Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple

The temple has stood on this site since 1922, but its present form dates from a rebuilding finished in 2009 in which the whole interior and much of the exterior were covered in glass - something in the region of three hundred thousand pieces of mosaic, mirror and coloured tile applied to walls, columns, ceilings and shrines, so that the inside is entirely reflective and lit up by whatever light enters. It is claimed as the first temple treated this way anywhere. The scheme is not only Hindu: alongside the deities there are panels representing other faiths and figures, which the founder intended as a statement about common ground, and which makes the iconography unusual. Photography is allowed on payment, and the effect on camera is the reason most visitors come.

History

One of the oldest Hindu temples in Johor Bahru, it began in 1922 as a simple shelter on land given by the Sultan of Johor. In 1991 Sri Sinnathamby Sivasamy took over its administration from his father and drove its rebuilding, inspired by the glittering glass work he saw at a temple entrance in Bangkok (Wikipedia, Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple).

What to look for

• Glass mosaic throughout - some 300,000 pieces on walls, columns and ceilings.
• A fully reflective interior - mirrored surfaces catching every source of light.
• Panels beyond Hinduism - figures from other faiths included deliberately.
• An active temple - services continuing among the mosaic work.

When to go

All year; bright daylight makes the glass work best. An hour.

What to expect

There is a charge and a separate photography fee. Shoes off and modest dress required. It is a working temple - be discreet during services. Small; an hour is plenty.

Nearby

Johor Bahru city centre and the Causeway are a short drive.

Key facts