EXPLORE remains a place of learning and worship, framed by some of the oldest surviving architecture in the country. Wander the streets long enough and you can feel how the neighbourhood has stitched together craft, culture and resistance into something unmistakably its own.
Durban’ s Temples: A Masterclass In Adaptation
I grew up in Mauritius, where Hindu temples come in every shape and colour imaginable. They’ ve always fascinated me – the way they hold entire worlds inside them, the devotion carved into every surface. So, in Durban’ s temples, I recognise something familiar.
Durban’ s Hindu temples are proof that South Africans have never been afraid to mix things up. The early temples were built by indentured labourers who arrived from India in 1860 and promptly set about recreating spiritual homes with whatever materials, builders and creative solutions they could find. The Durban Hindu Temple in Stamford Hill dates back to 1898, and blends North Indian detail with Victorian flair and a dash of Islamic influence for good measure.
The Shree Ambalavaanar Alayam Temple in Cato Manor adds another layer: it survived apartheid-era removals because the trustees simply refused to let go. Many of these temples carry stories of resistance, riverbank rituals, wandering holy men, and festivals that now
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