The pavilion, or the six-eaved kiosk, houses a statue of Buddha while a sculpture of Sakyamuni - the founder of Buddhism - sits on top of the pagoda. Originally 15 stories high when it was first built in 1937, the pagoda was later reduced to four stories, as Aw Boon Haw instructed his craftsmen to install the statue of Sakyamuni in replacement. Originally called Tiger Balm Gardens, Haw Par Villa was built in 1937 by Aw, a prominent businessman and philanthropist who was also synonymous with Tiger Balm, the renowned ointment that was successfully marketed in Singapore and around the region.
