Birla Temple which is also known as the Shri Laxmi Narayan Temple, Delhi is one of the major temples and tourist attractions in Delhi which is located on Mandir Marg, west of Connaught Place. The beautiful temple which was constructed in the year 1938 by the industrialist BD Birla, is dedicated to Laxmi (the goddess of prosperity) and Narayana (the preserver) with the side temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Krishna, and Buddha. The temple is visited by several tourists coming from across the globe throughout the year.

Visiting the Shri Laxmi Narayan Temple, Delhi, one would come across the architecture that looks imbibed from the Nagara Style. Raised with red sandstone, the temple has tall spires with the tallest extending to a height of 165 feet and additional spires lengthen to 116 feet which looks magnificent. Other than this, the exotic structure of the temple comprises amazing sculptures and jaali work making it remarkable to behold. Inaugurated by the Father of The Nation-Mahatma Gandhi, Birla Temple is unique for being open to all castes.

Being one of the holy places in Delhi, tourists can take some time to meditate or sit quietly in one of the temple’s halls. Also, the garden outside is a quiet and relaxing place to spend an hour or two listening to the sound of the waterfalls.

Visiting the temple, one could see marble statues that are there on the ground floor. Other than this one could see small shops selling religious mementos, flower shops, and photographers thronging the visitors right from the entrance of the parking area. While on the first floor of the temple has the shrines of all Hindu deities, beautifully carved pillar structure by Japanese and Buddha shine.

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Nili Chatri Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is located in the Yamuna market segment near Salimgarh fort, on Ring Road in Kashmere Gate, New Delhi. The temple is situated near the shore of the Yamuna River and on the edge of the road. There is ongoing traffic on the road which covered the temple from both sides. Either of the roads is used to enter the temple. Mahatma Gandhi road on one side can be transported in the dome on top of the time whereas the other road is better known as iron (Lohewala Bridge) road reaches Gandhi Nagar from Old Delhi. The main entrance of the temple is on the road. The temple has no parking space for carsand if anyone visits the temple in their vehicle they will have to park the car in the parking near Hanuman’s crematorium. This is approximately 200 meters.

Nili Chatri temple was founded by Yudhistir the senior-most brothers among the Pandava brothers. It was believed that the Ashwameghyug was organized in this temple. There are no specific mentions of the history of the temple. However, this temple is called the Pandavan age temple. Nili Chatri is a dome that is covered with blue color tiles. Therefore it is called Nili (blue) Chatri temple.

A feature of this temple is that under the dome of the temple Lord Shiva is worshipped and another god is worshipped above the temple. It is believed that every single person has his preference of Gods and Goddesses therefore Lord Keshavmal Bawali is known as Lord Nili Chatri. People have considered them as their totems and worship. It is also believed that if a person offered five ladoos and a cigarette his wish comes true.

The Archeology and Monumental Remain of Delhi by Carr Stephen (in 1876) Nili Chatri is a tomb. The temple had an affinity to the Mughal period.

The best time to visit the temple is the time of the festival of Maha Shivaratri when it is decorated brilliantly and full of devotional activities. Devotees especially on Monday came to see (darshan) Lord Shiva since Monday is considered to be the day of Lord Shiva. The temple remains open the whole year and welcomes visitors of all castes and creeds.

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Dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Jagannath Temple is an intimation of that of in Puri, and thus, is one of the prime Hindu religious centers in Delhi, especially for the Oriya community. Situated in Tyagraj Nagar in Hauz Khas, this beautiful temple dates back to 1969. Initially, because of limited resources, a small was built by Sree Neelachala Seva Sangh to commemorate Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra. Later in 1991, the reconstruction of the temple started and finally, on 28th January 1999, the present temple was inaugurated. Inside the temple complex, there is also a library that houses a rare collection of religious books. Apart from this, there are also two prasad halls with a capacity of holding 200-300 devotees at a time. At present, this Hindu temple in Delhi serves as an important symbol and cultural hub of the Oriya community residing in the city. Moreover, the temple also proffers an apt insight into the prosperous culture of Orissa. During the morning and evening aarti, “Kshana madhuna Narayana manugatam” mantra is chanted by the devotees and priests.

Rath Yatra is the main festival of Jagannath Temple in Delhi. This yatra is also known as the car festival and is celebrated with great fidelity and devotion. The festival takes place in June, wherein, a chariot holding the idols of deities (Lord Jagannatha along with his brother and sister Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra) observes a journey to stay in his aunt’s house, which is Shri Gundicha Mandir, for the next nine days. On each of these nine days, Lord Jagannath is treated with all love and devotion, and hence, is being served with food, sweets, and various other religious offerings. Several cultural programs are also organized by the temple committee. On the tenth day, the Lord returns to his temple, which is touted as his abode. Further, there are several shops outside the temple from where you can buy postcards and souvenirs for you and your loved ones.

