Visiting Kek Lok Si

December 3, 2019 by Leave a Comment

For the last of my recaps of my trip to Penang in October, I am going to take you along with me on visiting Kek Lok Si. Besides checking out a Peranakan Mansion (such as staying at the Blue Mansion or visiting Pinang Peranankan Mansion musuem) and checking out the George Town street art and Penang’s wide variety of food, I would recommend visiting Kek Lok Si Pagoda as one of the best things you can do while in Penang. What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha.
Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha.

Kek Lok Si is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, and located on Penang Island about a 30 minute by car from George Town, to the west of the city in the hills. If you visit Komtar, Penang’s tallest building, for a view, you will definitely see it from the viewing deck. In the town Air Itam at the foot of the hills you’ll find lots of great street food and restaurants, so you can easily and happily make this a half day trip. Kek Lok Si itself is probably worth maybe 2 hours of visiting. Since you are already on this side, you may consider combining this trip with visiting Penang Hill.

The main attraction here is the Kek Lok Si pagoda, located at the center and which you have to pay a small and at the centre of the complex. The first photo you see below is not it – that’s just at the entrance. The second photo, with me in it – that’s the Kek Lok Si pagoda behind me with the gold Burmese crown at the top! The Buddha you see in the background of the photo in the left is housed with a green roof that you see directly behind me in the right photo.
Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha.

Before you get to the pagoda, you will first pass through a couple garden courtyards and temple buildings – this part is free. You will not need to pay an entrance fee except to get to the area with the pagoda, and to take the tram to the Kuan Yin statue. This initial area on the way up has some very colorful and detailed wall carvings as part of a circular doorway, and the courtyard itself is lined with identical Buddha statues that make for interesting framing photo ops.
Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha.

Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha.

Up a few stairs and you should come upon the Hall of the Deva. Here you’ll find statues of the Four Heavenly Kings: Kwang Mu (Guardian of the West), Tou Wen (Guardian of the North), Ch’i Kuo (Guardian of the East) and Tseg Chang (Guardian of the South).
Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha.

After you pay to enter the main complex, on the way pagoda, you will also pass by the Main Prayer Hall. There are also some exquisitely detailed painted scenes from Buddha’s life and ornately carved dragons on the columns, so it’s worth removing your shoes to come in and get a closer look before continuing to the pagoda.
Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha.

Next is the 30 meters, seven story high tower topped with a Burmese spiral dome crown but that has a Chinese octagonal base while its middle tiers are of Thai design. The Kek Lok Si Pagoda is also known as the Rama VI pagoda or the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda. There is a large statue of Buddha donated by King Bhumibol of Thailand here and King Rama VI of Thailand laid the foundation for the pagoda, hence the Rama name. The Ten Thousand Buddhas name – well see for yourself as you climb the small stairs up, reflecting on the art style change from Chinese to Thai to Burmese inside as you go. Each floor has different tile art.
Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha.

As a bonus as you ascend via stairs to the top you are treated to a view of not just the Kek Lok Si temple grounds but also of Penang.
Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha.

So that’s the first two levels of the temple. At the highest level of the temple, which you can either ride a tram or drive up to, there is a 30.2 meter high bronze statue of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy – so this is just a little taller then the 7 story pagoda of Kek Lok Si, and this isn’t even counting the roof pavilion portion. The bronze version replaced a previous white plaster Kuan Yin statue which was damaged due to a fire, but which you can still see here as well. This Kek Lok Si Kuan Yin is the largest Kuan Yin statue in the world.
Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha. Visiting Kek Lok Si: What makes it unique is that among its millions of Buddhas it shows the blending of cultures that is so representative of Malaysia by including many stylistic representations of Buddha.

There are additional Kuan Yin statues and statues representing the Chinese zodiac signs, but my coworkers who I was visiting with were feeling hot, tired and hungry, so we skipped and went on to lunch. But, there is more up here at this level then I can show. Also, at the very bottom of the temple, there is a Turtle Liberation Pond that has supposedly thousands of turtles – you can pay to “free” a turtle as a form of merit making – I didn’t see this either since I came by car with my coworkers. So if you not coming by a car that goes right to the parking lot, you may be able to see that too.

I visited during October, but if you visit Penang during Chinese New Year, the temple grounds are lit up with lanterns that looks pretty spectacular.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwl0cxvFBCB/

There are many more temples in Penang that you can visit – from a Hindu to Thai to Burmese or Chinese, to a Snake Temple, or a Mosque or Cathedral – because it is such a melting pot of culture and heritage here. Some of what I listed may even be on the same street (nicknamed the Street of Harmony in George Town). Hopefully this post will encourage you into visiting Kek Lok Si because it really is unique and full of so many beautiful details that are worth seeing with your own eyes.

Penang, Malaysia Travel Posts (October 2019)

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