Walk into the Ganesh Temple in Flushing on a Sunday and the archana line runs past the courtyard while the canteen fills with the smell of South Indian food. A few miles away, Chinatown's Mahayana Temple sits quiet enough to hear the incense burn. Among the temples in New York covered here, The Hindu Temple Society of North America alone has drawn 3,081 reviews at 4.8 stars, and the five combined carry just over 6,100, a sign of how central these spaces are to the communities that built them.
Short answer: The Hindu Temple Society of North America in Flushing holds the strongest public track record on this list: a 4.8 rating across 3,081 Google reviews, the highest review volume of any temple in New York. Sri Ranganatha Temple (4.8, 1,330 reviews) and ISKCON New York City (4.8, 719 reviews) follow closely on rating. None of these temples charge for entry; most run on voluntary donations.
#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days
The Hindu Temple Society of North America
4.8★★★★★3,081 Google reviews
The Hindu Temple Society of North America, home to the Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapati Devasthanam in Flushing, is marking its 49th anniversary this year and remains one of the most visited Hindu temples in the New York area. It runs daily pooja services, a Ganesha Patashala school, yoga and Bharatanatyam classes, and a senior outreach program alongside its temple canteen and banquet hall. Many visitors describe it as one of the oldest Hindu mandirs still active in the US.
What people praise
- Serene, well-maintained grounds with many finely detailed deity sculptures
- Priests described as kind and approachable with visiting devotees
- Free prasad and South Indian food served at the temple canteen
- Helpful front-desk staff and organized security during busy festival days
- Welcoming to both longtime devotees and first-time visitors
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Review volume3,081 · 97th
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown86% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: Its 3,081 reviews are the largest base on this list, and the 4.8 average holds firm across that volume. That combination of scale and consistency is why it ranks first.
📍45-57 Bowne St, Flushing, NY 11355
#2🕑 Open 7 days
Sri Ranganatha Temple
4.8★★★★★1,330 Google reviews
Sri Ranganatha Temple in Pomona serves the Vaishnava Hindu community with a full daily and monthly pooja schedule, hall rentals for community events, and an active volunteer program. Reviewers repeatedly point to its non-commercial approach: archana carries no charge here, and prasadam is served free. The temple also houses a notable collection of salagramams and hosts an annual Brahmotsavam celebration.
What people praise
- Peaceful, non-commercial atmosphere praised by regular visitors
- Priests perform pooja with visible dedication and care
- Free prasadam offered to all visitors
- Devotees travel 80 or more miles just to attend
- Valued salagramam collection rarely seen elsewhere
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Review volume1,330 · 92th
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown89% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: It ranks second on the same 4.8 rating as our top pick, with under half the review volume, still a strong, well-trusted base for a temple outside the city center.
📍8 Ladentown Rd, Pomona, NY 10970
#3🕑 Open 7 days
ISKCON New York City - Hare Krishna Center
4.8★★★★★719 Google reviews
ISKCON New York City, based in Brooklyn, runs the Hare Krishna center's full slate of programs, including weekly Harinam chanting, the Bhakti School NYC educational track, and a temple restaurant serving prasadam through Govinda's and Kadamba Cafe. It combines devotional worship with cultural and culinary offerings, reflected in its listing as both a temple and a vegetarian restaurant.
What people praise
- Bhajans and Sunday programs described as captivating and well attended
- Prasadam and cafe food praised on nearly every visit
- Welcoming to newcomers curious about Krishna Bhakti
- Spacious, beautiful temple room valued for special occasions like Janmashtami
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown90% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: This center ranks third on real review volume, 719 reviews against over 3,000 and 1,330 above it, while still matching their 4.8 average.
📍305 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn, NY 11217
#4🕑 Open 7 days
Shree Divya Dham
4.8★★★★★369 Google reviews
Shree Divya Dham, also known as the Geeta Divyadham Temple in Woodside, centers its worship on a large Shiv Linga installation and a Vaishno Devi cave replica that draws visitors from beyond the neighborhood. Alongside daily pooja and aarti, the temple runs a Sanskrit Pathshala school and yoga and Ayurveda programs, and it hosts major annual events including Durga Puja and Garba.
What people praise
- Extensive Shivling and Shaktipeeth displays noted by regular visitors
- Vaishno Devi cave replica described as an immersive, memorable experience
- Volunteers praised for tireless work preparing prasad and bhog
- Welcoming to Hindu families of every community background
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown86% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: Its 369 reviews are the smallest base among the 4.8-rated temples here, so treat the rating as solid but still building its wider public track record.
📍34-63 56th St, Woodside, NY 11377
#5🕑 Open 7 days
Mahayana Temple Buddhist Association
4.4★★★★★625 Google reviews
Mahayana Temple Buddhist Association operates a Buddhist temple in the middle of Chinatown, welcoming visitors of any faith with free entry. The temple displays illustrated panels recounting the story of Buddha in both Chinese and English, set around quiet courtyards laid out for reflection rather than crowds.
What people praise
- Completely free entry with donations welcomed but never required
- Peaceful, reflective atmosphere praised even by non-Buddhist visitors
- Illustrated history walls valued as an educational stop
- Respectful, calm environment maintained during active prayer times
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown66% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: At 4.4, this temple holds the most modest average on the page, but its 625 reviews still reflect a well-regarded, frequently visited space that's open and free to everyone.
📍133 Canal St, New York, NY 10002
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Claim this spot › How we ordered this list
We ranked using two public Google metrics: the average rating and the number of people who left one. A high rating carries more weight the more reviews back it up, so a 4.8 from 3,000-plus reviewers ranks above a similar score built on a few hundred. Recency matters too, since it signals a temple stays active in the community today. No temple can pay to move up this list or change these numbers.
What visiting costs
Every temple on this list welcomes visitors free of charge. Entry, darshan, and prasad are typically offered without a fee, and contributions to the hundi (donation box) are voluntary. Some, like the Hindu Temple Society, ask that pooja or archana services be booked ahead through the temple office rather than requested on arrival.
Temples across New York
These temples span Queens, Brooklyn, Rockland County, and lower Manhattan: the Hindu Temple Society and Shree Divya Dham serve Queens, ISKCON anchors Brooklyn, Sri Ranganatha Temple covers the Hudson Valley community in Pomona, and Mahayana Temple sits in the heart of Chinatown. Wherever you’re starting from, a temple near me in the New York area is rarely far.
What to know before you visit
- Is there a dress code, and should shoulders or heads be covered?
- Do I need to book a pooja or archana in advance?
- Is photography allowed inside the main shrine?
- Are there specific times when the temple is closed to visitors?
- Is prasad or food offered to all visitors, or members only?
- Is there parking on-site, or should I plan for public transit?
Frequently asked questions
Are these rankings paid?
No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.
How did you choose these temples?
We compared every temple in New York with a substantial public review history, then ranked them by rating weighted against review volume.
How often is this updated?
This page reflects Google data verified in July 2026, and we revisit it as ratings and review counts change.
Do I need to be Hindu or Buddhist to visit?
No. Every temple on this list welcomes visitors of any background, though a few ask that pooja bookings be made in advance.
Is there an admission fee?
No. Entry is free at every temple here; donations toward upkeep and programs are voluntary.
The bottom line
The Hindu Temple Society of North America is the safest starting point: it’s the most reviewed, the most active, and welcomes visitors daily without an appointment. If you want a quieter, non-commercial experience, Sri Ranganatha Temple in Pomona is worth the trip out of the city. Check each temple’s posted hours before you go, since festival days shift the schedule.
