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Sri Nagara Thandayuthapani Temple George Town Penang
25 Jalan Kebun Bunga, George Town, 10350 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Sri Nagara Thandayuthapani Temple (1850) stands adjacent to Penang Botanic Gardens, celebrated for its granite-carved mandapa of 60 pillars, barrel-vaulted roof, and intricately sculpted 23-metre rajagopuram added in 2012, making it one of Malaysia’s most ornate Murugan temples outside Batu Caves ([1][2]). Devotees ascend 82 steps lined with nangkol tamarind trees to reach the sanctum, which houses Murugan with Valli-Deivanayai, Surapadman effigies, and a golden vel. Temple opens 6:00 AM-9:30 PM with six puja cycles, weekly vel puja, and annadhanam; festivals include Skanda Shasti, Aadi Krithigai, Panguni Uttiram, and the Penang Thaipusam finale where devotees break coconuts and receive blessings. The compound features a marriage hall, cultural school, archive, vegetarian kitchen, counselling rooms, and community centre providing welfare assistance, scholarships, and disaster relief staging. The temple’s management (Nattukottai Chettiar trust) coordinates with Penang Island City Council for heritage tours, festival logistics, and sustainability initiatives such as rainwater harvesting, solar, composting, reforestation, and crowd control. The temple’s granite panel murals depict Murugan’s legends, while its archive holds 19th-century palm leaf documents detailing Chettiar guild activities ([1][3]).
Year Built
1850 CE
Period
Colonial Period
Architectural Style
Dravidian Temple Architecture with Granite Mandapa
Built By
Nattukottai Chettiar Community
Material Used
Granite, Brickwork, Lime Plaster, Timber, Copper, Reinforced Concrete, Ceramic Tile, Solar Panels
Heritage Status
Listed within George Town UNESCO buffer zone; Penang heritage icon
Sri Nagara Thandayuthapani Temple George Town Penang
overview
Overview data: 94% complete
Heritage Overview
Temple
Sri Nagara Thandayuthapani Temple George Town Penang
Sri Nagara Thandayuthapani Temple (1850) stands adjacent to Penang Botanic Gardens, celebrated for its granite-carved mandapa of 60 pillars, barrel-vaulted roof, and intricately sculpted 23-metre rajagopuram added in 2012, making it one of Malaysia’s most ornate Murugan temples outside Batu Caves ([1][2]). Devotees ascend 82 steps lined with nangkol tamarind trees to reach the sanctum, which houses Murugan with Valli-Deivanayai, Surapadman effigies, and a golden vel. Temple opens 6:00 AM-9:30 PM with six puja cycles, weekly vel puja, and annadhanam; festivals include Skanda Shasti, Aadi Krithigai, Panguni Uttiram, and the Penang Thaipusam finale where devotees break coconuts and receive blessings. The compound features a marriage hall, cultural school, archive, vegetarian kitchen, counselling rooms, and community centre providing welfare assistance, scholarships, and disaster relief staging. The temple’s management (Nattukottai Chettiar trust) coordinates with Penang Island City Council for heritage tours, festival logistics, and sustainability initiatives such as rainwater harvesting, solar, composting, reforestation, and crowd control. The temple’s granite panel murals depict Murugan’s legends, while its archive holds 19th-century palm leaf documents detailing Chettiar guild activities ([1][3]).
Location
25 Jalan Kebun Bunga, George Town, 10350 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia(Penang)
Year Built
1850 CE
Heritage Status
Listed within George Town UNESCO buffer zone; Penang heritage icon
Visit Information
Visiting Hours
Daily 6:00 AM-9:30 PM; guided tours weekends 9:30 AM; annadhanam 12:30 PM; Tamil school 4:00 PM weekdays; heritage gallery Tue-Sun 11:00 AM-5:00 PM; counselling Tue/Thu evenings.
Entry Fee
Entry free; guided tour donation RM18; hall rental packages; Skanda Shasti passes RM20; parking RM4; photography permit RM15 inside mandapa.
