Birla Mandir in Bits Pilani - Dedicated to Goddess Saraswati

Built by the philanthropist G.D Birla, the Sharda temple located in Pilani, Rajasthan is a temple which was constructed in the twentieth century and is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. It is located in the Vidya Vihar Campus of Birla Institute of Technology.

Architecture

The temple has an Indo Aryan or North Indian construction and is a replica of the Khajuraho temple named Khandariya Mahadeo. The only difference is that it is made of marble. There are five district sections known as Garbha Griha which are also known as sanctum along with 70 pillars, on which the temple stands. The temple is 25000 square feet in area and has a seven feet high basement, on which a structure of Pradakshinapatha (circumambulatory path), Antarala (intermediate chamber), mandapam and ardha mandapa. The marble which is used in the construction came especially from Makrana, situated in Rajasthan.

In the basement of the sanctum, there are rows of sculptures in relief and the pyramidal tower above it has a height of 110 feet. You can see magnificent craving in the ceiling of the sanctum and there are several gold plated Kalashas made of copper. There are several figures in the interior of the temple and the figures have their hands raised in the upwards direction very beautifully. The brackets on the pillars are also decorated beautifully and the exterior of the temple is also beautifully decorated. The cosmopolitan nature of the monument is evident in the temple, by the figures it displays of several philosophers, saints and as well as of scientists.

Best Time to Visit

This place is the best place to be in the months of October or March. You can find native as well as foreign tourists in Pilani at that time. The temperature goes up to 52 degrees at that time, which then reaches almost zero by December and January. The place is also prone to less or no rainfall which leads to drought. This is the reason march and October is ideal months to visit the place. However, the Rajasthan tourism claims that Pilani can be visited throughout the year by national as well as foreign tourists.

How to Reach

By car/taxi from Delhi: The temple is around two hundred kilometers away from Delhi and it has the exact distance depends upon the route you take up. It will take you approximately four and a half to five hours to reach. You have three possible routes which you can take. One is from Rohtak and Bhiwani which crosses through Loharu.