India is home to over twenty surviving synagogues, ranging from the sixteenth-century Paradesi Synagogue in Kochi to the ornate Victorian buildings of Calcutta. Together they form one of the most architecturally diverse collections of Jewish houses of worship in Asia, reflecting the different communities that built them, the local building traditions they drew on, and the distinct histories that shaped each community’s relationship with its Indian home.
The Synagogues of Kerala
Kerala contains several of India’s oldest surviving synagogues. The Paradesi Synagogue in Mattancherry, Kochi, built in 1568, is the most visited and best known, with its famous floor of hand-painted Chinese tiles and its clock tower with three clock faces. The Kadavumbhagam Ernakulam Malabar Jewish Synagogue is believed to be even older in origin, with the current structure dating to around 1200 AD — making it one of the oldest synagogue buildings still in use anywhere in the world. Other synagogues survive in Chennamangalam, Paravur, and Mala, most now operating as heritage sites with small or no regular congregations.
The Synagogues of Maharashtra
The Bene Israel community built dozens of synagogues across Maharashtra over the centuries, particularly in the towns and villages of the Konkan coast and in Bombay, Pune, and Ahmedabad. The Sha’ar Harahamim Synagogue in Mumbai’s Mandvi neighborhood is one of the largest and most active. The Beth El Synagogue in Alibag is associated with the legendary Captain Samuel Ezekiel Divekar. The Beth-ha-Elohim Synagogue in Pen, Raigad district, is a remarkable example of a small-town Bene Israel community house of worship, still maintained by the local family that has kept it for generations.
The Synagogues of Calcutta
Calcutta’s three major synagogues — Magen David (1884), Beth El (1856), and Neveh Shalome (1884) — represent the peak of Baghdadi Jewish prosperity in Bengal. All three are large, architecturally impressive buildings in varying states of preservation. They hold regular services only on major Jewish holidays, attended by the tiny remaining Jewish community and by visitors who come specifically to experience these remarkable spaces.
Preservation Challenges
Most of India’s synagogues face serious preservation challenges as the Jewish communities that built and maintained them have largely emigrated. The Archaeological Survey of India protects several, and international Jewish heritage organizations have provided funding for restoration. The challenge is maintaining living buildings rather than merely static monuments.
Source: List of Synagogues in India – Wikipedia