Shrine of the Serene Light

Shrine of the Serene Light or Sang Tham Shrine is a Taoist shrine that was built in the 1890s by the Tan Luan Jae family, a Hokkien Chinese family that had settled in Phuket. From the entrance alone, visitors can see that the Shrine of The Serene Light does not look like other traditional Thai-style temples. For one, the writing is in Chinese. Also, the site is protected by pillars of dragons, unlike other temples in the Thailand that are manned by giants. Originally built as a private place of worship, the shrine has been renovated throughout the years. The present entrance was constructed in 2013. Before that, locals had little indication that the Shrine of The Serene Light was at the end of the small alley. Some travellers even noted that the shrine used to have a “secret” entrance through a Hokkien noodle shop.