Citation References
Sri Nagara Thandayuthapani Temple
Temple TrustAccessed 2025-11-09
Penang Heritage Department Report on Murugan Temples
Penang Heritage TrustAccessed 2025-11-09
Sustainability Plan for Penang Hindu Temples
Green Penang InitiativeAccessed 2025-11-09
Heritage Status
Listed within George Town UNESCO buffer zone; Penang heritage icon
Preservation Status
Excellent; 2023 structural assessment confirms stable granite, functioning solar and drainage; gopuram maintained; murals vibrant.
Historical Context
Temple founded mid-1800s; served Chettiar bankers and estate workers; expansions 1889, 1903. During WWII temple sheltered refugees. 1974 walkway paved. 2012 rajagopuram consecrated with 3,000 attendees. 2019 digital archive launched. Temple engages in floods and pandemic relief.
Architectural Details
Dravidian Temple Architecture with Granite Mandapa
Colonial Period
Built by
Nattukottai Chettiar Community
Materials
Granite, Brickwork, Lime Plaster, Timber, Copper, Reinforced Concrete, Ceramic Tile, Solar Panels
Dimensions
Height23m
Width24m
Length60m
Area2800m²
Location Map
Featured Images
Restoration Work
Major works: 1903 mandapa enlargement; 1974 walkway; 1998 micropiles; 2012 rajagopuram; 2018 solar and rainwater; 2019 BMS and archive; 2022 mural restoration.
Patronage
George Town Thandayuthapani Temple Trust
Construction Technique
Original granary replaced with granite sanctum and mandapa (1850); 1903 expansion added granite pillars and teak roofs; 2012 rajagopuram built by artisans from Tamil Nadu using modular granite blocks, lime plaster, and RC core. Roofs use timber trusses with steel tie rods; floors combine granite and Italian tiles. Solar panels installed 2018. Rainwater systems and greywater reuse integrated. Electrical upgrades and BMS implemented 2019.
Architectural Influences
3 items
Building Techniques
Craft methods include granite carving, lime plaster painting, teak joinery, copper kalashas, brass oil lamps, and mural restoration. Conservation uses lime-based pigments, reversible adhesives, stainless dowels, and micro-injection grouts. Solar and rainwater systems integrated without affecting heritage aesthetic. Structural reinforcement uses hidden RC beams and micropiles.
Coordinates
5.420100, 100.303400
Accessibility Info
{"notes":"Stairs can be slippery; use handrails; security during festivals; audio guides available; no smoking; use eco-stations.","restrooms":"Restrooms, ablution area, baby-care room, filtered water stations; rest lounge.","wheelchair_accessible":"Ramp at base; portable ramps; accessible seating; volunteers assist; upper mandapa requires support."}
Visitor Facilities
8 items
Best Visit Times
Visit early morning for peaceful darshan; Skanda Shasti nights for vibrant rituals; Thaipusam finale for coconut-breaking; evenings for illuminated gopuram.
Seasonal Events
8 items
Visitor Restrictions
Dress modestly; remove shoes; no photography in sanctum without permission; vegetarian food only; follow crowd marshals; respect wildlife; no drones without approval.
View Count
0
Is Featured
Yes
Is Published
Yes
Completion Score
75
Completion Status
complete
Created At
2025-11-09T07:48:28.493414+00:00
Updated At
2025-11-09T13:15:01.441+00:00
Quick Overview
📅
Built InColonial Period
📍
LocationPenang
🏛️
StyleDravidian Temple Architecture with Granite Mandapa
🏆
StatusUNESCO Site
What is Sri Nagara Thandayuthapani Temple George Town Penang?
Sri Nagara Thandayuthapani Temple George Town Penang is a historic Temple located in Penang, Malaysia. This Dravidian Temple Architecture with Granite Mandapa architectural masterpiece was built during the Colonial Period period and represents significant cultural and historical heritage of Malaysia. Sri Nagara Thandayuthapani Temple (1850) stands adjacent to Penang Botanic Gardens, celebrated for its granite-carved mandapa of 60 pillars, barrel-vaulted roof, and intricately sculpted 23-metre raja...
