Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Kuala Lumpur

Sri Mahamariamman Temple
Sri Mahamariamman Temple Location in Malaysia
Name
Proper name	Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Kuala Lumpur
Tamil	ஸ்ரீ மாரியம்மன் கோவில் Śrī Māriyammaṉ Kōvil
Malay	Kuil Sri Mariamman
Chinese	马里安曼兴都庙
Pinyin	Mǎ lǐ Àn Màn xīng dū miào
Geography
Coordinates	3°8′36″N 101°41′47″E / 3.14333°N 101.69639°E / 3.14333; 101.69639Coordinates: 3°8′36″N 101°41′47″E / 3.14333°N 101.69639°E / 3.14333; 101.69639
Country	Malaysia
State	Federal Territory
Location	Kuala Lumpur
Culture
Primary deity	Mariamman
Architecture
Architectural styles	Dravidian architecture
History and governance
Date built	1873
Creator	K. Thamboosamy Pillai

The Sri Mahamariamman Temple (Tamil:ஸ்ரீ மகாமாரியம்மன் திருக்கோவில்,கோலா லம்பூர்) is the oldest Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Founded in 1873, it is situated at edge of Chinatown in Jalan Bandar (formerly High Street). In 1968, a new structure was built, featuring the ornate 'Raja Gopuram' tower in the style of South Indian temples.

From its inception, the temple provided an important place of worship for early Indian immigrants and is now an important cultural and national heritage.

The Sri Mahamariamman Temple was founded by K. Thamboosamy Pillai in 1873 and was initially used as a private shrine by the Pillai family. The family threw the temple doors open to the public in the late 1920s and eventually handed the management of the temple over to a board of trustees.

This is the oldest functioning Hindu temple in Malaysia. It is also reputed to be the richest in the country. The temple was originally sited somewhere near the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station. It shifted to its present location along Jalan Tun H.S. Lee (next to KL's Chinatown) in 1885.

The initial attap structure was demolished in 1887 and a brick building was erected in its place. That structure was demolished to make way for the current temple building which were completed in 1968. The impressive gateway to the temple, known as the gopuram, was completed in 1972. The new temple was consecrated in 1973.

Built in the South Indian style, the temple's most outstanding feature is the impressiven 5-tiered gopuram (tower). It is the tallest structure in the temple. The dramatic 22.9m (75ft) high pyramid-shaped gate tower is decorated with depictions of Hindu gods sculpted by artisans from southern India. The chief sculptor was the late S. T. Muniappa from Tamil Nadu and is credited for creating the 228 idols on the gopuram.