Shrinathji Temple, Manama
Manama, Bahrain
- Deities
- Shrinathji (a form of Krishna)
- Traditions
- vaishnava
- Worship status
- active
- Darshan hours
- Varies by season; consult the temple/Hindu community trust directly for the current daily schedule before visiting.
- Best time to visit
- Major Krishna-related festivals such as Janmashtami draw the largest gatherings; confirm the current calendar with the temple.
- How to reach
- Located in central Manama, Bahrain's capital, reachable by road/taxi from anywhere in the city; Bahrain International Airport is the nearest airport.
Location
Search for "Shrinathji Temple, Manama" on Google MapsThis temple's exact coordinates aren't confirmed yet, so the link above searches by name and city rather than pointing to a verified spot.
The Shrinathji Temple in Manama, Bahrain’s capital, was constructed in 1817 by the local Hindu merchant community, making it one of the oldest Hindu temples anywhere in the Middle East. It is dedicated to Shrinathji, a form of Krishna especially associated with the Pushtimarg tradition founded by Vallabhacharya, and its long-standing presence reflects a Hindu trading community in Bahrain with roots reaching back well before the country’s modern oil-era development.
The temple’s continued operation, alongside a Hindu cremation ground granted over a century ago, situates it within a broader pattern of long-tolerated Hindu religious infrastructure in Bahrain. That pattern has continued into the present: in February 2022, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa granted additional land for the construction of a second, larger BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu temple in the country, modeled on a similar project completed in Abu Dhabi, and Bahrain is also home to an established BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir and an ISKCON-affiliated temple community. The 1817 Shrinathji Temple, however, remains the historic anchor of Hindu worship in the country.
Sources
- historical record: Cross-checked via Wikipedia's 'Hinduism in Bahrain' article: confirms the temple was constructed in Manama by the Hindu community in 1817, is dedicated to Shrinathji (a form of Krishna), and is described there as one of the oldest Hindu temples in the Middle East region.
For review
- Exact founder names, architectural details, and precise address were not given in the source consulted; recommend independent verification for pilgrimage-planning purposes.