhibitions related to the history of Singapore itself. The museum received its current name in 1965. For a short period between 1993 and March 2006 it was known as the Singapore History Museum, but then returned to its former name. After three and a half years of restoration work, the museum was officially opened by Singapore President S. Ramanathan and Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lee Boon Yang on 7 December 2006.

wordpress.com, foodandtravels

Singapore Art Museum (English: Singapore Art Museum, Chinese: 新加坡美术馆) is a museum of contemporary art in Singapore[1]. The museum owns the largest collection of art from Southeast Asia and an ever-growing collection of works by artists from around the world[2]. The museum was founded in 1995, but officially opened to the public on 20 January 1996[3]. It became one of the first art museums in Southeast Asia to meet international standards. The museum, originally called the Fine Arts Museum, was the result of the National Museum's project to create a museum district. The district also included the Singapore History Museum, the Asian Civilisations Museum, the People's Museum, and the Children's Museum[4]. The creation of the museum began with the restoration of the Saint Joseph's Institution building. At the same time, on 18 July 1992, Minister for Information, Culture and Education Ker Sin Tze announced the appointment of artist and surgeon Earl Lu as head of the museum council, consisting of 11 people.

Flickr, Le Monde1

Cathedral of the Good Shepherd (Chinese: 善牧主教座堂) is the oldest Catholic church in Singapore and has the status of a national monument. The Church of the Good Shepherd is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Singapore. At the beginning of 1932, construction began on the first Catholic chapel in Singapore, which was completed in 1933. The chapel was wooden and stood on the site of today's Singapore Art Museum. By the end of the 30s, the number of Catholics in Singapore had increased and the need arose for a new, more spacious church. In 1840 in France, at the initiative of Queen Marie-Therese Amalie and the Bishop of Manila, a fundraiser began for the construction of a new Catholic church in Singapore. On 18 June 1843, the cornerstone was laid by Jean Courvezi, bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Malacca-Singapore. On 6 June 1847 the construction of the church was completed. In 1888 the church was elevated to the rank of cathedral of the Diocese of Malacca.

Flickr, WL Chieh

Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator (Armenian: - Սուրբ Գրիգոր Լուսաորիչ եկեղեցի) is an Armenian church in Singapore, on Hill Street. It is the oldest Christian church in Singapore, was recognized as a national monument and is protected by the state[1]. The first Armenian merchant appeared in Singapore in 1820. The Armenian colony was small; in 1834 there were fewer than 50 people. In the first half of the 19th century, in 1833, the Singapore authorities allocated a plot of land to the Armenian community for the construction of an Armenian church. Members of the Armenian community began a fundraising campaign among the Armenian population of Singapore. They managed to raise exactly half the cost of the church project. It is noteworthy that at that time the Armenian community of Singapore united only 44 people. The missing sum was raised by Armenians from India and the island of Java. The construction of the church lasted from 1834 to 1835. The church was built in 1835. The consecration of the church took place on 26 March 1836.

Flickr, LifeInMacro | Thainlin Tay

The former city hall building - City Hall - is one of the best-known structures in Singapore. Built in 1929 in the classical Victorian style, with carved Corinthian columns with ornate capitals, it forms a magnificent architectural composition with the neighboring Supreme Court building.

This majestic landmark building plays the most important historical role for the country. Nearly all the most important and significant state-level events took place precisely in the halls of City Hall.

Here the Japanese surrender was officially accepted and the Japanese occupation came to an end, here Singapore's independence was proclaimed in 1959, here the first Singapore government swore allegiance to the Republic. The history of this small but strong state was truly made in this building. In 1992 the structure was given the status of National Monument of Singapore.

In recent years, the premises of City Hall served as offices of the prime minister, the ministries of foreign affairs, culture, and various local self-government bodies. Now all these departments are moving to new offices, vacating the historic building.

By 2015, they plan to open a huge National Art Gallery on the grounds of City Hall and the Supreme Court.

Flickr, chooyutshing

The Supreme Court Building is one of Singapore's most beautiful classical structures. It is worth clarifying that we are talking about the old Court Building, because since 2006 the Supreme Court of Singapore has been operating in a new building, no less interesting, but radically different in its high-tech style from the good old Victorian style of the previous abode of justice.

The Supreme Court Building was built in 1930 and became the last structure erected in the country during the period of its being under British rule.

The luxurious building is made of white stone and crowned with an ornate tower with a patina-turquoise dome. The facade is decorated with numerous white travertine columns. On the pediment is a magnificent bas-relief by the Italian sculptor Augusto Martelli. It depicts Justice; the central figure traditionally holds a sword and scales, but is not blindfolded.

The former abode of justice is beautiful both by day and by night. At night the dome is illuminated from within and seems to float above the monumental structure. During the day, if you wish, you can inspect the building not only from the outside but also go on a tour inside, visiting a number of exhibitions located here.

Flickr, daniel(I love film) :-)

Raffles' Landing Site is a tourist attraction in Singapore, traditionally considered the place where its founder Sir Stamford Raffles first landed on the territory of modern Singapore on 29 January 1819. It is located in the Downtown Core in Singapore's Central Area. On 29 January 1819, Stamford Raffles, with a small exploratory expedition, sailing down the Strait of Malacca from Penang, landed at this point of modern Singapore during his first appearance here, which lasted 10 days. At that time, the mouth of the Singapore River was inhabited by the Orang Laut ('sea people'), who were subject to the Sultanate of Johor. On 6 February Raffles signed the first treaty with the ruler of Johor.[1] Above the landing site rises a statue of Stamford Raffles, located on the north bank of the Singapore River.

Flickr, Bertrand Duperrin

Asian Civilisations Museum (English: Asian Civilisations Museum) is a museum in Singapore that presents its cultural roots and values. The museum tells the story of the cultures of Asian peoples over the last five thousand years. The total exhibition area is 14 thousand m² and includes 11 themed galleries, 1500 historical artifacts, as well as rotating exhibitions throughout the year. It is located on the bank of the Singapore River at 1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555. The museum has an Asian restaurant offering culinary delicacies of various regional styles. Various halls for celebrations are also located in the museum building. There is a souvenir shop in the museum.

Flickr, Azarudeen1

A popular place for entertainment and relaxation in Singapore is Clarke Quay, a waterfront where people gather both during the day and in the evening. Here you can relax in a bar or cafe, breathe the cool breeze, or simply take a walk.

The waterfront is named after Singapore's second governor, Andrew Clarke. It used to be a place where mainly merchant ships moored, but now the waterfront has become one of the centers of nightlife and fun.

A large number of attractions, both fairly calm and extreme, draw simply crowds of people here. Sometimes it seems that all Singaporeans have gathered here for a party, but in fact most of those present are visitors, though there are plenty of locals as well.

Clarke Quay is much loved and appreciated for offering leisure for every taste. You can have a great time in the cafes, of which there are countless here, and the cuisine is international - from fast food to French dishes. You can quietly take a boat ride on the river or, on the contrary, dance the whole night away in a club.

However, most guests of Clarke Quay prefer simple walks along the waterfront. It is especially beautiful here in the evenings, when the lights come on. The eclectic architecture of Asia and Europe, charming sculptural compositions, various souvenir shops - all this is the style of modern Singapore, which you will never be able to forget.