
Temples Galore
Get a glimpse of the lifestyle of the locals when you visit places of worship in the region. These religious temples are must-visit Bintan attractions, and the best place to start is by taking a boat down to Senggarang, where a plethora of different kinds of Chinese temples are available for you to visit. Admire the cultural significance of these temples—which host different deities–that locals have been going to for varying purposes for several centuries. A very interesting Chinese temple to visit here is the Banyan Tree Temple—a former village headman’s home which now houses a place of worship, with a banyan tree overgrowing the building.
Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike are also recommended to visit the 500 Lohan temple, situated not far west from Tanjung Pinang. Here, you can see 500 statues modelled after souls known as “Lohan” or “Luohan” who have achieved nirvana. If you journey to Trikora Beach and look for a small Catholic church there, you may also stumble upon a small grotto housing a statue of the Virgin Mary. This a great place to pray and meditate, especially if you are of the Christian faith.
Indonesia also definitely has is also home to Muslim places of worship as it is a Muslim country. In fact, one of the most well-known places in Bintan to visit is actually a mosque located on Penyengat Island. This mosque can be recognised by its eye-catching yellow and green colour scheme which is perfect for photography lovers to snap a picture of its splendour. Nearby to this mosque are the ruins of an old palace, a reminder of momentous historical events during the ruling of the Johor-Riau kingdom.