Bhaktivedanta Manor

In the Hertfordshire countryside just north of London, Bhaktivedanta Manor, complete with its farmlands, beautiful gardens and temple is a real sanctuary for the soul. Open all year round to visitors and students of ancient wisdom, the temple offers a great experience with tours of the shrine, gardens and compassionate farm. See the rooms of the famous Hare Krishna guru Srila Prabhupada, to whom George Harrison gifted this iconic mock Tudor mansion. Visitors may participate in inspirational talks, yoga classes, mantra meditation, vegetarian cooking classes and various retreats.

Bhaktivedanta Manor

Temple History
How To Reach The Temple
Daily Poojas And Festivals
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The estate of Bhaktivedanta Manor is situated in the Parish of Aldenham in Hertfordshire, just over a mile from Radlett and four miles from Watford.

The presence of the estate was first recorded in 1261 as belonging to Geoffrey Picot. In the 16th Century a Tudor house was built on the site. In 1884 it was purchased by George Villies who demolished the house and constructed the mock-Tudor building we see today. Still named after Mr Picot, the building was renamed as “Piggots Manor” until 1973 when, as St Bartholomew’s Nursing College, it was sold to George Harrison of the Beatles. It was not for his private use but as a gift to ISKCON; the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The property, which at that time included 17 acres of land, it was renamed “Bhaktivedanta Manor” after the Society’s founder.

Although ISKCON itself is quite recent, it is part of an important and distinctive tradition of devotional faith which began in the sixteenth century with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It participates in a much older culture dating back thousands of years, and embraces the timeless, non-sectarian values of sanatana-dharma (or the eternal religion) as found in the Vedic scriptures.

For the main entrance follow the signs from A41 (there is no access through Letchmore Heath village). From the M1 (North or South) Leave the motorway at Junction 5. Take the A41 South towards ‘Harrow’. Drive straight over at the first roundabout (with the ‘Toby Restaurant’ to your left) and continue for approximately 1 mile. You will pass the Hilton Hotel on your left. Turn left at the traffic lights just before the Jarvis Hotel onto Sandy Lane. At the end of the road, turn left and immediately to your right you will find the entrance to Bhaktivedanta Manor.

From the M25 Clockwise Come off at junction 19 and come to a large roundabout at the end of at long slip road. Take the A41 South towards ‘North Watford’. Go straight on at the first roundabout (one mile), straight on at the lights half a mile), and go under the M1 interchange (Junction 5) Drive straight over at the first roundabout (with the ‘Toby Restaurant’ to your left) and past the Hilton Hotel for approximately 1 mile. Turn left just before the Jarvis Hotel onto Sandy Lane. At the end of the road, turn left and immediately to your right you will find the entrance to Bhaktivedanta Manor.

From the M25 anticlockwise and from the North via A1 Come off the M25 at Junction 21A. Take the A405 South. At the first roundabout, turn left onto the M1 then follow previous instructions for – From the M1 (North or South). From London direction via A41 (rather than by the M1) Driving along the A41 you will see turns to Edgware and Stanmore to the left. Carry straight on. You will see the slip road onto the M1 North at Junction 4. Take the slip road and join the M1 Northbound – then follow previous instructions for ‘From the M1 (North or South)’

Some of the major festivals celebrated annually include Ram Navmi, Janmashtami, Shivratri, Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi and Diwali. Marking the Hindu New Year, Diwali is one of the grandest Hindu festivals, and attracts many visitors and devotees to the mandir.