Located in the heart of the city of New Delhi, the Lakshmi Narayan Temple is one of the major tourist attractions of the city. Enchantingly carved depicting some of the finest gems of Hindu theology, the Lakshmi Narayan Temple was built in 1938 by Raja Baldev Das and is situated on the western portion of Connaught Place, one of the most important areas of the city of New Delhi.
History
Renowned as Birla Mandir, the Lakshmi Narayan temple was constructed in 1938 by the industrialist BD Birla. Located in the heart of the city on Mandir Marg, west of Connaught Place, the temple is dedicated to the Hindu deities Lakshmi (the Goddess of wealth and prosperity) and Narayana (the Preserver). Other idols present in the temple are that of Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga.
The temple elaborately celebrates the festival of Janmashthami and has a special display which attracts hordes of devotees on the occasion. Beautiful gardens and an exotic pool adorn the temple, with the architecture resembling that of the Hindu temples built in the Orissan style. The highest tower in the temple is of 165ft, while the auxiliary towers reach 116ft. The walls of the temple are decorated with various Hindu symbols and quotes from the Gita and the Upanishads. There is also a temple dedicated to Lord Buddha designed with fresco paintings describing his life and work. The rear of the temple has been developed as artificial mountainous scenery with fountains and waterfalls.
Inaugurated by the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, the temple is unique for being open to all castes. A symbolic structure at the entrance welcomes people of all faiths and classes.
Architecture
Built in the style of Orissa, the temple portrays a rich influence of the north-Indian styles of architecture as well. The entire complex is adorned with frescos and paintings depicting scenes and narrating stories from the major texts of Hinduism. Besides this, just behind the temple is an artificial landscape with fountains and waterfalls.
Religious Basis
The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Vishnu, Hinduism’s emblem of wealth and prosperity. However, the temple is also home to a number of other shrines dedicated to deities like Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha and Hanuman. The Vedic texts are also enshrined in the temple which also houses a Buddha temple inside its premises. In the northern portion of the temple lies the Geeta Bhavan, dedicated to Lord Krishna.
Annual Events:
Renowned as Birla Mandir, the Lakshmi Narayan temple was constructed in 1938 by the industrialist BD Birla. Located in the heart of the city on Mandir Marg, west of Connaught Place, the temple is dedicated to the Hindu deities Lakshmi (the Goddess of wealth and prosperity) and Narayana (the Preserver). Following are the special annual events that take place at Lakshmi Narayan Temple –
Ram Navami
During the Hindu festival of Ram Navami, which falls during the month of April, devotees throng in large numbers at the temple. This festival is a celebration of the birth of Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Several local theatres enact the epic of Ramayana during this festival.
Janmashthami
The temple is known for elaborately celebrating the festival of Janmashthami, commemorating the birth of Lord Krishna, and has a special display which attracts hordes of devotees on the occasion. During Janmashthami, the temple is lit up and thousands of devotees come here to pay reverence to the deity and celebrate the occasion.
Fast – facts:
Renowned as Birla Mandir, the Lakshmi Narayan temple was constructed in 1938 by the industrialist BD Birla. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu deities Lakshmi (the Goddess of wealth and prosperity) and Narayana (the Preserver). Following are some fast facts about Lakshmi Narayan Temple –
Location
In the heart of the city on Mandir Marg, west of Connaught Place in Central Delhi.
Time to Visit
Open on all days of the year, round the clock, but preferably be there during aarti in the morning or evening. There is no admission fee, as it is open to all. It requires approximately half an hour looking around this magnificent construction.
How to Reach
To reach the Lakshmi Narayan Temple, you can fly down to the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. You can either avail of local buses from various points within the city to reach the monument, or hire auto-rickshaws and taxis or take the metro rail. The nearest functional Metro station is Central Secretariat, while the nearest railway station is the New Delhi Railway Station.
Nearby Places to Eat
Some of the popular eat-outs near Lakshmi Narayan Temple are Hotel Le Meridien, Imperial Hotel, Hotel Inter-Continental, Parikrama Revolving restaurant, Gaylord, El Rodeo, Bercos, Zen restaurant, Delhi Darbar, Nizam’s and Standard Restaurant.
Nearby Attractions:
Renowned as Birla Mandir, the Lakshmi Narayan temple was constructed in 1938 by the industrialist BD Birla. Located in the heart of the city on Mandir Marg, west of Connaught Place, the temple is dedicated to the Hindu deities Lakshmi (the Goddess of wealth and prosperity) and Narayana (the Preserver). Following are some of the tourist attractions near Lakshmi Narayan Temple –
Rashtrapati Bhawan:
The official residence of the Indian President.
India Gate:
Situated at the eastern end of Rajpath is the 42 m high stone arch of victory, renowned as the India Gate. This magnificent edifice was constructed in 1931 in memory of the Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the battlefield.
Jantar Mantar:
Located about 250 meters south of Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar is one of the world’s oldest astronomical observatories.
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib:
One of the most important and sacred pilgrimage destinations of the Sikh community, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib is the Haveli (palace) where Guru Hari Krishan, the eighth Sikh Guru, stayed during his tour to Delhi in 1664.
Hanuman Mandir:
Situated on the Bada Kharak Singh Road, about 250m southwest of Connaught Circus, this temple appears to have been constructed by Maharaja Jai Singh.
