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Birla Mandir, Delhi
Vishnu (Laxminarayan) · New Delhi
॥ ॐ नमो लक्ष्मीनारायणाय ॥
The Birla Mandir of Delhi — properly the Laxminarayan Temple — is a landmark of the capital, a sweeping pink-and-cream shrine to Vishnu and Lakshmi built by the industrialist Birla family and opened in 1939. Raised in a modern Nagara style and famously inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi on the condition that it stay open to all castes, it stands near Connaught Place as one of Delhi’s first great modern temples.
The temple of Lakshmi and Narayan
The central shrine honours Laxminarayan — Vishnu (Narayan) with the goddess Lakshmi, the keeper of fortune — with further shrines to Shiva, Ganesha, Hanuman and a Buddha among the surrounding halls. Tall carved shikharas rise over the sanctums, painted in warm ochre and red, set in gardens with fountains and a fern grotto.
Built by the Birlas, opened by Gandhi
The temple was built by Baldeo Das and Jugal Kishore Birla and completed in 1939. Mahatma Gandhi agreed to inaugurate it only on the condition that it admit people of every caste, including those then called untouchable — a stand that made the Birla Mandir a symbol of temple-entry reform as much as a place of worship.
A landmark of the capital
Set on Mandir Marg near Connaught Place, the temple is woven into the life of New Delhi, busy at Janmashtami and Diwali and a steady stop for pilgrims and visitors. Its scale, gardens and openness made it a model for the many Birla temples raised in other Indian cities through the 20th century.
How to reach the temple
- By metro: R K Ashram Marg and Jhandewalan stations are within walking distance.
- By road: the temple is on Mandir Marg, near Connaught Place in central New Delhi.
- By air/rail: New Delhi Railway Station is about 3 km away; the airport is about 15 km.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Birla Mandir in Delhi?
It is the Laxminarayan Temple, a landmark shrine to Vishnu (Narayan) and the goddess Lakshmi, built by the Birla family and opened in 1939 near Connaught Place.
Who inaugurated the temple?
Mahatma Gandhi inaugurated it in 1939, on the condition that it remain open to people of all castes, including those then called untouchable.
Who built the Birla Mandir?
It was built by the industrialists Baldeo Das and Jugal Kishore Birla, the first of the many Birla temples across India.
Which deities are worshipped there?
The central shrine is to Laxminarayan (Vishnu and Lakshmi), with further shrines to Shiva, Ganesha, Hanuman and a Buddha in the complex.
How do I reach the Birla Mandir, Delhi?
It is on Mandir Marg near Connaught Place; R K Ashram Marg and Jhandewalan metro stations are within walking distance, and New Delhi Railway Station is about 3 km away.
When is the temple busiest?
Janmashtami and Diwali are the great festivals, when the temple and its gardens fill with devotees.
॥ जय लक्ष्मीनारायण ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Deity | Vishnu and Lakshmi (Laxminarayan) |
| Built | 1939, by the Birla family |
| Opened by | Mahatma Gandhi — open to all castes |
| Style | Modern Nagara, ochre and red |
| Setting | Mandir Marg, near Connaught Place |
| Main Festival | Janmashtami, Diwali |