The architectural design of the Jagannath Temple in Delhi resembles the traditional design of many ancient Orissan temples. Sprawls over an area of 10.7 acres, the entire temple is cladded in white and the main shikhara (tower) rises above the inner sanctum – the place where deities reside. Whereas, the other shikharas rise above ante-halls. Moreover, the main structure of this magnificent temple boasts a height of 214 ft. and has been built on an elevated surface. Besides, there is also a wheel on the top of the temple which is made up of an ashta-dhatu (an alloy of eight metals) and is touted as Nila Chakra. However, an interesting fact to know about the temple is that every day a new flag is tied to a mast placed right to the Nila Chakra. Whereas, on every Ekadasi, a lamp is lit on the top of the shrine.

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Dedicated to Maa Aadi Shakti (an avatar of Goddess Maa Durga) Jhandewalan Mandir is an ancient Hindu temple located on the Jhandewalan Road on the way to Karol Bagh, Delhi. The temple is a popular and respected shrine that is visited by devotees of the city as well as pilgrims coming from across the globe. On visiting the temple, the holy ambiance fills one with sanctity. With having beautiful architecture, the temple looks more beautiful during the Navratri Festival when a special Puja is organized and the temple is decorated with flowers, lights and attracts huge crowds. The temple is called Jhandewalan as it got its name from the prayer flags (‘jhanda’ in Hindi) that were offered at the temple during Shah Jahan’s rule.

Today Jhandewalan Temple is one of the most famous religious sites for Hindus and people come here to seek blessings irrespective of their caste and status. Visiting the temple one could experience the echoing in the temple with day and night chanting of mantras.

According to some of the sources, Jhandewalan was once located in a mountain region and it is believed that Badri Bhagat who was one of the great devotees of Goddess Durga had a dream of her where he was told about the idol which was then

built inside the temple.

On visiting the temple, one could explore the beauty of the temple that comprises the upper level of the temple which has the idol of Maa Jhandewali with the idol of Saraswati and Kali along with other Gods. Apart from this, there is also a mesmerizing Shiv Mandir alongside for performing Shiv Puja in the adjoining area of the lower level of the temple.

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Located in the heart of India i.e., New Delhi, Akshardham Temple is a marvel of architecture that unfolds the cultural legacy of thousands of years and is a tribute to Lord Swaminarayan (1781- 1830) who is the avatars, devas, and great sages of Hinduism. The construction of the grand structure took almost 5 years and was inaugurated on 6 November 2005. Today the imposing structure is standing on the banks of the Yamuna River and attracts millions of tourists and pilgrims across the globe.

The term Akshardham has been derived from two words ‘Akshar’ which means eternal and ‘Dham’ which means abode, which together means abode of divine or the eternal. Entering the temple, one could see the 11 feet high gilded image of Bhagwan Swaminarayan that appears mesmerizing. Visitors could feel each element of Akshardham echoing with spirituality that makes every soul potentially divine.

Witnessing the main temple, the other exhibitions takes the visitor to the additional sighting that includes the Yogi Hraday Kamal, which is a garden in the shape of a lotus, the Nilkanth Abhishek, a place to offer abhishek which is a ritual of pouring water in form of respect and prayers, the Narayan Sarovar which is a lake containing water from 151 different rivers that rim the temple, Premvati Ahargruh (a restaurant which caters traditional vegetarian food) and more.

Travelers coming to see Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple and get fascinated by the decoration of the temple which comprises minute carved deities, flowers, fauna, and musicians. The temple consists of 234 pillars, 9 domes, and twenty thousand statues of acharyas, sadhus, and devotees. A visit to Akshardham Temple is a spirituality-enriching experience. It is the beauty and magnificence of Akshardham Temple that makes it one of the must-visit tourist attractions in Delhi.

The construction of Akshardham Temple was brainstormed by Yogiji Maharaj which was created by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the former leader of BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha). Initially, the place for the construction wasn’t decided and different places including Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, and Faridabad were suggested to the Guru but he stood firm to the dream of Yogiji Maharaj who wanted to get it constructed on the banks of the Yamuna River. So keeping this in mind, Pramukh Swami Maharaj finally acquired an area of 30 acres on the banks of Yamuna and started with the construction process. The temple was consecrated on 6 November 2005 and today Akshardham Temple attracts around 70 percent of all the tourists coming from across the globe to Delhi.

