Things to Do in Asia

Located in the middle of Singapore’s Chinatown sits the country’s oldest and most popular Hindu temples. Built in 1827, the Sri Mariamman Temple resembles the colorful Dravidian style of the temples of South India, and many of the temple’s worshippers are South Indian immigrants and their families.

The ornamental entrance tower of the temple, covered in colorful sculptures of deities and mythological beings, has become one of Singapore’s most recognizable landmarks. Within, you’ll find a main shrine area dedicated to the goddess Mariamman, a member of the Hindu pantheon known as a healer. Freestanding shrines surrounding the main prayer hall display statues of many secondary deities.

Admission to the temple is free, but if you plan to take photographs, you may be asked to provide a small “donation,” though this isn’t always enforced. If you visit the temple in late fall, you might get lucky and catch the annual fire walking ceremony, one of many festivals and events hosted by the temple throughout the year.

A separate entity than the Kota Kinabalu city mosque, as the name implies the State Mosque is meant to be the principal place of worship for the Malaysian state of Sabah. Located on the outskirts of the Kota Kinabalu city center, the most immediately noticeable aspect of the State Mosque is the 215 ft. minaret which towers over the white and gold honeycombed main dome.

One of the most recognizable buildings in all of Sabah, the State Mosque combines contemporary architecture with traditional Islamic design. The minaret was inspired by those found in the Saudi Arabian cities of Mecca and Medina, and various other elements of the design are meant to draw parallels to the famous Blue Mosque of Istanbul. Covered in marble and resplendent in mosaics, the State Mosque is undoubtedly one of the architectural standouts for all of Kota Kinabalu.

Occupying 14.5 acres the mosque is able to provide worship space for 5,000 people, with a separate balcony able to accommodate groups of up to 500 women. International visitors are welcome to visit the State Mosque, though a strict code of conduct is rigidly enforced. All visitors must declare their presence and intention to enter the mosque and must do so through the front door only. Men are required to wear long pants when entering the mosque, and women must cover up with a sarong or robe and employ the use of a headscarf. Shoes are not permitted inside the mosque and visitors are required to maintain absolute silence. Though open on Fridays, non-Muslim visitors are discouraged from visiting as the mosque is frequently at capacity for weekly prayers.

The Star Ferry Pier in Hong Kong serves as the launching spot for the Star Ferry on the Hong Kong Island side of Victoria Harbour. Located in Central, the current Star Ferry Pier is actually the fourth to bear the name since the Star Ferry first started carrying passengers across the harbor in 1888. The current structure was designed to resemble Edwardian style of the second generation pier, including a clock tower and five bells.

While modern transportation allows commuters and travelers to traverse the harbor via tunnels or the subway, riding the Star Ferry is inexpensive and much more scenic, with views of Hong Kong’s famous skyline on either side of the harbor.

Even if you choose not to ride the Star Ferry, it’s still worthwhile to pay a visit to the pier. Head toward the waterfront restaurant on the second floor of the building and turn right to access a public viewing platform for views of Victoria Harbour and the Kowloon side of Hong Kong.

Srirangapatna (Srirangapatnam) is an island in the middle of the sacred Cauvery River. This is a place of great historical, cultural and religious significance. This was once a capital of the Kingdom of Mysore during the rule of Tipu Sultan and the site of many important historical buildings.

Once a fortified city, the remains of Tipu’s Fort can still be seen today. The fort is a complex housing several important monuments and buildings. It is from here that Tipu Sultan launched an assault against the British and an obelisk marks the place where he died in battle. Near one of the gates of the Fort is the Jama Masjid, the mosque built by Tipu Sultan in 1787 when he ascended to the throne of Mysore.

Just outside the fort set in lush gardens, the Gumbaz was built by Tipu Sultan in the 18th century as a mausoleum where his father Hyder Ali, the former sultan and ruler, and mother Fatima Begum were laid to rest, and later Tipu Sultan himself. Another popular attraction is Daria Daulat Bagh, Tipu Sultan's summer palace.

The majestic Sri Ranganathaswamy temple dominates the town and is an important pilgrimage center for Vaishnavites, Hindu worshipers of lord Vishnu. This important temple was built during the 9th century and is dedicated to lord Vishnu in his form as Ranganatha, Vishnu reclining on the serpent.

St Mary’s Church, the small Anglican church within the walls of Fort St George, is the oldest masonry building within the fort. Consecrated in 1680, the church is said to be the first Anglican church in Asia and the oldest remaining English church in India. Work began on the church in 1678 on Our Lady’s Day, giving it its current name.

Except for a new steeple, much of the bombproof structure remains in its original condition, including the roof and arcade aisles. The church’s 104 tombstones were relocated and used to lay pavement after the French besieged Chennai in 1758 and 1759 and used as gun platforms when Hyder Ali invaded the city in 1782. Since then they’ve been restored to their old positions around the church. Keep an eye out for the gravestone of Elizabeth Baker, the oldest British tombstone in the country.

Elihu Yale, founder of Yale University, was the first man to be officially married in the church, and three of the daughters of Job Charnock, the founder of Kolkata (Calcutta), were baptized here.