One of the biggest Sikh temples in Europe. An amazing structure in the middle of Gravesend. Well worth a visit. The temple staff are lovely and very welcoming. You will be offered vegetarian food. I am a Sikh and resident of Gravesend, so my review will seem biased. As someone who has been born and bred in Gravesend, one cannot imagine the impact the Sikh community has made to the town; and this wonderful place of worship epitomises this. The building is nothing short of breathtaking; one or two things I would've done differently e.
In a way the main features of the building which are marble and intricately carved by craftsmen from India, contrasts well with the rest of the building and creates a wow factor for every visitor to the gurdwara.
The building itself is modelled upon the Golden Temple in Amritsar but a lot bigger - no gold though! It has three prayer halls to accomodate the various programmes occuring most of the times e. The domes inside are stunning and has much intricate mosaic work, and then finished off with beautiful chandeliers imported from India most of the intricate designs were carved in India and imported here and then applied to the building like a jigsaw.
The main windows are stain glassed. The place is abuzz with activity and open seven days a week and open from early morning to late evening. The site has become a popular attraction in the town, and visited by people of all faiths and organised school trips.
It is is a beautiful addition to the profile of gravesend similar to the Brighton Pavilion, if you like. It provides contrast to some of the Victorian architecture you find in the town and of course the shabbiness of the town it self. It has breathed new life into the town, and conveys the positivity of what Sikhism is all about!
Please visit, I do most weeks, just for a moment of reflection if anything Sydney68 Gravesend, UK 43 contributions. We have been along to visit the Gurdwara on several occasions and are always greeted with warm hospitality, the experience of Sikh culture is a genuine reflection of the Golden Temple of Amritsar, where everyone is welcome, to not just look but find out a little more of this honourable and cultured civilisation, the building's stature must be second only to that of Amritsar itself.
If you have not been along then we would recomend most heartily that you should venture into this amazing experience of what must be the 'Amritsar of Europe'. David F Chester, United Kingdom 1, contributions. Impresive building, friendly welcome. If you are anywhere near Gravesend this is well worth a visit. It is only a short walk from the town centre and seems to be open at any reasonable time.
I was welcomed by a very pleasant and venerable gentleman who explained the conditions for visiting — no alcohol, cigarettes or shoes — and helped me on with a brightly coloured head scarf another essential for visitors. The entrance is light and rather grand with an imposing staircase at the top of which is a main worship space and two smaller side rooms. Unlike a church there are no seats but there are some decorative features including the dome and some stained glass. I had only limited time but I suspect that for those who want to linger they would be only too happy to explain the meaning of the building and the Sikh faith.
We attended a wedding here, what a beautiful building. The people who have funded this grand place of worship are very proud and friendly to all visitors. Throughly enjoyable experience. Was invited to visit this magnificient temple. The Sikhs are right to be proud of their acheivements.
The Temple is truly a work of art. Although I am not of the Sikh religion I was made to feel welcome I was shown round the Temple and was offered their vegetarian cooking. There were people from faraway lands but they were mainly Sikhs. The interia of the building is really breathing. I failed to find words to describe it, you will have to visit to see for yourself.
I understand the Sikh community had raised all that money milloins to build their magnificient Temple in Gravesend Kent. I really admire their community spirit. Buccleuch69 London 40 contributions. We had heard good reports about this Sikh temple. Though not religious people, we thought it worth a visit and we were not wrong.
The Sikhs we encountered at the temple were helpful. Don't forget to wear clean socks and carry a scarf or similar, you are required to remove your shoes and cover your head men too on entry. Although there is equality between men and women, in the temple halls, men and women sit separately - women to the left and men to the right.
Felt like a visit to the Punjab without the hassle of travel. Pete G Halesowen, UK 2 contributions. This is probably the best temple this side of India and is worth a visit regardless of if you have a function there. The site is stunning, exquisite architecture reminds you of India, fantastic inlays and carvings, great facilities and good to see some much outdoor space for sports and elderly alike to enjoy.
I hear they have a sports hall also in development which is fantastic to see the temple investing in the youth. Lucy L Gravesend, UK 3 contributions. I visited this place as I had a function to go to here. The construct was produced and carved in India and the interior architecture was modelled on the sacred Golden Temple, known as the eighth Wonder of the World.
Stonemasons worked for two years solid on the temple which has been clad inside and out with granite and marble. It is a source of great pride for the Sikh families who come to pray, learn and socialise, but as Jagdev Singh Virdee, spokesman for the Gurdwara explains, it also takes on a much larger role at the heart of the Gravesend community.
The temple came together with other local organisations to provide more than 60, meals for hospital staff , isolating residents and anyone in need of help, he adds. Langar is the term used in Sikhism for a community kitchen where a free meal is served to all visitors, regardless of faith or ethnicity. Mr Virdee said the Gurdwara was a huge centre for everyone, not just Sikhs, which is reliant on people volunteering their time.
This he explains is a fundamental part of the religion which he says is built on the principles of hard work, daily prayer and sharing with others. It has been a challenging time for the Gurdwara with extra protocols put in place to ensure the health and safety of all attending. This includes temperature checks on arrival, limiting the number of people and even creating a new mobile app to give people live updates of the busiest times so people can plan their journey.
We encourage people to come at all times of the day. During the latest lockdown all group prayer has been suspended but is broadcast live via the website and social media daily at 4am and 4pm. It will however be open for limited-time individual prayer. Mr Virdee said the response to the change had been "very positive" adding: "The audiences have been growing day by day. Sadly, the latest national lockdown has meant the Gurdwara 10 year anniversary later this month will also be somewhat muted but Mr Virdee said Gravesend 's Sikhs were determined to mark the occasion.
Thousands of residents of all races and cultures descend on the town each year to celebrate and mark the start of their New Year. But this year the procession — usually flanked with crowds lining the streets with music, dancing and laughter — was shelved in response to the virus outbreak and replaced with a live feed showing prayers at the Gurdwara and community videos.
Diwali is also set to begin on Thursday, November 12 with the main celebrations to take place a few days later on Saturday, November It is billed as the Hindu and Sikh equivalent to Christmas with homes decorated on mass with colourful light displays, gifts exchanged and fireworks to mark the occasion. It will also have an impact on long-standing confectionary shops such as Virdee Stores for which Diwali is the busiest time of the year.
The sweet shop was first opened by Jagdev's father Balwant Singh Virdee in Cutmore Street in before relocating around the corner two years later to its current location in Arthur Street. Jagdev's brother Hardish helped his parents run the store with his wife Surinder but since lockdown their youngest daughter Gurpreet Virdee Saib has taken over the reins due to their age placing them at risk from Covid In normal times there would be up to 30 customers jostling in the shop but now they are restricted to just three at a time, Gurpreet explains.
Thousands gather to celebrate Vaisakhi. Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara. This year marks the th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. The building in Saddington Street was inaugurated in At the scene in Gravesend. Celebrations include cooking "langar", the food from the gurdwara's communal kitchen. Related Topics. Gravesend Sikhism.
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