Newcastle Sikh Association has applied to build a new temple on the New England Highway at Beresfield.
The association's development application to City of Newcastle says the octagonal, two-storey building will accommodate up to 300 people during Sunday services.
The $3.26 million project is south-west of the highway near the Weakleys Drive intersection.
The plans for the building include roof-top domes, a prayer hall on the first floor, a community kitchen on the ground level and parking for 102 cars.
The development application says the temple will open from 8am to 8pm every day but its main use will be on Sundays from 10am to 1.30pm.
A separate Sikh organisation, Sikh Sangat Charitable Association Newcastle, won approval from Maitland City Council in November to build a single-storey temple at Rutherford.
A spokesperson said the association was talking to builders and hoped to start work soon.
Sikhism, founded in India, is the fifth most popular religion in the world.
The Newcastle Herald reported on Thursday that Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showed India was the third most common country of birth for Hunter residents not born in Australia, behind England and New Zealand.
The ABS's 2021 Census found 4154 Hunter residents were born in India.
To see more stories and read today's paper download the Newcastle Herald news app here.