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Perhaps, one of the busiest Hindu temples in Delhi, Shri Kalkaji Mandir is dedicated to Goddess Kali, another form of Maa Aadi Shakti. Shree Kalkaji Mandir, Delhi is also touted as Jayanti Peetha or Manokamna Siddha Peetha; the term manokamna means desire, siddha means accomplishment and peetha refers to a shrine. Therefore, it is said that Goddess Kali fulfills the desires and wishes of the devotees who come here to offer their prayers with a pure heart and true soul. Not just this, the temple traces its history from Satya Yuga (an ancient Hindu era) and is believed to be one of the oldest Maa Kali temples in India. This fact also makes it one of the major tourist attractions in Delhi. Throughout the year, you can witness a large gathering of devotees, especially on Saturdays. The festival of Navratri also marks a significant footfall of devotees who come here to perform pilgrimage from far and wide.

During this time, a large fair is also organized at the temple which thronged with devotees. Moreover, on the way towards the temple, you can find several vendors selling prasad (holy offering), religious items, and even sweets. The bustling view outside the temple is so surreal that it will automatically give you a feeling of spirituality, right from the lane of the temple. Another belief states that the image of Goddess Kali at Shree Kalkaji Mandir, Delhi is a self-manifested one, and thus, the temple is considered one of the highly revered shrines in Delhi. Furthermore, various religious activities like marriages and the offering of hair are performed at the temple.

As per the beliefs, the temple is more than 3000-year old. It is also said that at this very same place where the temple is presently located, Pandavas and Kauravas came to offer their prayers to the almighty. Just to let you know, the first construction of this temple was held in 1734. With time, the shrine got modifications in its structure.

The legend has it that two demons troubled the gods who resided in the neighborhood of the current temple. As a result of this, they approached Lord Brahma for help but he declined to interfere and asked to visit Goddess Parvati. From the mouth of Goddess Parvati sprung Kaushki Devi who conquered the two demons. But while battling with them, the blood of the demons fell on the dry land and as a result of this, thousands of more demons came into life. Kaushki Devi, on the other hand, battled with all the demons. Seeing all this, Goddess Parvati concerned about her progeny, and from the eyebrows of Kaushki Devi came Goddess Kali. She slaughtered the demons and drank the blood as it was pouring out of their wounds; finally, the goddess conquered a victory on demons. It is also said that Maa Kali manifested herself and was commemorated as the chief divinity of the place.

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Chhatarpur Temple is located in a downtown area south of Delhi. It is originally known as Chhatarpur Shri Adhya Katyani Shakti Peeth Mandir. This is the second-largest temple complex in India and is dedicated to Goddess, Katyayani. The goddess Katyayani, a part of Navadurga, is considered to be the sixth avatar of goddess Durga. Devotees from all caste and creed are welcomed here. It is located at Chhatarpur, on the southwestern outskirts of the city of Delhi, and is just 4 km from Qutub Minar, off Mehrauli-Gurgaon road.

The temple was established in 1974, by Baba Sant Nagpal Ji. He died in 1998 and his samadhi shrine lies in the premises of the Shiv-Gauri Nageshwar Mandir within the temple complex.

• This temple was considered the biggest temple in India and the second largest in the world before the Akshardham Temple was created in 2005 in Delhi. This temple is constructed from marble. The entire temple complex is spread over 60 acres and has over 20 small and large temples divided into three different complexes.

A side shrine within the main temple houses a shrine of Goddess Katyayani (Durga), which opens only during the bi-annual Navratri season when thousands of people throng the premises for darshan. One nearby room has been made as a living room with tables and chairs made in silver, and another is regarded as the Shayan Kaksha (Bed Room), where a bed, dressing table, and table are carved in silver. This shrine opens on a large Satsang or prayer hall, where religious discourses and bhajans, (religious songs) are held. On the main entrance, there is an ancient tree that is covered with holy threads. People tie threads or bangles to this tree with the belief that their wishes would be fulfilled.

The enthralling statues of the deities like Shiv Mandir, Ram Mandir, Maa Katyayani Mandir, Maa Mahishasurmaridini Mandir, Maa Ashtabhuji Mandir, Hanuman Mandir, Laxmi Vinayak Mandir, Jharpeer Mandir, Markandeya Mandapam, Baba Ki Samadhi, Nageshwar Mandir, the Trident (Trishul), 101 feet high Hanuman Murti, etc are special attractions for the devotees. The temples have been built in both South and North Indian styles of temple architecture. The special celebrations during Navratras, Mahashivratri, and Janmashtami make the temple abuzz with religious fervor to the delight of the devotees congregating in hundreds and thousands. The lungar Prasad distributed in both the Navratras to approximately lakh visitors daily is a rare sight to see and believe.

