A Not So Little India in London

We trekked to Brent one sunny Saturday to visit the Neasden Temple. It’s the largest Hindu temple outside India — and it’s right here in London.

Fun fact one: the building has been listed twice in the Guinness World Records and won the UK Pride of Place Award following a nationwide online poll.

Fun fact two: the marble, limestone and other materials used to construct the temple were hand-carved in India before being assembled in London. The project was funded entirely by worshippers, and the architecture was completed using traditional methods. The scale is remarkable — over 3,000 volunteers, more than 1,500 sculptors, and a total cost of £12 million. It’s no surprise that it has been featured among the Seven Most Iconic Buildings and Landmarks in the city.

We arrived just in time for the arti ceremony at the maha-mandap on the first floor of the temple. Several monks in saffron robes performed the ritual with candlelight and musical prayer. Devout worshippers of all ages, along with visitors, sat quietly beneath and around the shrines, sacred images and intricate carvings. The chanting resonated throughout the hall, and the soft floral scent of incense lingered in the air. None of my senses were quite prepared for such a spiritual occasion — it was as awe-inspiring as promised.

I was told that a visit wouldn’t be complete without a vegetarian lunch at Shayona across the street. I’m not usually a fan of vegetarian meals (I struggle with a chicken-less curry), but this one… I’d give it a naan out of ten! 😄

Shayona offers quite a range of North Indian dishes, which are rather different from the South Indian food I was accustomed to in Malaysia. The usual over-ordering and stomach-bursting situation? All boxes ticked with this meal.

Chaat — a blanket of savoury, crispy bites layered over potatoes, chickpeas, yoghurt and tamarind sauce. It’s a wonderfully novel starter, a delightful balance of sweet and savoury that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Another particularly interesting dish was the pani puri below — small, puffed shells filled with spiced potatoes and chickpeas, taken with a shot of mint water. All in a single mouthful.

We also had some naan, the restaurant’s special fried rice, and my absolute favourite — paneer tikka masala.

Lunch ended on a sweet note with a large glass of pink falooda — a delightful mix of rose syrup, vermicelli, basil seeds, tapioca pearls and milk.

If that isn’t enough for you, there’s a pastry shop at the front of Shayona selling an array of colourful sweets.

This trip to Neasden left me feeling a little giddy with excitement — a clear sign of homesickness. (Ah… my regular trips to the banana leaf rice shops in Kuala Lumpur.)

An impromptu cultural Saturday like this easily beats a lazy afternoon in Hyde Park or the ever-congested streets of central London. Here’s to more days like this.

With love x