Birla Mandir, popularly known as Lakshmi Narayan Mandir is a famous landmark of Delhi, situated at mandir marg, 1.5 km from Connought Birla Mandir DelhiPlace – the heart of New Delhi. The temple is mainly dedicated to Lord Vishnu – the preserver of Hindu Trinity and Goddess Lakshmi – the goddess of money & asset and wife of Lord Narayan, but the idols of other deities are also present there.
This holy temple is made by Birla family – a famous entrepreneur family in 1938 that took six years (1933-1938) to finish the grand and gorgeous symbol of Hindu devotion and was opened by the ‘Father of the Nation’ Mahatma Gandhi on the state condition of ‘allowing everybody especially the untouchables to enter in the premise and perform worship there.
The temple was built in Orissan style with modern concept and construction. The architecture of the shrine attracts the devotees and tourists with its beautiful design, paintings and craft works. The highest tower in the temple reaches a height of 165 feet while the subsidiary towers reach 116 feet. The entire complex, especially the walls and the upper gallery are full of paintings that enhance the beauty and glory of the famous shrine. The white marbles and red stones are primarily used in building the exteriors and icons of the temple.
This biggest chamber is dedicated to Lord Narayan and Goddess Lakshmi, while architectural beautiful Geeta Bhawan is dedicated to Lord Krishna – the incarnate of Lord Vishnu. Among other shrines, The shrine complexes of Lord Shiv, Ganesh, Hanuman, Budhdha and goddess Durga are also situated in the temple complex. The shoka (rhyme) of holy Vedas are being chanted the whole day in the complex.
The temple is opened through out the day but in Janmashtami – the birth day of lord Krishna and Deepawali, this famous temple is decorated like beautiful bride and attracts most on these days. In weekdays, Friday is the most recommended day of visiting there due to being the special day of goddess Lakshmi.
To visiting there is extremely easy due to its prime location. The visitors can take, bus, auto rickshaw, taxi aur rickshaw from various point of Delhi. Visitors can also reach there from metro train as the nearest metro station is Ram Krishna Ashram Station while New Delhi station is the nearest railway station.
Source : World Safari Guide
