Which US State Has the Most Hindu Temples?
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When people think of Hindu temples, they usually picture the golden spires of Varanasi or the intricate carvings of Konark. But over the last 30 years, a quiet religious revolution has taken place across the United States - one built not by ancient kings, but by immigrant families, community fundraisers, and second-generation Hindus determined to keep their faith alive far from home. And the state leading this movement isn’t New York, California, or Texas. It’s Illinois.
Why Illinois Has the Most Hindu Temples
Illinois, specifically the Chicago metropolitan area, is home to more Hindu temples than any other U.S. state. As of 2025, there are at least 18 major Hindu temples in Illinois, with another 12 smaller prayer centers and community halls scattered across the suburbs. That’s more than double the number in California, which comes in second with around 8 large temples.
The reason isn’t luck. It’s history. In the 1970s and 80s, Illinois became a magnet for Indian immigrants working in engineering, medicine, and academia. Companies like Motorola, Abbott Labs, and the University of Chicago brought in skilled professionals from Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Punjab. These families didn’t just want to live in America - they wanted to raise their children with Hindu traditions. That meant temples, not just for worship, but for language classes, festivals, and cultural identity.
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Bartlett, built in 2004, is the largest Hindu temple in North America. Made of over 33,000 pieces of hand-carved Turkish limestone and Italian marble, it took 1,500 volunteers and 1,000 artisans from India to build it. It’s not just a place of prayer - it’s a cultural hub that hosts 100,000 visitors a year, including school groups, interfaith delegations, and tourists from across the Midwest.
How Hindu Temples in the U.S. Are Different
Hindu temples in the U.S. aren’t just copies of those in India. They’re adapted. In India, temples are often part of a village or town’s daily rhythm - open early, crowded at noon, quiet at dusk. In the U.S., they’re scheduled around work and school. Most temples open on weekends, with weekday evening pujas for working adults. Many have dedicated youth programs, yoga classes, and even Hindi language schools.
Another big difference: funding. In India, temples are often supported by land donations, royal patronage, or state grants. In the U.S., every brick, statue, and altar is paid for by community donations. Families sell their cars, set up bake sales, host cultural nights - sometimes over years - just to raise money for a single statue of Lord Ganesha. The result? Temples here feel more personal. You’ll find photos of donors on the walls, handwritten notes of gratitude near the offerings, and volunteers who’ve spent decades cleaning floors and serving meals.
Other States With Growing Hindu Communities
Illinois leads, but it’s not alone. California has the largest Hindu population overall - over 500,000 people - but its temples are spread thin across a massive state. The BAPS temple in Los Angeles and the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Pittsburgh are both major centers, but they serve wider regions.
New Jersey has 12 major temples, mostly clustered in the Edison and Iselin areas, where Indian-American families have lived since the 1980s. Texas is growing fast, especially in Houston and Dallas, where new temples are being planned every year. Florida has seen a boom too, with temples opening in Orlando and Tampa to serve the large South Indian population working in tech and healthcare.
But none match Illinois’s density. Why? Because in Illinois, the community didn’t just build temples - they built institutions. The Hindu Temple Society of North America, founded in 1977, is based in Chicago. The Hindu Students Council, which now has chapters at over 150 U.S. universities, started at the University of Illinois. Even the first Hindu wedding officiated by a U.S.-licensed priest happened in a Chicago temple in 1983.
What You’ll Find Inside These Temples
Step inside any major Hindu temple in Illinois, and you’ll notice the same things you’d see in India - incense, bells, chanting, deities in colorful robes. But you’ll also notice things you won’t: English-language bhajans, digital donation kiosks, and kids in baseball caps learning Sanskrit verses on tablets.
Most temples have a small museum or exhibit explaining Hinduism to visitors. The Chicago temple has a 20-minute video in seven languages. Others have interactive displays showing the story of Diwali or the significance of the lotus flower. These aren’t just for tourists - they’re for American-born Hindus who never learned the stories their grandparents told.
Food is another big part. Almost every temple runs a free kitchen (annakshetra) on weekends, serving vegetarian meals to anyone who walks in. It’s not charity - it’s seva, or selfless service. You’ll find retirees from Mumbai serving rice alongside college students from Nebraska. The meals are simple: dal, rice, roti, pickle. But they’re made with care, and they’re always warm.
