Built in 2007, this hulking, Tang-style Chinese Buddhist temple (buddhatoothrelictemple.org.sg) is home to what is reputedly the left canine tooth of the Buddha, discovered in a collapsed stupa (Buddhist relic structure) in Mrauk U, Myanmar. While its authenticity is debated, the relic enjoys VIP status inside a 320kg solid-gold stupa in a dazzlingly ornate 4th-floor room. Flanking the room are elevated platforms where devotees and visitors may choose to sit and meditate in proximity to the sacred object. Head up afterwards to the peaceful rooftop garden – accessible only by stairs – where you can spin (clockwise only, please) the world's largest cloisonné prayer wheel inside the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda.
More sacred relics await at the 3rd-floor Buddhism museum. Housing artifacts collected from around the world, the sequence charts Buddha's journey to enlightenment. The final chamber features crystalline sariras (relics) kept in golden reliquaries, believed to be collected after his cremation. A more eclectic mix of artwork and objects is kept on the 2nd floor, while the mezzanine has a startling set of realistic life-sized wax figures depicting eminent monks around the world.
The main floor is the liveliest, split into two halls. Facing South Bridge Rd is the Universal Wisdom Hall where a stream of worshipers deposit assorted lamps as offerings, purchased from kiosks nearby. Two doorways at the sides lead into the Hundred Dragons Hall with a showstopping Maitreya Buddha. Carved from a single log and painted with natural pigments, the commanding presence adds to the grandeur in the ornate space.
Respectful attire is a must; cover-ups can be borrowed if needed. For some vegetarian food, visit Lian Xin Vegetarian Restaurant, the temple's very own food court hidden in the basement.