I presently live in Taiping in Malaysia. In the days of the British rule Taiping was the administrative centre of British Malaya, mainly owing to the tin mines that were worked around the town, the produce of which was sent to the coast and shipped out to the UK.
Because of this connection Taiping has many ‘firsts’ in Malaysia: first railway line and station, museum, post office, zoo, as well as many religious buildings, including churches, hindu temples and Buddhist temples. I stay in the Bodi Langka Ram temple, the first Sri Lankan Temple in Malaysia.
In the centre of town is Jalan Kota, which, although it is only half a kilometer long, has the Malay Mosque built in 1879, the Aruminajamudulmaliman Temple in 1879 and the Taiping Gospel Hall in 1880. It is also home to the Ho Sian Tong temple, which was first built there in 1890, and rebuilt in 1904.
The main part of the temple is very atmospheric, and includes what seem to be the original pillars and crossbeams from the early wooden structure, as well as other old and interesting artifacts, including the divination blocks and sticks.
I was very fortunately taken round the temple last week by Yang Zihao, a devotee and active member of the temple, and I managed to make a photographic record of the temple, which is now published on Photo Dharma. Yang Zihao has also provided an extensive write-up on the history of the temple for those interested in knowing more.
