Sri Thendayuthapani Temple is S’pore’s 67th National Monument

SINGAPORE — The temple that most Singaporeans will recognise as the end point for the yearly Thaipusam celebrations has been gazetted as Singapore’s 67th national monument by the National Heritage Board today (Oct 20).

Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, established in 1859 and located at 15 Tank Road, is dedicated to Hindu god Lord Murugan. It is also widely called the Chettiar Temple, having been established by the Natukottai Chettiars, who were traders, merchant bankers and financiers. The temple was also an epicentre for the Chettiar community’s economic and religious activities.

Ms Jean Wee, director of the Preservation of Sites and Monuments division, NHB, said: “Sri Thendayuthapani Temple is the embodiment of the indelible contributions the Chettiar community has made to Singapore’s economic development, as well as an architectural treasure in our urban cityscape.”

She added that by according the temple the highest order of preservation status, it will be safeguarded for its pivotal function as a place of worship as well as social space for the Indian community.

According to Ms Wee, the move also ensures that “our built heritage is preserved sensitively in our multicultural society”.

The South Indian-style temple becomes the third Hindu temple to be part of the list of national monuments after the Sri Mariamman Temple (1973) and the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple (1978).

The temple was rebuilt between 1980 and 1983, and then re-consecrated on Nov 27, 2009 following its most recent renovations.