Set in Ottawa, Canada, Hindu Temple of Ottawa-Carleton honours Nine shrines including Ganesha, Kartikeya, Radha-Krishna, Shiva, Lakshmi-Narayana, Rama-Sita-Lakshmana, Hanuman, Durga and Nataraja.
Eastern Ontario's first Hindu temple and the principal Hindu place of worship and cultural centre for the National Capital Region, serving an estimated 6,000 Hindus in Ottawa Land for the temple, previously a cornfield, was purchased in 1984, and construction of the approximately CAD 4 million building, funded by donations from Canadian Hindus, was completed by Pandit Madhu Sahasrabudhe.
Canada carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Home to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto, the largest Hindu temple in Canada, anchoring one of the fastest-growing Hindu communities in North America.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, Monday to Friday and Canadian holidays; 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM weekends and Hindu festivals |
| Evening | 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM, Monday to Friday and Canadian holidays |
Arti held at 10:00 AM and 8:00 PM
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Navratri | September to October | Nine-night festival honouring the Divine Mother, celebrated with community events |
| Diwali | October to November | Festival of lights |
| Holi | March | Festival of colors |
| Maha Shivratri | February or March | Observance dedicated to Lord Shiva |
| Janmashtami | August or September | Marks the birth of Lord Krishna |
History and architecture
Architecture
A traditional Hindu temple design adapted for Canada's climate, with structural compromises made to handle cold weather and snow loads; deity murtis of granite, marble and bronze sculpted by artists in Jaipur, India and consecrated on-site in 1989
History
Land for the temple, previously a cornfield, was purchased in 1984, and construction of the approximately CAD 4 million building, funded by donations from Canadian Hindus, was completed by Pandit Madhu Sahasrabudhe. The temple officially opened in 1989 as Eastern Ontario's first Hindu temple, with shrines imported from and consecrated by artisans from Jaipur.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Located at 4835 Bank Street in the Gloucester area, south-east Ottawa, near the Ottawa International Airport; best reached by car, with OC Transpo bus service on Bank Street
Where this information comes from
Confidence: High. Founding history, architecture, deities and timings are consistently reported across Wikipedia, the City of Ottawa and Doors Open Ontario