Category:
TempleLocation:
25 Jalan Kebun Bunga, George Town, 10350 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, PenangPeriod:
Colonial PeriodStyle:
Dravidian Temple Architecture with Granite MandapaKey Features of Sri Nagara Thandayuthapani Temple George Town Penang
- 1Dravidian Temple Architecture with Granite Mandapa architectural style with distinctive design elements
- 2Constructed using Granite, Brickwork, Lime Plaster, Timber, Copper, Reinforced Concrete, Ceramic Tile, Solar Panels, showcasing traditional building techniques
- 3Built using Original granary replaced with granite sanctum and mandapa (1850); 1903 expansion added granite pillars and teak roofs; 2012 rajagopuram built by artisans from Tamil Nadu using modular granite blocks, lime plaster, and RC core. Roofs use timber trusses with steel tie rods; floors combine granite and Italian tiles. Solar panels installed 2018. Rainwater systems and greywater reuse integrated. Electrical upgrades and BMS implemented 2019. construction methods
- 4UNESCO World Heritage Site with global cultural significance
- 5Commissioned by Nattukottai Chettiar Community, reflecting royal patronage
- 6Current conservation status: Excellent; carbon monitoring indicates net-positive renewable energy; granite polished; gardens thriving.
Architectural Features
- 1Pyramidal tower (Vimana) with intricate sculptural decoration
- 2Rectangular sanctum (Garbhagriha) housing the main deity
- 3Columned halls (Mandapa) for congregation and rituals
- 4Ornate gateway (Gopuram) with carved figures
What Makes Sri Nagara Thandayuthapani Temple George Town Penang Special?
- 1Recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding universal value
- 2Exceptional example of Dravidian Temple Architecture with Granite Mandapa architecture
- 3Royal patronage by Nattukottai Chettiar Community, reflecting historical significance
- 4Temple exemplifies Chettiar contributions to Penang’s economy and culture; exhibits rare granite carvings and maintains living tradition of Murugan devotion.
Visitor Information
How to Visit Sri Nagara Thandayuthapani Temple George Town Penang
| RMEntry Fee | Entry free; guided tour donation RM18; hall rental packages; Skanda Shasti passes RM20; parking RM4; photography permit RM15 inside mandapa. |
| 🕐Opening Hours | Dawn to Dusk (6 AM - 6 PM) |
| 📅Best Time to Visit | October to March (Winter) |
| ⏱️Duration | 2-3 hours |
| ♿Accessibility | Wheelchair accessible |
| 📸Photography | Allowed (No flash) |
Complete Visitor Guide
How to Visit Sri Nagara Thandayuthapani Temple George Town Penang: Step-by-Step Guide
- 1
Plan Your Visit
Check opening hours and entry fees for Sri Nagara Thandayuthapani Temple George Town Penang. Book tickets online if available to avoid queues. Best visited during early morning or late afternoon.
- 2
Reach the Location
Sri Nagara Thandayuthapani Temple George Town Penang is located in 25 Jalan Kebun Bunga, George Town, 10350 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, Penang. The nearest major city is 25 Jalan Kebun Bunga. Accessible by road, rail, and air. Use GPS coordinates: 5.4201, 100.3034.
- 3
Entry and Guidelines
Entry fee: Entry free; guided tour donation RM18; hall rental packages; Skanda Shasti passes RM20; parking RM4; photography permit RM15 inside mandapa.. Follow dress code for religious sites. Photography is allowed. Maintain silence and respect the heritage.
- 4
Explore the Site
Allocate 2-3 hours to fully explore Sri Nagara Thandayuthapani Temple George Town Penang. Key areas to visit include the main sanctum, pillared halls, and intricate carvings. Consider hiring a local guide for detailed insights.
Historical Timeline
Key Historical Events
Colonial Period
Construction of Sri Nagara Thandayuthapani Temple George Town Penang by Nattukottai Chettiar Community
20th Century
Conservation and restoration efforts initiated under Listed within George Town UNESCO buffer zone; Penang heritage icon
2024-2025
Digital documentation and 3D scanning completed by Inheritage Foundation