Highgate Hill Murugan Temple — Attraction in London

This is probably the oldest Hindu Temple in London, set up by Tamil Sri Lankans. The building was originally a church. It has been gradually improved over several decades to what it looks like now.

The central deity here is Murugan--the most popular deity among the Tamils. That said, you'll find multiple shrines within the temple for a horde of other deities, including one for the nine planets recognised in Hindu Astrology. The nine doesn't include the Earth, Uranus or Neptune, but includes the Sun & Moon as planets plus two shadow planets: Rahu and Kethu.

They have routine daily 'poojas' at certain times of the day. These are rituals performed by Brahmin priests in the Hindu liturgical language of Sanskrit, which means none of those present would understand a word of what's being said. Hindu prayers are private matters--each person for themselves--so there are no organised group prayer times. There are private ceremonies where the priests perform special-purpose poojas for a group on a pre-booked basis. Apart from a lot of chanting in Sanskrit by Brahmin priests, Hindu prayers and poojas involve lots of circumambulations around shrines to multitudinous deities. Not all shrines within this temple have space for such movement.

The main temple is based on the 1st floor. As the temple is on a very busy main road, parking is a major problem. There is a lift for wheelchair users to access the temple on the upper floor, and I believe there's a disabled toilet in the basement,...

I am put up at Martlake in Richmond SW 14 London UK. I boarded train to High gate hill Murugan temple by boarding underground Northern train from Waterloo Junction from SW railways . I had a walk for ten minutes to reach the temple after reaching Archway Road.

The temple is situated in the second floor with all deities like Main Muruga, Valli, Deivaanai, Vinayaga, Jagan Matha, Shivji , Nava Griha, Veerabahu, etc, etc.. Very peaceful.. This temple was visited by Queen Elizabeth II, as informed by the priest from coimbatore main archaka. Unfortunately I didn't click any pics in...

I visited this temple today. A temple is supposed to be a place of quiet worship but instead I had to listen to the temple Trustee spend the whole time shouting rudely about other temple members to the 2 new hindu priests. This was completely inappropriate and someone who is a trustee should know better than this behaviour in a temple. Absolutely appalling.

This temple does not follow Covid-19 guidelines. Staff either don't wear masks at all. There is very poor ventilation because the heating is on with no open windows or...