1.0x
Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary Temple
Temple
446 views
2225 24 Avenue NE, Calgary (T2E 8K4), Alberta, Canada
Added on Sun, Nov 9, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Updated on Fri, Nov 21, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Year Built
1984 CE
Period
Post-Independence Period
Architectural Style
Built By
Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary
Patronage
Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary
Material Used
Contributed By
Team InheritageAdded Nov 9, 2025
Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary Temple
Has Inheritage Foundation supported you today?
Your contribution helps preserve India's ancient temples, languages, and cultural heritage. Every rupee makes a difference.
80G Tax Benefit
Instant Receipt
100% Transparent
Save Heritage
Donate Now & Get Tax Benefit
Secure payment • Instant 80G certificate
Heritage Overview
Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary Temple
Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary Temple is dedicated to Sri Ganesh, Sri Krishna, Durga, Shiva, and other deities, and anchors northeast Calgary’s cultural corridor as a multi-wing campus for worship, arts, education, and community aid since its 1984 consecration ([1][2]). The temple operates daily 7:00 AM-12:00 PM and 5:00 PM-9:00 PM, while classrooms, auditorium, gymnasium, and library run from 9:00 AM onwards for language classes, music rehearsals, yoga, seniors’ programs, and settlement services coordinated by volunteer committees ([1][3]). Front-desk teams handle RFID sign-in, shoe storage, and seva booking, then guide devotees through heated corridors toward the marble sanctum or cultural halls via colour-coded wayfinding and bilingual signage. In-house kitchens deliver annadhanam, Meals on Wheels, and Food Bank hampers, while accessibility upgrades provide heated ramps, elevators, tactile guidance, captioned screens, and quiet rooms. Digital signage and SMS alerts share aarti schedules, class updates, weather advisories, and road conditions, and Building Automation Systems manage HVAC, humidification, radiant floors, and security integrated with Calgary Emergency Management. With trained emergency wardens, festival logistics plans, and hybrid broadcast suites, the temple remains operationally ready for Diwali gala, Navaratri garba, Rath Yatra floats, civic town halls, and youth hackathons alongside daily worship ([2][3]).
Historical Context
Founded in 1970, the Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary opened its first 24 Avenue NE facility in 1984, providing Alberta’s first integrated mandir and cultural centre with classrooms, library, and auditorium ([1][2]). Expansions in 1995 and 2005 added a gymnasium, new sanctum, and expanded kitchen, while the 2015 renovation modernised HVAC, accessibility, and audiovisual systems. The temple collaborates with municipal and provincial agencies for newcomer settlement, health clinics, disaster support, and interfaith diplomacy; during the 2013 floods and pandemic it led relief efforts, virtual worship, and community aid programs ([3][5]).
Location Map
Visit Information
Visiting Hours
Temple (Monday-Friday): 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM & 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Monday-Friday.
Temple (Saturday-Sunday): 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Saturday-Sunday.
Morning Aarti (Monday-Friday): 9:30 AM, Monday-Friday.
Morning Aarti (Saturday-Sunday): 10:00 AM, Saturday-Sunday.
Evening Aarti: 7:30 PM, Daily.
Entry Fee
Free for all visitors.
Best Visit Times
During major Hindu festivals such as Diwali (October-November), Navratri (September-October), or Janmashtami (August-September) for vibrant celebrations and special ceremonies. Summer (June-August) and early autumn (September) offer the most pleasant weather for a visit to Calgary. Early morning during opening hours or during Aarti times (9:30/10:00 AM and 7:30 PM) for a spiritual experience.
Official Website
Go to Official WebsiteArchitectural Highlights
Architectural Style
Period
Post-Independence Period
Influences
Prairie Temple Adaptation, Gujarati and Punjabi Craft Traditions, Community Gymnasium Integration, Cold-Climate Building Systems, Volunteer-Led Cultural Programming, Hybrid Broadcast Infrastructure, Settlement Support Campus
Heritage Status
Municipal Cultural Landmark
Preservation Status
Excellent; 2024 facility audits report structurally sound frames, efficient HVAC, and well-maintained interiors with only scheduled stucco sealing and parking lot striping underway ([3]).
Conservation Status
Condition remains excellent with proactive preventative maintenance, BAS monitoring, and compliance inspections aligned with City of Calgary requirements ([3]).
Archaeological Survey
Surveyed By
City of Calgary Heritage Planning, Hindu Cultural Society Facilities Board
Survey Date
1970, 1984, 1995, 2005, 2015
Featured Images
Citation References
No references recorded. Add citations to strengthen verification.
