On Tank Road in the middle of Singapore, the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple has been Singapore's main Murugan temple since 1859. Every Thaipusam the whole city watches as devotees carry their kavadi here.
What is special here
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Built in 1859 by the Nattukottai Chettiar community
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A national monument of Singapore since 2014
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The end point of Singapore's Thaipusam procession
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Murugan worshipped as Thendayuthapani, the one with the staff, as at Palani
Chapter 1
Built by the Chettiars
The Nattukottai Chettiars, a community of bankers and traders from the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu, built this temple in 1859. Murugan is worshipped here as Thendayuthapani, the one who holds the staff, the renunciate of Palani.
The temple was declared a national monument of Singapore in 2014, and was renovated in 2022.
Chapter 2
Where Thaipusam ends
On Thaipusam, devotees set out from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple on Serangoon Road and walk through the city to Tank Road, many carrying kavadi and some with piercings as part of their vow.
Drums, singing and the call of 'Vetrivel!' move with them all day and into the night. For many Singaporeans of every background, this is the most visible Murugan festival of the year.
Chapter 3
Visiting
The temple is a short walk from Fort Canning and Dhoby Ghaut. The sanctum is open in the morning and again in the evening, and closes in the middle of the day.
The same trust also looks after the Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple nearby, so many visitors worship at both.
Stories told of this place
Our reflection: a temple built far from home, by people who carried their devotion across the sea, and a festival that now belongs to a whole city.
Our own retelling of the temple's history and traditions.