Dhammikarama Burmese Temple

Dhammikarama Burmese Temple (Burmese: is a Burmese temple in Pulau Tikus suburb of George Town of Penang in Malaysia. Situated in Burmah Road, the temple located close to the Wat Chayamangkalaram. It is the sole and oldest Malaysian Burmese temple in the state. The temple also became a focal point for the annual Water, Thingyan and Mid-Autumn festivals as well for Buddhist Lent and Candle Lighting Days within the city suburb.

History
Since the early 19th century, there had been a Burmese settlement in Pulau Tikus. On 1 August 1803, a small temple named “Nandy Moloh Temple” was erected in the area by the Burmese community from a land donated by Nyonya Betong after she purchased a land for $390 (Spanish dollar) from George Layton. The first abbot for the temple was U. Nandamala.Since its early times, women devotees have been the mainstay of the temple with four female trustees; Nyonya Betong, Nyonya Meerut, Nyonya Koloh and Nyonya Bulan. As the Burmese community grows, they later appealed to Queen Victoria for additional lands to extend the temple size as well for the burial grounds of the elders. This was received positively by the government of the Straits Settlements and a grant was made to two Burmese female trustees named Nongmay and Boonkhan during the term of W. J. Butterworth as the Straits Settlements governor in 1845.