Europe's largest Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara opened in London on Wednesday with a weeklong festival during which priests will perform rituals to sanctify the shrine.

The Rs 57.3-crore temple is in the west central English town of Tividale, near Birmingham. It is based on the famous Tirupati-Tirumala temple in India.

Fifteen Indian priests will perform rituals to sanctify the temple. The festival will end with the installation of the 3.6 metre statue of Lord Krishna.

The idea of the temple was conceived in the 1970s but it was not until 1987 that worshippers acquired the site.

Scores of craftsmen from India worked on the temple.

"It's just marvelous and thanks must go to the people who have donated money and the all the work the volunteers have done. The devotees have been very generous and it is a beautiful temple," an office bearer told the BBC.