Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple
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The Balathandayuthapani Temple, officially the Thannirmalai Arulmigu
Balathandayuthapani Kovil, and better known as the Waterfall Hill Temple or Hill
Top Murugan Temple, is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Penang.
It was originally located within the grounds of the Penang Botanical Gardens.
According to popular belief, a sadhu (holy man) chose a spot close to the
waterfalls for a shrine dedicated to Murugan.
The place was called Thanner Malai, meaning water hill, and the deity itself was
known as Thannermalaian, or "he who resides by the waterfall". This original
site is as old as the founding of George Town itself.
It was the site of the Balathandayuthapani temple until 1850, when the
authorities took over the area to establish the Botanic Gardens Reservoir. That
was when the temple moved out, leaving at its original site a small shrine.
After the authorities took over the site of the original Balathandayuthapani
Temple, the temple was provided with a new eleven-acre hillside plot on the left
side of the Botanic Gardens Road. The temple grew to become the focus of the
annual Thaipusam celebrations. At the foot of the staircase leading to the
Balathandayuthapani temple is a shrine dedicated to the deity Ganesha. The Sree
Ganeshar Temple has since developed into a separate temple in its own right, and
with its own devotees.
The Balathandayuthapani temple has undergone several major renovations. This is
in keeping with the requirements of the Hindu religious tenets, that renovations
be done for every mamangam, or 12-year cycle. Over the years, as the number of
devotees and worshippers increased, the Hindu Endowments Board found that the
hilltop temple could no longer accommodate the numbers. This is especially true
in the past decade, with more and more visitors converging on the temple
particularly during the Thaipusam celebration (other feast days of smaller scale
include the Chitra Pournami, Kantha Sasthi, Thirukarthigai and Aadipournami).
The new Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani temple is planned to accommodate up to
700,000 visitors, a number expected for every Thaipusam Festival. In keeping
with its position as a major Hindu temple, it will have a huge maha mandapam,
the pillared outer hall in which public rituals are performed.
Visitors to the new Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple has an even longer climb
than before, but the view makes the effort worthwhile. With over 500 steps (some
estimates put the figure at 512 steps, though this is difficult to judge, as
there are more than one route to the top), it is longer than the 272 steps of
Batu Caves.
The winding route allows you to stop several times to enjoy the
scenery. Half way to the top, you arrive at the Old Hill Top Murugan Temple, the former
site for the Thaipusam celebrations. Next to it is the Arulmamani Arumugam
Pillai Mandapam, a pavilion built in 1956.
It acts as the staging area for
visitors and pilgrims. From here, you get a good view of the new Arulmigu
Balathandayuthapani Temple before you continue your ascend. As you climb higher,
the skyscrapers of Gurney Drive and eventually the rest of George Town come into
view.
Getting There
From Penang International Airport, you can take the taxi to Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple directly. The drive will take an estimated time of 30 minutes. The alternate way is to get to Georgetown by Rapid Penang Bus from the Airport. This is most cheaper way to arrive Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple.
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