Natraj Temple was a nightclub in Munich, Germany from 1996 to 2008.
History and description
Significance
The significance of the Natraj Temple for the rave culture is due to the fact that it was one of only a few clubs that specialized completely in a single subgenre, in this case
psytrance. In the Goa and psytrance scene, decorations based on Hindu, Buddhist or shamanic motifs and symbols as well as spirituality and often excessive intoxication play an important role. Accordingly, the media coverage about the nightclub mostly focused on the psychedelic design of the venue, the elaborate art installations and the alternative scene clientele. Thus
Der Spiegel described the Natraj Temple as a place "where many colourful cloths decorate the high walls and long-haired people can smoke their joint under purple light and listening to Indian music".
The
Süddeutsche Zeitung described the interior of the club as "ghost train ambience, fluorescent cobwebs, an Indian, four-armed goddess is rotating in the semi-darkness", and reported about women sitting cross-legged, visitors who talked for hours with the decoration of the club, and about "Goa freaks who left the Natraj Temple half-naked and barefoot in the deepest winter, wallowing in the snow and then calling for an ambulance".
Also travel guides and cultural guidebooks reported, besides the musical specialization on psytrance, mostly about the artistic design of the nightclub.
The
Kulturverführer München reported about a dragon above the dance floor, "cuddly cushions in mysterious niches" and an intense palette of colours in the decoration.
Due to these special features the psytrance club made a name for itself also outside the scene throughout Europe.
Program and festivals
The musical program of the club concentrated on electronic music of the styles psychedelic trance and Goa trance.
Often international DJ's and live acts of the psytrance scene played at the Natraj Temple.
Regular events at the club carried names like
Psychedelic Trance and
Special Experience.
The Natraj Temple regularly presented his own
at Munich's
technoparade Union Move and was known for the elaborate and psychedelic design of the floats. The club also organized open air festivals under the name
Natraj Summer Dance.
Location
The club was located on the grounds of the Kunstpark Ost factory site in Munich's Berg am Laim district in a disused former power plant.
It consisted of a main area with a wooden dance floor, which was surrounded one floor above by a large gallery with the so-called
Chill-out music area, and an adjoining bar room with a kiosk where exotic spices were sold in addition to drinks.
In 2003 the Natraj Temple moved into the rooms of the former club
K41,
and in 2007 once again into the rooms of the former
Octagon club.
Compilation albums
The club regularly released compilation albums with names like
Natraj Summer Dance or
Winterdance.
See also
-
List of electronic dance music venues
External links