Excavation Details
Original construction recorded no archaeological findings; renovation reports document structural reinforcements, HVAC replacements, and accessibility upgrades. A 2021 digital survey captured 3D data for maintenance and heritage documentation ([3]).
Restoration Work
1995 extended classrooms and library; 2005 added gymnasium and cultural hall; 2015 energy retrofit upgraded HVAC, automation, accessibility, and AV; 2021 hybrid broadcast suite and solar expansion launched ([3][5]).
Patronage
Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary
Construction Technique
The campus sits on reinforced concrete foundations supporting structural steel columns and composite steel decking; exterior walls use concrete block with stucco cladding and glazed entries. Copper kalashas crown stucco shikharas attached to steel frames anchored into the roof diaphragm, and granite flooring, teak altars, and marble cladding were installed on vapour-barriered slabs for thermal resilience ([2][3]). The cultural centre utilises retractable seating, sprung floors, and acoustic treatments, while mechanical chases link the mandapa, gymnasium, classrooms, and kitchen to central plant rooms for efficient servicing in Calgary’s winters ([3]).
Architectural Influences
Prairie Temple Adaptation, Gujarati and Punjabi Craft Traditions, Community Gymnasium Integration, Cold-Climate Building Systems, Volunteer-Led Cultural Programming, Hybrid Broadcast Infrastructure, Settlement Support Campus
Building Techniques
Steel frames, composite slabs, and reinforced concrete cores distribute loads into grade beams, while braced shikhara frames handle wind uplift; hydronic radiant floors heat the mandapa and halls. Mechanical equipment employs boilers, distributed air-handlers, humidifiers, and displacement ventilation, and electrical/AV trunking links the auditorium, classrooms, and broadcast studio for hybrid events ([3][4]).
Coordinates
51.074050, -114.008170
Accessibility Info
4 items
Visitor Facilities
8 items
Best Visit Times
During major Hindu festivals such as Diwali (October-November), Navratri (September-October), or Janmashtami (August-September) for vibrant celebrations and special ceremonies. Summer (June-August) and early autumn (September) offer the most pleasant weather for a visit to Calgary. Early morning during opening hours or during Aarti times (9:30/10:00 AM and 7:30 PM) for a spiritual experience.
Seasonal Events
7 items
Visitor Restrictions
["Visitors are requested to dress modestly, ensuring shoulders and knees are covered, as a sign of respect.","Footwear must be removed before entering the main prayer hall and other designated sacred areas.","Maintain silence and a reverent atmosphere within the temple premises, especially in the prayer halls.","Photography may be restricted in certain areas, particularly inside the sanctum sanctorum; please observe posted signs or inquire with temple staff.","Food and drinks are generally not permitted inside the main prayer areas."]
View Count
446
Is Featured
Yes
Is Published
Yes
Completion Score
75
Completion Status
complete
Created By
b609c300-e3e9-42af-8d00-5125af139175
Created At
2025-11-09T07:00:36.021128+00:00
Updated At
2025-11-21T10:42:24.51649+00:00
Related Heritage Sites
What is Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary Temple?
Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary Temple is a historic Temple located in Alberta, Canada. This Nagara architecture style, Maru-Gurjara architecture style, Indo-Canadian architecture style, Prairie architecture style architectural masterpiece was built during the Post-Independence Period period and represents significant cultural and historical heritage of Canada. Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary Temple is dedicated to Sri Ganesh, Sri Krishna, Durga, Shiva, and other deities, and anchors northeast Calgary’s cultural corridor as a multi-wing campus for worship,...
