Wat Buddha Thai Thavorn Vanaram

76-16 46th Ave, Elmhurst, NY 11373, 718-803-9881

Wat Buddha Thai Thavorn Vanaram is the main Thai Buddhist Temple in New York City. Twice a year the temple hosts festivals – like Royal Karin in November — where the public is invited to join the Thai community for a meal.

The temple is another striking example of religious architecture in the neighborhood. The eye-catching top is especially riveting amongst the multi-family homes and small apartment buildings on the street. The base of the building, however, is a fairly standard brick rectangle.

Don’t be too surprised that you can find many of New York’s best Thai restaurants within a short distance of the temple.

One of the first Jain temples in the United States, the Jain Center of America fits snuggly on Ithaca Street, amongst co-op buildings and across the street from St. Bartholomew Catholic Church.

First a one room temple, in 2005 it expanded into a 16,600 square foot temple, with worship for all five Jain sects. The architecture is surprising, yet in many ways like a lot of new buildings in Elmhurst and across Queens. Imagine a plain facade, and it could be a “Fedders”-style building. It’s very well exectuted, and a must for fans of urban architecture.