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All the United States New York State New York City Queens The Ganesh Temple of Queens
AO Edited Gastro Obscura

The Ganesh Temple of Queens

This enormous Hindu temple in Queens serves incredible dosas in its basement canteen.

Queens, New York

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About

The intricately carved temple to Ganesha, one of the most worshipped of the Hindu deities, with his distinctive elephant head, is a beautiful sculpted building, that wouldn't look out of place in Southern India. Remarkably, this astonishing temple is not to be found in India, but amongst the suburban family homes of Flushing, Queens.

Home of the Hindu Temple Society of North America, but popularly known as the Ganesh Temple, it was the first traditional Hindu temple built in the United States. Built on Bowne Street on land bought from the Russian Orthodox Church, the incredible Hindu temple was begun in 1970, for the rapidly increasing Hindu immigrant population of New York. 

Built in the South Indian style, by skilled craftsmen and temple builders from India, the idol images are carved from granite imported from India as well. The temple itself is a thriving place of worship and popular community centre. Non-Hindu visitors are welcome, although photography of the silver shrines covered in colourful garlands is not allowed. 

Underneath the Temple is the community canteen, that serves some of the best South Indian Dosas to be found in the city. The beauty, serenity and friendliness of the Ganesh Temple, is matched by the deliciousness of the food below, making the Hindu Temple Society of North America a delight to all the senses.

Related Tags

Restaurants Temples Hinduism Food Unique Restaurants & Bars

Know Before You Go

If you want to go into the temple, they have a dress code. No sleeveless tops, no shorts, no short skirts, no leather, no furs, basically no dead animal products. If your bottoms are inappropriate, they will rent you some baggy pants. No shoes are allowed inside the temple. Be prepared to take your shoes off outside. Canteen is in the basement accessed off Holly St.

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Luke J Spencer

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e1savage, Michael Busch, wherearewedude

  • e1savage
  • Michael Busch
  • wherearewedude

Published

May 2, 2016

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The Ganesh Temple of Queens
The Hindu Temple Society of North America
45-57 Bowne Street
Queens, New York, 11355
United States
40.752809, -73.81691
Visit Website
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