Birla Mandir in Bhopal - Dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi

Also known as Lakshmi Narayan Temple, the Birla Mandir is one of the most famous centers for pilgrims in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. It is located in the south of the Lower Lake located Bhopal. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi.

There is a museum located inside the premises of the temple which is well maintained and has a beautiful collection of local sculptures, which date back to the Paramana period. It is situated in the Arera hills, which is just six kilometers away from the Bhopal Railway Station. The very famous industrial family of India, the Birlas has built this temple.

Significance

The Birla temple has been built in the honor of Goddess Lakshmi, who is the Hindu Goddess of wealth and Lord Vishnu, who was her divine consort and also the Preserver of the Universe. The temple also has idols of Lords Shiva and his wife Parvati. The Birla museum is attached to the temple that has the collection of sculptures from Shahdol, Raisin and Sehore in Madhya Pradesh.

The collection of the museum dates back to 12th century from the time of Paramaras, at the time when the state saw a flourish in art and culture. The Lakshmi Narayan temple which is a little sandy-yellowish has a charm of its own, and has a huge turret on its one side. You can come across a picturesque appeal when you pass through the archway towards the sprawling lawns.

Architecture

This Lakshmi Narayan Temple has a color shade of Sandy yellowish, and it gives you an old feeling inside. On one side you will come across a beautiful archway, which is surrounded by the lush lawns. There are beautiful idols in the Birla Museum which is situated in the temple complex itself. The idols have been collected from sculptors from different parts of Madhya Pradesh. The collection of the museum dates back to the Paramaras in the 12th century where the art and the culture were prevalent in the state.

Nearby Attractions

• Taj-ul-Masajid: Taj-ul-Masajid is said to be one of the largest and the most impressive mosques in the central part of India. It is the top landmark in Bhopal, which is located in the heart of the city. In 1868, when Shahjahan’s Begum became the ruler of Bhopal, initiated the mosque.
• Jama Masjid: Located in the famous area ‘chowk bazaar’, the Jama Masjid is located in a central location and was built in the year 1837 by the ruler of Bhopal, Qudsiya Begum.
• Moti Masjid: The Moti Masjid was built by Sikander Jahan Begum, the daughter of Qudisa Begum in the tear 1860. It looks a lot like the Jama Masjid in Delhi, just a little smaller and it has two minarets, dark red in color with golden spikes.

Best Time to Visit

The winters, between the months of November to February are the best time to visit Bhopal as you can enjoy the outdoors and view the beautiful sights the city has to offer you. March and June are the extremely hot and dry periods as summers are on. During the rainy season, the city is at full bloom as the city gets moderate rainfall.

How to Reach

By Air: There are regular flights which connect Bhopal to Delhi, Gwalior, Mumbai and Indore. There are private as well as commercial services in the city. Outside the terminals, you can find cabs, autos, city airport bus shuttles that will take you to your destination. You can also get the pickups arranged from the hotel you are staying in. 

By Rail: Bhopal is one of the main junctions in the Delhi-Chennai line along with the Delhi-Mumbai route. The air condition Shatabdi express between Delhi and Bhopal runs on a daily basis and is one of the most convenient trains for this routes, you can reach in even less than eight hours.

By Bus: You can reach Bhopal in comfort by taking a bus which connects Bhopal to several cities like Indore, Ujjain, Khajuraho, Sanchi, Shivpur and Mandu. You can get public as well as private busses to reach Bhopal.

Getting Around Bhopal

The public transport system is great in Bhopal and you can find mini buses, three wheeler autos, buses etc. Booking a reasonable cab is also very easy to get around in the city. The star buses have been started in Bhopal which is safe and fun to travel at the same time.