From Shrines to Sculptures: A Tour of Waterloo Street's Religious Landmarks

Right after logging off from work, I immediately dash to the bus stop to catch the earliest bus heading to the Bugis area. I’ve been planning to take a stroll around Waterloo Street since the beginning of the week, and now that the weather is nice, I don't want to waste the opportunity. Days like this don’t come around often during the rainy season.

Waterloo Street is one of the most interesting places to explore in the city. Although it can be considered a pedestrian mall, most of the landmarks in the area are various religious buildings. And where there are crowds, there are always street vendors. It’s a stark contrast to the vibe of the surrounding streets, which are mostly filled with offices and shopping malls.

My stroll began at the bus stop where I got off, in front of one of the exits of Bugis MRT Station. Across from it is the Bugis+ shopping mall. Normally, I would just head to one of the malls, but tonight I had a different goal; to explore the streets lined with religious buildings and do some photography.

From there, I walked along Cheng Yan Place to reach Queen Street. I feel like this is the quickest route, and I also think there are some good spots for photography along the way. The overall vibe here feels more trendy, with the buildings having a bold, modern look in my opinion.

The most striking thing I noticed during my walk was a small shopping mall called Little Red Dot!

As I walked along Queen Street, I noticed a few charging stations for electric cars. The one in use was a BlueSG car, a company that offers car-sharing services. I wonder why there aren’t more of these stations yet, as I think it's a good business model and the cars don’t contribute to pollution.

The great thing about this area is that there are plenty of routes to navigate through, offering the quickest way to reach Waterloo Street. From Queen Street, I walked through a carpark that leads to a back alley behind the Stamford Arts Centre.

It's so cool that even the back alleys of some buildings here are decorated with street art-style paintings on the walls.

On the other side of this building is Waterloo Street where I found the Sri Krishnan Temple and the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple.

The Sri Krishnan Temple is a Hindu temple considered to be one of the oldest in the city. It's amazing that the temple began as a small shrine and has since grown into the structure it is today. The design features South Indian architecture, and the temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna.

As I walked around the temple, I tried to be discreet while taking photos, as there were devotees praying at the time. I didn’t want to disturb or be a nuisance to them as much as possible.

This temple features a distinct gopuram and is adorned with numerous ornaments filled with intricate details.

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A few steps from the Sri Krishnan Temple is the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, which is one of the most significant Buddhist temples in Singapore. Most of the devotees at this temple come from the Chinese community, which is why the place is crowded during Chinese New Year and on the 1st and 15th days of each lunar month.

This temple is dedicated to Guanyin, the Chinese Goddess of Mercy. It is said that one of the reasons devotees flock to this temple is to seek blessings through fortune-telling. The surroundings of the temple have stalls that were already closed by the time I arrived, but many of these stalls are for fortune telling.

A noticeable design feature of this temple is the Chinese design elements, including its ornate roof, detailed sculptures, and beautiful wall carvings.

In exploring the vibrant religious landscapes of Singapore, I've gained a deeper appreciation for the rich cultural tapestry woven throughout the city. Each temple and street tells a unique story, inviting both reflection and discovery. I encourage everyone to take the time to explore these beautiful spaces and experience the tranquility and beauty they offer.

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