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Temple of Heavenly Happiness or Thian Hock Keng Temple on Teloy Ayer Street is really two temples in one. The main temple is dedicated to the Taoist sea goddess Mazu and the other to bodhisattva Kuan Yin. It is one of the oldest temples in the city and an important one to the Hokkien Chinese community there. The temple was built between 1839 and 1842 with donations from devotees and philanthropists, on the site of a small shrine dedicated the Mazu. A statue of the goddess shipped all the way from China was proudly installed in the main prayer hall a year later. The temple not only served the religious needs of the Chinese community but its social needs as well as the premises functioned as a girl's school and community centre. As a work of great importance to the community some of the best available materials and techniques were used in its construction. Built around two courtyards, with pagodas on either side, in the southern Chinese architectural style, the building was put together without nails. One pagoda is dedicated to Confucius and the other houses ancestral tablets of those who founded the temple. Tigers, lions and door gods guard the entrances as is customary in Taoist temples. Craftsmen were brought from China to carve out the flying dragons, phoenixes, columns and other intricate sculpture that adorn the temple from its rooftops to its interior and to assemble the stone and tile work. In 1901 the temple received a calligraphic panel from Guang Xu the Qing Dynasty emperor at the time confirming its status as an important temple. This hung over the temple's main alter till 1998. Thian Hock Keng was recognized as a national monument in 1973 and underwent a complete restoration between 1998 and 2000 where several crafts persons were engaged to preserve its unique character. The temple is still the centre of events celebrated in the traditional Chinese calendar among which are Chinese New Year, the Qing Ming Festival in April, the birth of Confucius in October and several days dedicated to various deities. With an advantageous down town location guests at the St Regis Singapore have easy access to many of the city's attractions and its popular entertainment, shopping and dining areas. Spacious and elegant guest rooms and suites offer beautifully decorated spaces and feature modern amenities suited to the requirements of business and leisure travelers and befitting one of prominent luxury hotels Singapore. Dine on Asian inspired cuisine and European favourites at one of exclusive 5 star hotels Singapore for a truly pleasurable experience and take time to taste rare wines and delightful cocktails at the trendy bars. Additionally try exceptional spa treatments that target total well being.
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