Temples make me feel like the world gets quiet for a moment, and my soul finally gets a chance to breathe.
I can still vividly remember my first-ever visit to a Buddhist temple in Calgary. I instantly smelled the scent of incense at the door, and I swear, time slowed down as I sat still.
You may know Calgary for its mountains and cowboy charm, but the city is more than that. Calgary is filled with sacred spaces where serenity, spirituality, and soulfulness merge.
In this blog, I’ll take you through the best temples in Calgary where you can pause, reflect, and reconnect with yourself and something greater.
Table of Contents
1. Vadtal Dham Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple
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Website: https://calgary.svg.org/
Address: 4805 Westwinds Dr NE
Contact Details: +403 929 4895, and [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 8 AM to 12 PM, 4 PM to 8 PM
Pricing: Free
Vadtal Dham is the first-ever Hindu temple in Calgary with a gold shikhar, which sparked my curiosity to pay a visit.
This is a good starting point for exploring Hindu temples in Calgary, as the city has many Hindu temples. The combined peaceful and spiritual vibes of the place are perfect for those seeking a space to relax and be one with their inner selves.
As a place of worship and a community, people here encourage visitors to participate in ceremonies and events. This is great because you will not just view and watch, but will also experience the things they usually do.
Pro Tip:
Although they don’t charge a fee for a visit, they accept donations. So, I recommend donating either in person or by e-transfer. It’s also worth mentioning that taking photos inside the temple is prohibited.
2. Dashmesh Culture Centre
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Website: https://www.dashmesh.ca/
Address: 135 Gurdwara Sahib Blvd NE
Contact Details: +1 403 590 0970 and [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 8 AM to 6 PM
Pricing: Free
Dashmesh Culture Centre is a Sikh temple that’s known for the good deeds it does for the city. If you love volunteering, the temple offers plenty of opportunities, such as helping them serve food in their community kitchen.
The temple has a serene atmosphere that helps visitors recharge from the outside world. It’s spacious and very well-maintained at the same time.
Another thing I love here is the melodious singing and chanting. There’s something about the songs and chants that just makes me feel at ease.
Pro Tip:
Plan your visit for the hot meal service that runs from 9 AM to 9 PM. For convenient transportation, familiarise yourself with bus routes (23, 303, and 61) or light rail (202) that travel along the centre.
3. Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Baitun Nur Mosque
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Website: https://baitunnur.org/
Address: 4353 54 Ave NE
Contact Details: +1 403 590 8008 and [email protected]
Pricing: Free
Baitun Nur’s architecture, particularly its interior design, is very impressive. It’s one of the most magnificent mosques I’ve seen, not just in Canada, but in the whole of North America.
The place is more than enough for you to experience Muslim culture, as it features classrooms and a community centre within its premises. I was lucky to socialise with people from different religions during my visit.
Speaking of which, the place has a very welcoming atmosphere. Here, you will feel that it doesn’t matter if you’re a Muslim or not because the people are very polite and respectful to visitors.
Pro Tip:
Book a guided tour on their website to learn about the mosque’s architecture, history, and the teachings of Islam. You should also wear clothes that cover your knees and shoulders.
4. Calgary Buddhist Temple
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Website: http://calgary-buddhist.ab.ca/
Address: 658 1 Ave NE
Contact Details: +1 403 263 5723 and [email protected]
Operating Hours: Sunday – 9 AM to 12 PM
Pricing: Free
Calgary Buddhist Temple is a simple yet solemn place where you can find peace. Its house-like design will make you feel like you’re just visiting a relative from a far place.
What’s great about this temple is that kids are welcome every third Sunday of the month. Their Kids Dharma Time event features kid-friendly discussions and activities delivered by a temple member.
Aside from that, they also have a weekly service every Sunday morning where you can join their traditional workshop occasion. I really enjoy the somber atmosphere during the service and the effort in explaining non-English chants.
Pro Tip:
Although shoes are not allowed inside the temple, visitors can still wear indoor footwear, so don’t forget to bring some. Also, don’t forget to stand and give respect when a monk or a nun enters the room.
5. Avatamsaka Monastery
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Website: https://www.avatamsaka.ca/
Address: 1009 4 Ave SW
Contact Details: +1 403 234 0644 and [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 9 AM to 5 PM
- Sunday – 8 AM to 4 PM
Pricing: Free
You’ll be amazed by the stunning architecture of Avatamsaka Monastery, especially the fifth floor. The level has a sense of harmony that soothes my mind.
I find the space perfect for meditation and quiet reflection, that’s why I visit here often for their free meditation class. Don’t worry if you’ve never experienced meditating before, as they will happily guide you.