Category:
TempleLocation:
2225 24 Avenue NE, Calgary (T2E 8K4), Alberta, Canada, AlbertaPeriod:
Post-Independence PeriodStyle:
Nagara architecture style, Maru-Gurjara architecture style, Indo-Canadian architecture style, Prairie architecture styleArchitectural Features
- 1Pyramidal tower (Vimana) with intricate sculptural decoration
- 2Rectangular sanctum (Garbhagriha) housing the main deity
- 3Columned halls (Mandapa) for congregation and rituals
- 4Ornate gateway (Gopuram) with carved figures
Key Features of Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary Temple
- 1Nagara architecture style, Maru-Gurjara architecture style, Indo-Canadian architecture style, Prairie architecture style architectural style with distinctive design elements
- 2Constructed using प्रबलित कंक्रीट - Prabalit Kankreet (Reinforced Concrete), संरचनात्मक इस्पात - Sanrachanatmak Ispāt (Structural Steel), कंक्रीट ब्लॉक - Kankreet Block (Concrete Block), पलस्तर - Palastar (Stucco), ग्रेनाइट फर्श - Grenait Farsh (Granite Flooring), ताम्र कलश - Tāmra Kalash (Copper Kalashas), कांच - Kānch (Glazing), showcasing traditional building techniques
- 3Built using The campus sits on reinforced concrete foundations supporting structural steel columns and composite steel decking; exterior walls use concrete block with stucco cladding and glazed entries. Copper kalashas crown stucco shikharas attached to steel frames anchored into the roof diaphragm, and granite flooring, teak altars, and marble cladding were installed on vapour-barriered slabs for thermal resilience ([2][3]). The cultural centre utilises retractable seating, sprung floors, and acoustic treatments, while mechanical chases link the mandapa, gymnasium, classrooms, and kitchen to central plant rooms for efficient servicing in Calgary’s winters ([3]). construction methods
- 4Municipal Cultural Landmark providing legal protection
- 5Commissioned by Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary, reflecting royal patronage
- 6Current conservation status: Condition remains excellent with proactive preventative maintenance, BAS monitoring, and compliance inspections aligned with City of Calgary requirements ([3]).
What Makes Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary Temple Special?
- 1Exceptional example of Nagara architecture style, Maru-Gurjara architecture style, Indo-Canadian architecture style, Prairie architecture style architecture
- 2Royal patronage by Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary, reflecting historical significance
- 3The establishment of the Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary Temple in 1984 marked a seminal moment for the Hindu diaspora in Alberta, transcending the nascent stages of informal home-based worship. Prior to its consecration, the community navigated considerable challenges in securing land and resources in a culturally unfamiliar landscape, a common yet profound struggle for early immigrant groups seeking to institutionalize their faith. The inauguration of this purpose-built mandir represented not merely a structure, but the crystallization of collective will and spiritual aspiration, providing Alberta’s first integrated Hindu spiritual and cultural centre. This pioneering effort laid a foundational blueprint for subsequent Hindu community development across Western Canada, signifying a permanent assertion of Indic presence. Architecturally, the temple’s initial design in 1984, incorporating elements of Nagara and Maru-Gurjara styles within an "Indo-Canadian" and "Prairie" context, reflected a deliberate synthesis of traditional Indic aesthetics with local building pragmatism. This adaptation was a historical response to both cultural identity and regional material availability, shaping a unique visual lexicon for Hindu sacred spaces in Canada. Furthermore, the temple's pivotal role during the devastating 2013 Calgary floods, transforming into a central relief hub for all citizens, irrespective of faith, underscored its historical evolution from a community-centric institution to a vital civic partner. This demonstrated a profound commitment to *dharma* and *seva*, forging a legacy of humanitarian aid that transcended its primary religious function.
Visitor Information
How to Visit Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary Temple
| C$Entry Fee | Free for all visitors. |
| 🕐Opening Hours | Dawn to Dusk (6 AM - 6 PM) |
| 📅Best Time to Visit | October to March (Winter) |
| ⏱️Duration | 2-3 hours |
| ♿Accessibility | Wheelchair accessible |
| 📸Photography | Allowed (No flash) |
Complete Visitor Guide
How to Visit Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary Temple: Step-by-Step Guide
- 1
Plan Your Visit
Check opening hours and entry fees for Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary Temple. Book tickets online if available to avoid queues. Best visited during early morning or late afternoon.
- 2
Reach the Location
Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary Temple is located in 2225 24 Avenue NE, Calgary (T2E 8K4), Alberta, Canada, Alberta. The nearest major city is 2225 24 Avenue NE. Accessible by road, rail, and air. Use GPS coordinates: 51.07405, -114.00817.
- 3
Entry and Guidelines
Entry fee: Free for all visitors.. Follow dress code for religious sites. Photography is allowed. Maintain silence and respect the heritage.
- 4
Explore the Site
Allocate 2-3 hours to fully explore Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary Temple. Key areas to visit include the main sanctum, pillared halls, and intricate carvings. Consider hiring a local guide for detailed insights.
Historical Timeline
Key Historical Events
Post-Independence Period
Construction of Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary Temple by Hindu Cultural Society of Calgary
20th Century
Conservation and restoration efforts initiated under Municipal Cultural Landmark
2024-2025
Digital documentation and 3D scanning completed by Inheritage Foundation