Bandar Abbas Vishnu Temple

A functioning Hindu temple in Iran, testament to centuries of Gulf trade

The Vishnu Temple in Bandar Abbas is one of the most unexpected sights in Iran — a functioning Hindu place of worship maintained by the small community descended from Indian traders who settled in the city during the era of Persian Gulf commerce. The temple is a modest building by South Asian standards, but its presence in an Iranian city is remarkable, and it is an active place of worship, not a museum.

The temple is generally open to respectful visitors. The surrounding neighbourhood has traces of the cosmopolitan trading port that Bandar Abbas once was — a mix of Arab, Baluchi, Iranian, and Indian influences visible in the architecture and the food stalls. Ask locally for directions; the temple is in the older part of town near the harbour.

things to do sight temple
A story
The Hindu community in Bandar Abbas traces its origins to Indian merchants who settled along the Persian Gulf coast during the height of the dhow trade. At its peak in the 18th and 19th centuries, the community numbered in the thousands. Today only a few dozen Hindu families remain, but they have maintained the temple continuously — making it one of the most unusual religious sites in Iran.