The thousands of Buddha statues scattered all over the monastery are also impressive. There are around 10,000 statues in the monastery, so there’s a lot to see.
Pro Tip:
Respect their practice of separating men and women in some of the monastery’s areas. You should also avoid touching monks and nuns unless they initiate physical contact.
6. Calgary Alberta Temple
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Website: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/details/calgary-alberta-temple
Address: 9802 Rocky Ridge Rd NW
Contact Details: +1 403 241 4250 and
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday – 4 PM to 9:30 PM
- Wednesday and Thursday – 9 AM to 2 PM, 4 PM to 9:30 PM
- Friday – 9 AM to 9:30 PM
- Saturday – 8 AM to 4 PM
Pricing: Free
For Jesus followers, Calgary Alberta Temple is a beautiful and peaceful place where you can feel God’s love.
During my visit, I noticed that visitors are mostly families. This is far from other temples that I’ve visited, where couples or groups of friends usually populate the temple. Visiting here with your whole family for a spiritual bonding would be a nice idea.
The temple is beautiful from the outside and truly peaceful from the inside. The symmetrically aesthetic gardening in front of it makes it a very relaxing place.
Pro Tip:
When offering or receiving something, always use your right hand as a sign of respect. You should also avoid pointing with your finger as it can be considered rude.
7. Usagi Jinja
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Website: https://usagijinja.com/
Address: 5540 2 St SW
Pricing: Free
Usagi Jinja is one of the few Shinto shrines in Calgary. If you want to see and experience for yourself the indigenous religion of Japan, I strongly recommend this shrine. They often organise ceremonies where visitors can participate.
I really enjoy the free martial arts training here. You’ll learn how to stand properly and grip the aikido staff called Jo. This is a great activity not just for family bonding, but also for team building.
Aside from the martial arts, I also enjoy sitting here while conversing with the Kannushi, or the priest. The priest loves to share teachings while incorporating his personal experiences, which are very interesting to listen to.
Pro Tip:
Check their website if you want to read Japanese teachings about various things, such as depression.
8. Temple B’nai Tikvah
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Website: https://templebnaitikvah.org/
Address: 900 47 Ave SW
Contact Details: +1 403 252 1654 and [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 9 AM to 4 PM
- Friday – 9 AM to 2:30 PM
Pricing: Free
Temple B’nai Tikvah always organises dance sessions where both beginners and pros can dance together without feeling out of place.
Apart from dance events, this reform temple also hosts art exhibitions. The TBT Gallery, one of their well-known events, showcases artworks with diverse religious themes from various artists.
However, the most impressive thing about the temple is that it serves as a venue for days of worship for various religions. You can attend Christian, Muslim, and Jewish ceremonies here!
Pro Tip:
While there’s no specific dress code, you should still wear non-revealing clothes out of respect for their religious and cultural events. You may also participate in discussions and ask questions about their activities.
9. BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha
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Website: https://www.baps.org/Global-Network/North-America/Calgary.aspx
Address: 292200 Wagon Wheel Blvd
Contact Details: +1 403 953 2277
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 7:30 AM to 11 AM, 4 PM to 8 PM
Pricing: Free
BAPS is another beautiful Hindu temple on this list. The colourful curtains and other bright decorations behind the statues ensure people will not only know who they worship but also get to enjoy spending time at the temple.
I really appreciate how the temple perfectly preserves Hindu cultural traditions. They host the rituals, festivals, and artistic expressions that showcase Hinduism to visitors with different beliefs.
The great thing is that their darshan times (viewing of deity) run throughout the day, from their opening to the public until closing. Darshan times in other temples are only available for a certain period within the day.
Pro Tip:
Service dogs are allowed inside the temple. All visitors are required to pre-register online and must present a QR code at the entrance as proof before entering the temple.
10. Sri Murugan Society of Alberta
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Website: https://www.albertamurugan.org/
Address: 292090 Wagon Wheel Blvd
Contact Details: +1 587 619 9100 and [email protected]
Operating Hours: Saturday and Sunday – 9 AM to 12 PM, 5 PM to 8 PM
Pricing: $
What I love about the Sri Murugan Society is that all its staff, including the priest, are very friendly and accommodating. They ensured that I felt comfortable throughout my stay by speaking to me and imparting knowledge about Hinduism.
The temple is also a great place to relax, discover new things, and have a peaceful connection with yourself and something greater.
If you want to experience how they worship their deity, you can book one of their special Pooja services. They even offer home Pooja service to honour your guests.
Pro Tip:
Some events, such as the Jagannath Puri Ratha Yatra, are free of charge. However, some events require a donation to participate.
If you’re planning to attend events, familiarise yourself with the specific attire and offerings that are acceptable for some events.
