Sri Mariamman Temple

Oddly enough, the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore is smack in the middle of Chinatown. It was built (as a humble shed) in 1827 by Naraina Pillai, the first recorded Indian immigrant to enter colonised Singapore (he travelled with Raffles from Penang). Completed in 1863, it’s famous for its staggeringly detailed gopuram (tower gateway). It is also the site of Theemidhi, a remarkable fire-walking ceremony held a week before the Hindu festival Deepavali, usually in October. If you want to take photos, you have to pay $3 ($6 for video cameras).