HINDU TEMPLE
HAPPY VALLEY
Architect: Mr. FUNG TSUN
View of the Temple from Wongneichong Rond.
The assembly hall looking towards the rimano.
"The completion of this temple The new temple marks the fruit Built at a cost of more than is the fulfilment of an old dream, of work which was started before $100,000, the temple is dedicated We have been discussing it for 27 the Second World War, when to the Hindu god Lakhshmi years and now at last we stand plans were made and passed by the Narain.
here, in this gracious hall, in the Hong Kong Government. Con- The site lies opposite the east- presence of the religious spirit of struction had begun on the found- ern entrance of the Hong Kong our forefathers," said Mr. F. T. ations and the lower part of the Jockey Club. next to the Hong Melwani, President of the Hindu temple when war broke out. All Kong Sanatorium. The entrance Association, at the opening of the the documents and plans were in to the temple, which is built on Hindu Temple situated in front of the hands of the then Secretary of a steep slope, is up stone steps the Hindu Cemetery, Happy Val- the Hong Kong Hindu Associa- from the cemetery to the front ley, on 13th September.
tion, Dr. Deb, and were lost when porch.
he was killed.
For the first time in the history of Hong Kong, the 1.500 people who After the war fresh plans were make up the Hindu community drawn up and in July 1952 they will be able to attend their own were passed by Government. temple.
ALTAR
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STORE PRIESTS!
KIT.
OFFICE
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WAY
TEMPLE
PORCH
UP
Plan of the main floor of the Temple.
44
ON.
The temple is designed after the Hindu style and arrangement, but with the plan slightly modi- fied to suit modern requirements. It consists of a vimana, an as- sembly hall and a porch. The vimana, which corresponds to the sanctuary of a Christian church, has a stepped ceiling indicated ex- ternally by a rectangular tower curving inwards towards its sum- mit to support the massive orna- mental coping or finial. Hindu ar- chitecture as a whole is noted for its elaborate mouldings and orna- ments, but these have been sim- plified in this temple without in any way sacrificing its native character.
The assembly hall is 40' 0" by 19' 6" and the vimana is 19' 6" by