Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Delhi – A Complete Guide. Often the hustle and bustle of the city not only steal all our positivity and energy. The monotonous lifestyle, intense work pressure and lack of energy makes us lose focus and feel frustrated. Travelling or going on a small journey refreshes our soul and mind and makes sure we feel rejuvenated.
We often get the help of nature and visit popular destinations like oceans, forests, mountains to imbibe the lost energy. Along with these natural places to visit, there are many monuments and temples that help us to concentrate on our daily lives and gain back our lost confidence.
About Lakshmi Narayan Temple
Commonly known as the Birla Mandir, the Lakshmi Narayan Temple is one of the most important Hindu temples in the city. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and his wife, Devi Lakshmi. The Lakshmi Narayan Temple was the first large Hindu temple to be constructed in Delhi, and it spans an area of about 7.5 kilometres.
The temple was built by Jugal Kishore Birla from the year 1933 to 1939. It was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi. It is said that before inaugurating the temple, he kept a condition with the builders that the temple will be kept open for all castes and creeds of the society and not just the upper caste.
The temple premises houses numerous shrines related to Hinduism and Nationalism. It also has many shrines and fountains along with a garden. The festivals of Janmashthami and Diwali are celebrated grandly here.
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The Architecture of Lakshmi Narayan Temple
Sris Chandra Chatterjee was the chief architect in the construction of the Lakshmi Narayan Temple. He was extensively impressed by the Swadeshi Movement and used all modernized pieces of equipment in building this temple.
The temple is built in Nagara Style of architecture. The temple walls have carvings from the early stages of the Golden yuga. Situated on a high plinth, the temple faces east and has a shikhara that is about 160 feet tall.
According to legends about 1000 artists and craftsmen were brought from Benaras to make this temple. Kota stones from Kota, Jaisalmer, Makarna and Agra were brought to build the temple walls, and the icons worshipped in the temple are made of marble.
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Laxmi Narayan Temple Timings
The Birla Mandir in Delhi is open on all days for visitors. The opening hours are from 9.30 AM in the morning till 1.30 PM in the afternoon. Afterwards, it reopens at 2.30 PM and closes at 9.00 PM at night.
Laxmi Narayan Temple Entry Fees
The temple is solely built for the visitors to pay homage to the Gods and enjoy the tranquillity it holds. As a result, there is no entry fee to the temple. However, if you are planning to take cameras into the temple, you must seek special permission as it is not allowed.
How to Reach Laxmi Narayan Temple
By Air
As the Birla Mandir is located in Delhi and in the right central position, the nearest airport is the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The Laxmi Narayan Mandir is located at a distance of just 12 kilometres from the airport.
By Rail
As Delhi is the capital of the country, it is well connected with the rest of the country as well as the neighbouring countries via train. The nearest metro station to the Birla Mandir is the R.K Ashram Marg.
By Road
The nearest bus terminal to the Laxmi Narayan Temple is the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Stop. Buses travel from this stop at regular intervals and thus make reaching the temple via road very easy.
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Best Time to Visit Laxmi Narayan Temple
The best time to visit Laxmi Narayan Temple in Delhi is during the months of early October- November and February to March. As Delhi receives an extensive amount of heat during summer, it becomes nearly impossible to enjoy yourself there.
Janmashtami and Diwali are two major festivals that are extensively celebrated here. You can visit during these festivals to enjoy the temple at its fullest.
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Attractions Near Lakshmi Narayan Temple
Jantar Mantar
The Jantar Mantar is a sundial build in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II. The term is derived from the words Jantra Mantra, which means an instrument to calculate.
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The gnomon used in this sundial is gigantic and is triangle shaped. The device is known to give the correct time of the local place. Known to be one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the country, it is an excellent place to gather knowledge.
Akshardham Temple
Also known as Swaminarayan Akshardham, the Akshardham is a temple as well as a spiritual centre. The temple displays millennia of the spiritual and religious culture of Hinduism and also India’s culture.
With magnificent architecture and illustrious exhibitions, the temple has become one of the major attractions in Delhi. The main attraction of the complex is the temple that has a height of about 141 feet. The walls are decorated with intrinsic carvings of flora and fauna.
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The Akshardham Temple has an “Abhishek mandapa”, a thematic garden, exhibitions, boat rides and Neekanth Darshan.
India Gate
The India Gate, formerly known as the Kingsway is a war memorial dedicated to the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting in the First World War and the Third Anglo-Afghan War.
The design of the India Gate resembles that of an arch. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and resembles somewhat to the Arch of Constantine.
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After the Bangladeshi Liberation War in 1971, a structure was constructed under the arch consisting of a black plinth on which a rifle was placed under a soldier’s helmet, and four flames were lit up surrounding it. This structure was called Amar Jawan Jyoti, and this is India’s tomb to unknown soldiers.
Lotus Temple
The Lotus Temple is originally an Arabic worship house that is open to all irrespective of their religion or caste. The Lotus Temple consists of 27 clusters of marble and represents the petals of the Lotus.
The Lotus Temple has won numerous awards in architecture and thus is a marvel in it. According to a recent report by CNN, the Lotus Temple has been the most visited building in the world.
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