Temples in Washington DC for You to Channel Your Spirituality

The Washington DC Temple is one of the most iconic and recognizable religious buildings in the DC area. The temple was inaugurated in 1974, making it the 18th temple of the Mormon faith and the first along the East Coast. The architecture of the building has a number of symbolic references to major events in the Bible, such as the 7 floors signifying the 7 days of creation. The six towering spires, three on each end make for a magnificent external facade that is encased in white marble.

Faith: : The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Inaugurated: : 1974

Architect: : Keith W. Wilcox

Timings: : 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Address: : 9900 Stoneybrook Dr, Kensington, MD 20895, United States

The Sri Siva Vishnu is one of the largest temples in the United States with construction being completed in 2002. This temple in the Washington DC area is home to numerous deities of the Hindu faith. The main shrines are home to Shiva as Ramanathaswamy and Vishnu as Ananthapadmanabha.

Faith: : Hinduism

Inaugurated: : 2002

Timings: : Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Saturday - Sunday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Address: : 6905 Cipriano Rd, Lanham, MD 20706, United States

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness opened the Hare Krishna Temple in Maryland in 1975. The temple houses the first Krishna deity in the US called Madanmohan. The temple is located on the banks of a creek, allowing visitors to connect with their spiritual side in the presence of nature. The 12-acre campus is home to a cultural center and a farm, where cattle is reared and vegetables are grown. The temple welcomes visitors throughout the year, irrespective of the religion they practice.

Faith: : Hinduism

Inaugurated: : 1975

Timings: : 4:30 AM - 8:30 PM

Address: : 10310 Oaklyn Dr, Potomac, MD 20854, United States

The Murugan Temple of North America is the first temple dedicated to Murugan, a Hindu deity. Inaugurated in 1999, the main statue is dedicated to Murugan with Valli Devasena. Other statues in the premises are dedicated to Vinayaka, Siva, Palani Andavar, Durga and Meenakshi.

Faith: : Hinduism

Inaugurated: : 1999

Timings: : Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 noon, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Address: : 6300 Princess Garden Parkway, Lanham, MD 20706, United States

The Hindu Temple of Metropolitan Washington is one of the oldest Hindu temples in the United States. Established in 1982, the temple offers visitors of all faith to connect with their inner self, providing them with a peaceful and serene experience. The external facade reminds many people of the architecture of temples found in the northern parts of India.

Faith: : Hinduism

Inaugurated: : 1982

Timings: : Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Saturday - Sunday: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Address: : 10001 Riggs Rd, Adelphi, MD 20783, United States

The Kali Temple was inaugurated in 2002, with the shrine dedicated to the Goddess Kali of Hinduism. This temple in Washington DC caters to a predominantly South Asian crowd, with dedication to the Hindu deities of Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga and Ganesh as well. The temple is home to a language school where pupils are taught Hindi and Bangla, a language popular in East India and Bangladesh. The temple also has a library where one can read the scriptures and other works of Hindu mythology.

Faith: : Hinduism

Inaugurated: : 2002

Address: : 16126 New Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, MD 20866, United States

The Golden Lotus Temple belonging to the Self-Revelation Church of Absolute Monism is one of the unique temples in Washington DC. Inaugurated in 1952, the temple seeks to inspire every individual to find God in their own soul. The architecture of the temple is carefully planned out, with each element having significance in our daily life. For example, the blue reflecting pool at the entrance of the church in the shape of a foot symbolizes the legacy one leaves behind. Visitors will have a truly relaxed and serene experience while on the grounds of this temple.

Faith: : Self-Revelation Church of Absolute Monism

Inaugurated: : 1952

Address: : 4748 Western Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20816, United States

The Chua Giac Hoang Buddhist temple is run by Vietnamese believers of the Buddhist faith. The temple was founded in 1976 as part of the Vietnamese Buddhist Community in America. The temple holds regular prayers throughout the day, with special prayers and community bonding activities occurring on Sunday. The temple is also the centre of celebrations during traditional Vietnamese festivals like the Vietnamese New Year and Buddha’s birthday.

Faith: : Buddhism

Inaugurated: : 1978

Timings: : Monday - Friday: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Address: : 5401 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20011, United States

The Myosenji Buddhist temple belongs to the Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist faith. This temple was opened in 1972, with the purpose of guiding the local population in their journey of spiritual nourishment. The temple offers lessons on the basics of Buddhism, while helping interested participants in their journey of becoming Buddhist followers. These facilities can be availed by everyone, irrespective of the faith they previously practiced. The temple also offers pilgrimage services to the head temple in Taisekiji, Japan for a truly surreal and divine experience.

Faith: : Buddhism

Inaugurated: : 1972

Timings: : 7:00 AM - 8:30 PM

Address: : 310 University Blvd W, Silver Spring, MD 20901, United States

The Washington Buddhist Vihara was started in 1965, becoming the first Theravada Buddhist monastic community in the United States. The temple has a full fledged library and book service to allow people to educate themselves about the history and teachings of Buddha. The temple also conducts meditation workshops and lectures to help attendees get in touch with their spirituality.The temple welcomes visitors across all faiths to visit the temple whenever they like. The shrine and meditation rooms of this temple in Washington DC are open throughout, ensuring guests can enjoy this divine experience at a time of their choice.

Faith: : Buddhism

Inaugurated: : 1965

Timings: : Open 24 hours, 7 days a week

Address: :
5017 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20011, United States

The National Gurdwara was opened in 2005 to cater to Sikh believers in the Washington DC area. The gurdwara welcomes people of varying religious backgrounds through its doors throughout the week. The gurdwara is home to a museum and library that gives visitors a glimpse of the Sikh faith. It also hosts regular Kirtan and Punjabi classes for people in the area. On Sundays, the community gathers together to prepare and serve Langar, a free meal for the downtrodden and homeless people in the area.

Faith: : Sikhism

Inaugurated: : 2005

Timings: : 5:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Address: : 3801 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016, United States