Maha Vihara Maitreya
Often counted among the largest Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia, its gleaming Maitreya Hall stands in the Cemara Asri neighborhood.
Maha Vihara Maitreya was completed in 2008 in the Cemara Asri Chinese community in northeast Medan. The complex covers about 4.5 hectares. The main hall enshrines the Maitreya Buddha and is surrounded by a courtyard, a pond for releasing animals, and a vegetarian restaurant, with room for several thousand people. It is considered one of the largest Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia. Admission is free. Remove your shoes before entering the hall and dress respectfully. Lantern displays during Chinese New Year and Vesak are lively, and you can pair a visit with the food of the surrounding Chinese community.
Opening hours
Approx. 08:00–20:00
Nearby sights
- Kesawan Old Town
- Merdeka Square & Old City Hall
- Tjong A Fie Mansion
- Sri Mariamman Temple & Kampung Madras
- Great Mosque of Medan (Masjid Raya Al-Mashun)
- Maimun Palace
- Rahmat International Wildlife Museum & Gallery
- Vihara Gunung Timur