This Sikh Gurdwara is one of the largest in the UK and, indeed, one of the largest outside India.
It opened in November 2010 and cost £15 million to construct.
The first Sikhs came to Gravesend in the 1950s and there are now an estimated 15,000 Sikhs in the area, representing over 15% of the population of Gravesham.
Until the 1960s, a house in Edwin Road was used for religious services. A former church in Clarence Place was then used as a Gurdwara and was the focus of the community until 2010. As the community grew, a new, larger premesis was needed. The current land was purchased off Saddington Road and a new Gurdwara planned for the 8.5 acre site that reflected Indian cultural origins. Local resident Harbhajan Singh Biring was lead architect on the project and the Gurdwara Committee set up its own construction company, GNG Construction, to take advantage of local skills. Specialists were brought in from India for the more intricate stonework and woodcarving.
The building was funded, entirely, by the local community.
The cache is hidden on a nearby footbridge over the railway, which allows a good view of the building from the side. Stealth is needed as the area gets very busy, especially if an event is being held.
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