Kek Lok Si Temple (Temple of Supreme Bliss) in Ayer Itam, Malaysia
Known as the Temple of Supreme Bliss, Kek Lok Si is Malaysia's largest Buddhist temple and is regarded as one of the finest in all of SE Asia.
Built in 1891 at the behest of the Venerable priest Beow Lean, the complex consists of multiple temples, clocktowers, praying halls, and sprawling gardens. Near the entrance, visitors are greeted by a tortoise pond and are stunned by the sheer number of these aquatic animals that call the temple home - it's easily in the hundreds! The temple complex is situated on Huock-san Hill (Crane Hill), in the village of Air Itam - the location was specifically chosen by the Venerable Beow Lean because of its appropriate feng-sui.
The temple's buildings display different Buddhist architectural styles, with influences from Myanmar, Thailand, and China. The temple's most striking and well-known features are a massive statue of Kuan Yin the Goddess of Mercy which stands at around 120-feet tall and the striking 7-story high Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda adorned with nearly 10,000 decorative Buddha statues.
