







Year Built
1982 CE
Period
Post-Independence Period
Architectural Style
Adaptive Swaminarayan Temple Architecture with Haveli Cultural Wing
Built By
Cardiff Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Trust
Material Used
Brickwork, Reinforced Concrete, Structural Steel, Italian Marble, Granite Flooring, Timber Roof Trusses, Copper Kalash
Heritage Status
Registered Place of Worship; recognised by Cardiff Council as a community anchor within Grangetown regeneration initiatives ([4]).
Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Cardiff has served Wales since 1982, when the Swaminarayan sect’s NarNarayan Dev Gadi consecrated the city’s first Hindu temple within a repurposed school in Grangetown; two major refurbishments in 1993 and 2015 transformed the building into a bright, marble-clad mandir crowned by a copper kalash and Haveli-style entrance portico ([1][2]). The temple opens daily 7:30 AM-12:30 PM and 4:30 PM-9:00 PM, with morning arti at 8:00 AM and evening arti at 7:00 PM; volunteers operate biometric entry, shoe storage, and queue systems, and priests conduct six daily darshan sessions, ghanshyam arti, and thaal offerings before the ornate sinhasan housing Ghanshyam Maharaj, Harikrishna Maharaj, Radha Krishna, and Hanumanji. The mandir’s multi-storey community wing houses the Swaminarayan Gujarati School, music academy, women’s sabha lounge, youth media studio, and the Annapurna kitchen that prepares prasadam and weekly food parcel deliveries for Cardiff Foodbank ([1][3]). During Janmashtami, Diwali, and Welsh Language Week, the trust hosts bilingual heritage tours, exhibitions, and mandala workshops to engage Welsh neighbours; sabhas are simultaneously translated into English and Gujarati for younger devotees, and the temple’s digital team streams arti, scripture recitals, and bhakti yoga classes worldwide. Event control rooms coordinate Rath Yatra, annual sports day at nearby Grange Gardens, and civic receptions with South Wales Police and Cardiff Council, ensuring the mandir remains a resilient centre for worship, education, and community cohesion in the Welsh capital ([1][4]).
Established by the Swaminarayan Satsang Mandal Cardiff in 1975, the congregation purchased the Merches Place school in 1980, opened the mandir in October 1982, and completed successive enhancements in 1993, 2002, and 2015 to serve Wales’s growing Hindu population. The temple hosted the first Wales Rath Yatra (1985), supports annual Diwali lights at Cardiff Castle, and partners with police, NHS, and universities for interfaith programmes. During the COVID-19 pandemic the trust distributed thousands of meals, ran vaccination clinics, and streamed daily sabha online ([1][3][4]).
Cardiff Council Planning (Class D1 A3 approvals), Cardiff Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Facilities Team




Conversion works documented Victorian school fabric and removed asbestos; subsequent refurbishments recorded structural interventions and service upgrades for compliance with Cardiff Council standards ([3]).
Major interventions include 1993 marble installation, 2002 classroom expansion, 2015 Haveli and services upgrade, 2019 solar thermal installation, and 2022 accessibility suite with lift and tactile signage ([3][4]).
Cardiff Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Trust
Conversion works retained the Victorian school’s brick shell and timber roof but inserted reinforced concrete slabs, steel columns, and seismic ties to create an open-plan sabha hall; Italian marble panels, carved teak arches, and gilded sinhasan were imported from Ahmedabad and assembled onsite using stainless dowels and lime mortar ([1][2]). The 2015 refurbishment added a Haveli-style entrance with carved teak doors, glass canopy, and sandstone cladding, while the prayer hall ceiling was upgraded with acoustic panels and LED chandeliers. Ancillary spaces use timber partition systems and acoustic glazing to create classrooms and studios; mechanical plant rooms provide hydronic heating, comfort cooling, and fresh air distribution through low-visible linear diffusers. The Annapurna kitchen was rebuilt with commercial-grade stainless suites, induction cooklines, and HACCP-compliant cold storage. Roof solar thermal collectors heat ritual water, and smart lighting sculptures the prayer hall without bleaching murals ([3][4]).
