About this place

The Sri Mahamariamman Temple can be considered the oldest functioning Hindu Temple in Kuala Lumpur.  The Temple was initially a private family shrine of a Hindu trader by the name of K. Thamboosamy Pillai in 1873. 

Being a very successful and influential Indian leader, he had many people who looked up to him and depended on him for advice and guidance. He began to allow his followers access to what was originally his family shrine and many Hindus started to meet regularly for prayers and devotions since 1885. 

Indian immigrants came to Malaya in large numbers during the mid-19th century because of the prospects available for them to work in the railways and road building sectors besides the rubber plantations. In fact, the British openly encouraged them to leave their homeland to come to work in Malaya.

The one very colorful and attractive feature of the Temple is it’s 75-foot high tower forming the entrance to the Temple called the “Gopuram”. This tower consists of 5-tiers and on the tiers can be found 228 carvings of Hindu deities forming dioramas depicting stories from the Hindu holy book, the Ramayana.

As one crosses the entrance into the courtyard and Temple itself, you will suddenly find yourself as if in an oasis of peace and serenity. Many colorful Hindu deities abound inside the Temple. The main deity is of course that of the Lord Mahamariamman, who is actually a Goddess.

It is from this Temple that a silver chariot carrying the deity of the Lord Murugan will begin its annual 13km trek to the Batu Caves during the Thaipusam Festival. Accompanying the chariot will be many thousands of Hindu devotees.  (See Batu Caves, Lord Subramaniam Swamy write-up for pictures of the Thaipusam Festival at the Batu Caves Temple. Thaipusam Festival was a 5-day Festival and was recently held from the 15th Jan - 19th Jan. 2014