Bahrain’s 200-year-old Shri Krishna Temple in the Manama Suq is gearing up for a $4 million facelift, with the redevelopment scheduled to kick off later this year.
The development will be on a piece of land measuring 16,500 square feet and the new four-floor structure covering 45,000 square feet will have an overall height of 30 meters.
The land is owned by Thattai Hindu Merchants Community (THMC) which comprises Bhatia businesses in Bahrain.
The official launch for the redevelopment is scheduled to be inaugurated on Sunday by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier.
Details of the project and the launch were revealed by Bhatia community leaders and
the THMC.
The temple demonstrates Bahrain’s openness and tolerant policies and the community remains ever grateful to the wholehearted support from His Majesty King Hamad, His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, and the government of Bahrain.
The community is also grateful for the support from the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence and This is Bahrain.
Floor plans are ready and
detailed working drawings are under finalisation. Leading engineers for the project are Mazen Alumran Consulting Engineers who are the designers for the redevelopment project on a land of 15,500 square feet, which will double the size of the current temple area.
The completed project, according to THMC, will leave a signature of India in Bahrain, with the new look reflecting a traditional Rajasthani temple feel in pink sand stone finish, handcrafted in India. The corridors will be adorned with paintings by various Indian and Bahraini artists and people of all faiths are welcome.
“It will be decked with marble-finish floors in the temple area, prayer halls, fountain and lotus-shaped columns,” said temple officials.
The new temple will be an environment-friendly project with solar panels and water recycling.
The project cost is completely funded by Bhatia businessmen and community members in Bahrain.
The heritage and the 200-year-old legacy of the temple will be highlighted in the redevelopment and the new iconic complex will house the sanctum sanctorum and prayer halls.
The community centre will include an auditorium, exhibition hall, knowledge centre, accommodation for visiting priests and resident priests, offices, landscaped garden and an open courtyard.
A museum displaying the temple’s legacy and the history of the Bhatia community has also been planned.
A coffee table book chronicling the history of the community has been commissioned and will be ready at the time of the project’s completion.
There are also facilities for traditional Hindu marriage ceremonies and other rituals, promoting Bahrain as a wedding destination and boosting tourism.
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