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Structural upgrades combine reinforced concrete frames, steel columns, and composite slabs anchored to the original brick walls with stainless ties; the copper kalash and small shikhar sit on a steel core bolted to the roof diaphragm, distributing wind loads into shear walls. Building services incorporate condensing boilers, VRF cooling, heat recovery ventilation, and building management systems that balance humidity to protect timber carvings. Electrical infrastructure includes redundant distribution boards, UPS-backed AV racks, and a digital mixing suite for livestreaming. Fire safety improvements introduced pressurised stairwells, addressable alarms, and sprinklers throughout; maintenance involves annual structural surveys, soundproofing checks, and mechanical servicing overseen by the trust’s facilities committee ([3][4]).
51.471300, -3.178700
{"notes":"Security volunteers on duty; limited on-site parking—public transport encouraged; quiet room available for sensory-sensitive visitors; no photography in sanctum without permission ([1][3])","restrooms":"Accessible restrooms on ground and first floors; baby-changing facilities beside Annapurna kitchen; ablution area adjoining Haveli ([1])","wheelchair_accessible":"Step-free entrance via Haveli ramp, lift to upper floors, tactile signage, hearing loops in sabha hall, reserved seating during events ([3][4])"}
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Visit weekday mornings for serene darshan and Gurbani recitations for schools, or Sunday evenings when bhajans, youth sabha, and annadhanam fill the Haveli before sandhya arti ([1][3]).
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Modest attire requested; remove shoes before entering mandir hall; refrain from meat, alcohol, or tobacco on campus; photography limited to Haveli and public areas; follow volunteer instructions during Rath Yatra and large events ([1][2]).
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2025-11-09T07:23:30.478348+00:00
2025-11-09T12:01:49.013+00:00
Post-Independence Period
Wales
Adaptive Swaminarayan Temple Architecture with Haveli Cultural Wing
Protected Heritage
Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Cardiff is a historic Temple located in Wales, United Kingdom. This Adaptive Swaminarayan Temple Architecture with Haveli Cultural Wing architectural masterpiece was built during the Post-Independence Period period and represents significant cultural and historical heritage of United Kingdom. Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Cardiff has served Wales since 1982, when the Swaminarayan sect’s NarNarayan Dev Gadi consecrated the city’s first Hindu temple within a repurposed school in Grangetown; two ...
| £Entry Fee | Entry free; guided tours suggested donation £3; Haveli hall hire rates via office; sevas and abhishek from £25; on-site parking donation £2 supports Food Bank service ([1]). |
| 🕐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) |
Check opening hours and entry fees for Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Cardiff. Book tickets online if available to avoid queues. Best visited during early morning or late afternoon.
Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Cardiff is located in 55 Merches Place, Grangetown, Cardiff (CF11 6RF), Wales, United Kingdom, Wales. The nearest major city is 55 Merches Place. Accessible by road, rail, and air. Use GPS coordinates: 51.4713, -3.1787.
Entry fee: Entry free; guided tours suggested donation £3; Haveli hall hire rates via office; sevas and abhishek from £25; on-site parking donation £2 supports Food Bank service ([1]).. Follow dress code for religious sites. Photography is allowed. Maintain silence and respect the heritage.
Allocate 2-3 hours to fully explore Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Cardiff. Key areas to visit include the main sanctum, pillared halls, and intricate carvings. Consider hiring a local guide for detailed insights.
Construction of Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Cardiff by Cardiff Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Trust
Conservation and restoration efforts initiated under Registered Place of Worship; recognised by Cardiff Council as a community anchor within Grangetown regeneration initiatives ([4]).
Digital documentation and 3D scanning completed by Inheritage Foundation