Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore. Also called Sri Perumal Temple, it is located on Serangoon Road in Little India, and is noted for its massive 20-metre tall gopuram, or tower, which shows the different incarnations of Vishnu.
The Sri Srinavasa Perumal Temple dates back to 1851, when Hindu community leaders including Arunachala Pillay, Mr Cootaperumal Pillay, Mr Ramasamy Pillay, Mr Appasamy Pillay, Mr Chockalingam Pillay and Mr Ramasamy Jamidar sought to purchase a piece of land from the East India Company for the purpose of worshipping Vishnu. They were granted a 2 acre plot which cost them 26 rupees and 8 annas - at that time, Indian currency was still legal tender in Singapore. After the initial temple was built, the temple management committee managed to secure two adjoining plots to be added to the temple. Another 25,792 square feet was donated by devotees Moona Sithumbaram Pillay and Vinasithamby Murugesu. A further 3,422 sq ft was added when the Mohammedan Hindu Endowments Board, which administered the temple from 1907, managed to secure it from the East India Company on a 999 year lease, on 15 August 1912, for a fee of 1 Straits Dollar per annum. At one time, its compound was filled with ponds and vegetable gardens. There was even a stream that flows into the temple compound and was used by devotees for ritual cleansing. Today a well marks the spot where the stream used to flow.
The original temple structure remained unchanged until the early 1950s by which time it was in dire need of a facelift and upgrading works. In 1952, the MHEB decided to rebuild and reinstate the Temple. Redevelopment was only carried out in the early 1960s when well known Indian community leader and philanthropist Mr P. Govindasamy Pillay financed much of the works. Mr Pillay is credited with building the first two storey marriage hall within the temple. It was officially opened by Enche Yusoff Bin Ishak, the first president of Singapore on 19th June 1965.
The appearance of Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple remained more or less unchanged for the next fifty years. By the 1950's, it was pretty much run down and in dire need of restoration. The Mohammedan Hindu Endowments Board decided to have the entire temple rebuilt. The reconstruction project took place in the early 1960's, with funds coming from P. Govindasamy Pillai, a well-known Indian community leader and philanthropist, who also gave money for the construction of the five-tier rajagopuram, completed in 1966 at a cost of S$300,000. The first two storeys of the marriage hall at the temple was also financed by Mr Pillay. The rebuilt temple was officially opened by Yusoff bin Ishak, the first President of Singapore, on 19 June, 1965.
The Sri Srinavasa Perumal Temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Krishna, which is one of the incarnations of the pan-Indian deity Vishnu. Perumal happens to be another name for Krishna. Within the temple is the statue of Perumal with his consorts Lakshmi and Andal, and his vehicle, the mythical bird Garuda. The ceiling of the temple is painted with colourful patterns depicting the planets of the universe. The temple is the starting point for devotees during the annual Thaipusam festival which honours Lord Murugan.
Today the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple is managed by the Hindu Endowment Board under the purview of the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.
Contact
Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
397 Serangoon Road, Singapore 218123
Tel: 6298 5771
Fax: 6298 9884
Email: heb_sspt@pacific.net.sg
Getting there
You may visit this place as part of the Little India Walking Tour. To come here direct, the nearest MRT station is the Farrer Park Station (NE8) .
Sights in Little India
These are all the sights I've grouped under Little India, listed in alphabetical order. I would recommend that you visit them together. See the Little India Walking Tour for a recommended walk of this area.
Abdul Gaffoor Mosque *
Angullia Mosque
Beo San Hood Chor Temple
Church of the True Light
Foochow Methodist Church
Hock Siew Tong Temple
Kampong Kapor Methodist Church
Leong San See Temple
Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hall
Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple (Temple of 1000 Lights) *
Shree Lakshminarayan Temple
Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple *
Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple *
Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple *
Shopping in Little India
The following are places where you can do a bit of shopping. These include places where the locals shop for their local items, but it provides an interesting glimpse of life in Singapore.
Little India Arcade
Mustafa Centre
Serangoon Plaza
Tekka Market
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Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple (10 July 2006)
© Timothy Tye
Location Map of Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
Shrine at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple (10 July 2006)
© Timothy Tye
Sheltered walkway, Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple (10 July 2006)
© Timothy Tye
Front entrance and gopuram of Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple (10 July 2006)
© Timothy Tye
Sculpture of deity at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
author: Dime in 
Gopuram of Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
author: Dime in
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