“Built by Indian Labourers in 1860, South Africa’s Oldest Hindu Temple Now Battles Financial Crisis”, Times Now, January 19, 2026

“The History of the Oldest Hindu Temple in South Africa

Umbilo Shree Ambalavaanar Alayam, the oldest Hindu temple in South Africa, was established by indentured labourers who arrived in Durban in 1860 from India. It was declared a National Heritage Site in 1980 by the apartheid-era National Monuments Council.

It is also known as the Cato Manor Second River Temple and is situated on a hill amongst lush vegetation in Cato Manor. The temple complex is home to three deities – the first temple dedictaed to Lord Shiva is known as Ambalavaanar, the second in honour of the ‘mother’ is known as Sri Draupadi Alayam and the third is the Phutu (Phutuvan) Temple.

Over the years, the temple has been known as ‘the temple that refused to die’ because of the many challenges it faced, according to The Harmonist……”

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