Hindu Temple of Florida,Tampa, Hindu temple in Tampa, United States

The Hindu Temple of Florida is a 70-foot-tall, 14,573-square-foot Hindu temple and cultural center in Tampa. Its rajagopuram, the gateway tower, was designed and created by Muthiah Sthapathi and artists from Chennai, India. Intricate carvings and sculptures cover the external facing walls, completed over six years after the temple opened.

The temple was founded in 1983 by members of the local Hindu community who wanted a shared place to worship. Construction began in 1994 and took several years to complete, as each section of the building was finished carefully and in stages.

The temple's name is Telugu for "Florida Hindu Temple," and the site serves as both a place of worship and a cultural center for Hindus in and around Tampa. The rajagopuram, or gateway tower, was designed by Muthiah Sthapathi with artists from Chennai, India, and its carvings were finished over six years of continued construction after the 1996 opening.

The temple sits north of Tampa's airport and is easiest to reach by car. It welcomes visitors of all backgrounds, and removing shoes before entering the prayer areas is expected.

The gateway tower was designed and overseen by Muthiah Sthapathi, a craftsman from South India who worked according to ancient building texts. Towers of this type, known in India as gopurams, are found in only a handful of Hindu temples across North America.