Kek Lok Si Temple

Malaysia’s largest Buddhist temple is a colourful explosion of statues, pagodas and pavilions, cascading down a hillside in Air Itam, around 8km from the centre of George Town, on the island of Penang. The original temple was built between 1890 and 1905, but subsequent worshippers have created a virtual city of temples, shrines and gardens. A funicular climbs to the floral, seven-tiered Ban Po Thar pagoda and an awesome 36.5m-high bronze statue of Kuan Yin, goddess of mercy.