Katyayani is one of the incarnations of Goddess Durga, also known as Parvati or Lalitha, the wife of Lord Shiva, and has the following story as the background. There was a Rishi named Katyayan who worshipped Durga Devi and asked her for a boon that she be born as his daughter. Devi got pleased and fulfilled his wish. In this Avtaar, she killed Mahishasur, the demon. The idol of Devi is depicted as golden complexioned and carrying various weapons in her hand for the destruction of evil.

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Located in the capital city of New Delhi, the Lotus Temple is a beautiful structure established and dedicated to the Baha’i faith. The magnificent structure of the building is created in the form of a stunning white petal lotus flower.

It also ranks amongst the most visited buildings in the entire world. The shrine, which was completed and ready to open for the public in 1986, was designed and conceptualized by Fariborz Sahba, an Iranian architect.

One of the most attractive things about the Lotus Temple, other than its structure, is the fact that this temple propagates the oneness of God, the Almighty. Furthermore, it is open to all kinds of people, regardless of their religion, gender, race, or even nationality.

Additionally, it is one out of the seven Baha’i House of Worship present in the whole world. The temple complex boasts of a unique and picturesque gate as well as verdant gardens filled with vibrant, colorful flowers.

There is also a huge pool full of pristine blue water, adding to the opulence of the Lotus Temple. Furthermore, there is a pathway leading to the doors of the temple, which is lined with vivid green shrubs, making the entire ambiance peaceful and serene.

The architecture of the Lotus Temple is not just mesmerizing but attracts your attention as soon as you enter the temple premises. Transporting visitors into a deep, introspective silence, the Lotus Temple is one place where people go to meditate, relax and just soak in the tranquility.

Here, people are generally requested to remain quiet. You can read as well as silently chant the religious texts of any faith you want here. In addition to singing musical renditions of religious texts at Lotus Temple, you can also go there with your near and dear ones for a quiet time, away from the bustling streets of Delhi. A visit to this idyllic temple amidst the busy city is a must since it will surely enchant you.

The beautiful Lotus Temple is made up of Greek white marble, that too in the shape of a Lotus. One of the main reasons behind choosing Lotus as the symbol of the temple was that Lotus, like a flower, is common to many different religions. This includes Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism as well as Islam.

The structure for this Baha’i House of Worship in Delhi comprises 27 free-standing white marble lotus petals which are further organized into bunches of three. These bunches then form the nine sides. The nine doors of the temple then open into a magnificent central hall, which can hold over 2,000 people at once.

An interesting part of the design of the Lotus Temple is that it has been designed in a way such that no external or additional lighting is required to light up the large prayer hall. The light you get is that which filters through the inner folds of the Lotus petals. It then spreads throughout the hall, acting as a sort of natural light.

The Lotus Temple is spread over an expanse of more than 26 acres and has nine beautiful pools as well as lush green gardens surrounding it, adding to the beauty and glory of the entire place.

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Also popularly known as the hare Rama hare Krishna temple, the Iskcon temple, is a shrine dedicated to Lord Krishna. Located in the east Kailash area of New Delhi, the temple was established in the year 1998 by Achyut Kanvinde. Along with being one of the famous tourist attractions in Delhi, the temple is also a center for learning Vedic sciences and has a massive number of followers not just in India but from across the globe to obtain peace.

Visiting the temple, the tourists witness the beauty of the temple which comprises the fountains, gift shops, and libraries of CDs and books making it an amazing place to visit in Delhi. Iskcon temple is a perfect place if one is looking for a spiritual retreat in Delhi. The chants of ‘hare-Krishna along with the beats of drum coming from the temple premises fill one with sanctity.

To understand the scale of Iskcon’s internationalism, you must know about its initial days in us. As swami Prabhupada arrived in new york city, he preached to the lower-middle-class youth and attracted the hippies towards the hare Krishna movement. Later, he shifted his focus to the youth of San Francisco and England.

One of the prime celebrities attached to the hare Krishna movement was George Harrison, a member of the renowned music band Beatles. To gain popularity, the organization used songs and films meant to educate the youth about fundamental social evils and ways to redeem themselves of the harms of drug culture.

Swami Prabhupada’s objective was to propagate bhakti yoga – the act of complete devotion to Lord Krishna. The centers emphasize the chanting of the hare Krishna maha-mantra; a small religious poem meant to please the lord and unite the soul with the supreme being.

The Iskcon temple located in Delhi is a prime Vaishnav temple of Lord Krishna and his partner, Radharani in the city. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the prime minister of India in the late 1990s is credited with the inauguration of Iskcon Delhi. Sahib Singh Verma and Sushma Swaraj are two renowned Indian politicians present at the inauguration ceremony.

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