Why This Matters for Temple Tours
If you’re planning a temple tour in India, you’re likely focused on ancient sites, rituals, and history. But if you want to understand how Hinduism is surviving - and thriving - in the modern world, you need to see how it’s being rebuilt in places like Bartlett, Hoffman Estates, and Naperville.
These temples aren’t replicas. They’re living, breathing communities. They’re where a 16-year-old girl in Chicago learns to play the tabla while her mom teaches her how to make puri. Where a doctor from Chennai prays beside a software engineer from Bangalore. Where a white American couple attends Navratri because their daughter’s best friend is Hindu.
Visiting one of these temples isn’t just about seeing architecture. It’s about witnessing a culture that didn’t disappear when it crossed an ocean - it evolved.
Planning a Visit
Most temples in Illinois are open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Weekends are busiest, especially during festivals like Diwali or Holi. The BAPS temple in Bartlett offers free guided tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. You don’t need to be Hindu to visit. Just dress modestly - no shorts or tank tops. Remove your shoes before entering. And don’t be surprised if someone offers you a sweet - it’s part of the welcome.
If you’re coming from out of state, combine your visit with Chicago’s museums or the nearby Morton Arboretum. Many families make a weekend of it: temple in the morning, deep-dish pizza in the afternoon.
There’s no entry fee. No ticket line. Just an open door and a quiet space to sit, reflect, or simply be.
Why does Illinois have more Hindu temples than California, even though California has more Hindus?
California has a larger Hindu population, but its communities are spread across a huge geographic area - from San Francisco to San Diego. Illinois, especially the Chicago metro area, has a dense, tightly-knit community that started forming in the 1970s. Early immigrants clustered in suburbs like Hoffman Estates and Naperville, making it easier to pool resources and build multiple temples close together. California’s temples are larger and more spread out, but Illinois has more in total because of early community cohesion and long-term local investment.
Are Hindu temples in the U.S. open to non-Hindus?
Yes. Most Hindu temples in the U.S. welcome visitors of all faiths. You don’t need to convert, pray, or even understand Sanskrit. Many temples offer guided tours, educational materials, and free meals. The only rules are modest dress (no shorts or sleeveless tops) and removing shoes before entering the main hall. Some temples even host interfaith events, where Christians, Muslims, and Jews come together to learn about Hindu philosophy.
How are U.S. Hindu temples funded?
Unlike temples in India that may receive government support or royal endowments, U.S. temples are entirely funded by donations from the Hindu community. Families save for years, hold bake sales, organize cultural festivals, and even sell family heirlooms to raise money. Construction often takes a decade or more. For example, the BAPS temple in Bartlett cost over $35 million and was built entirely by volunteers and community contributions.
Do Hindu temples in the U.S. have priests from India?
Many do, especially in larger temples. Priests are often trained in India and brought over on religious visas. But increasingly, second-generation Hindus are becoming priests too. There are now American-born priests who grew up in Chicago or Houston, speak perfect English, and lead pujas with the same devotion as their ancestors in Varanasi. This shift is helping younger Americans connect more deeply with their faith.
Can I attend a Hindu festival in the U.S. as a tourist?
Absolutely. Diwali, Holi, Navratri, and Ganesh Chaturthi are celebrated with huge public events in Illinois, New Jersey, and California. These festivals include music, dance, food stalls, and temple processions. Many are free and open to the public. The BAPS temple in Bartlett hosts a Diwali celebration that draws over 20,000 people - including school buses full of local kids. You can join in, take photos, eat sweets, and even learn to dance garba.
What Comes Next?
The next generation of Hindu Americans - the ones born in the U.S. - are now in their 20s and 30s. They’re not just preserving tradition. They’re redefining it. Some are starting online pujas for people who can’t make it to the temple. Others are using TikTok to explain Hindu rituals in 60 seconds. A few are even designing apps that help you track your daily prayers or find the nearest temple.
But the heart of it all remains the same: community. A temple in Illinois isn’t just a building. It’s where a child learns their first Sanskrit mantra from their grandmother. Where a widow finds comfort in weekly bhajans. Where a teenager discovers that being American and being Hindu aren’t opposites - they’re the same thing.
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Which US State Has the Most Hindu Temples?
