I've always been fascinated by Indian architecture, and Hindu temples in particular. The attention to the tiniest detail is staggering.
People often look at ancient English cathedrals, and despair at the loss of once great craftsmanship. Well let me assure them that the craftsmanship is still there, it's just the willingness to spend the cash that's missing.
This temple is quite new. Its building began in 1992, although the carving itself was started almost 3 years earlier in 1989. The temple was finally opened in 1995.
So, where is this beautiful temple? Well it's in North West London, in Neasden, quite near Brent Cross where the M1 motorway heads north from the North Circular. When first built it was the biggest Hindu temple outside of India.
It often took the ancient European cathedral builders centuries to build their wonderful edifices; it took 1500 modern-day Indian craftsmen just 5 years to carve the giant Neasden Temple. Every piece of Carrara marble and Bulgarian limestone was shipped to India, hand carved, then shipped back over to England where it was later assembled.
Quite amazing.
Not the Neasden I remember when I boarded there in the early 1960's.
ReplyDeleteYou probably wouldn't recognise it today, but it's that same old Neasden!
DeleteStunning! A silly function for a building, but a stunning building! It takes out current establishment the same time to just put the cones out on a stretch of motorway, let alone do any work. As you say, t'ain't the craftsmen, tis the money and the mentality.
ReplyDeletewow that is a very impressive temple. It reminds me of those we saw in Thailand. I can only imagine what it cost to send the materials to India for carving and back home again to London.
ReplyDeleteI can remember when I first saw it when we were driving into London .... it is amazing and stands out just like the Royal Pavilion in Brighton. It is a bit of a jaw-dropping moment when you come across it ..... I can remember when we turned a corner in Florence and I saw the Duomo for the first time. I think that I let out an involuntary gasp ! XXXX
ReplyDeleteAs a Brighton home owner (I never go), I know exactly what you mean!
DeleteGood Grief! That is amazing! Only five years! My contractor has given up after two years building two bloody wooden huts!
ReplyDeleteYou and I would both appreciate the complexity of accurate measurements in a building like this. Everything carved in one continent, and assembled in another; and all to the nearest millimetre.
DeleteAmazing Cro, thank you for sharing that.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photographs and wonderful workmanship Cro - thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteWow!
ReplyDeleteIt's absolutely stunning. However, I always feel that the enormous amounts of money spent on such could be better used...say, to feed a few hungry people. Guess I'm just a simple wooden church kinda gal.
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