Birla Mandir in Delhi - Major Tourist Attractions in Delhi

Other Names	Birla Temple
Proper Name	Laxmi Narayan Temple
Date Built	1939
Dedicated to	Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi
Primary Deity	Laxmi Narayan (Vishnu with his consort Lakshmi)
Important Festivals	Janmashtami, Diwali

About

It is also the NCT of India and is the capital city. Delhi being the union territory is also the political administration today. It is similar to the state of India as it has its own high court, legislature, and also an executive council of ministers which is run by a Chief Minister. The local government of Delhi and the state government of India together administer New Delhi.

History

Previously, Delhi was once the location of the ancient kingdom of Indraprastha also referred to as Khandavprastha. At the time of the Mahabharata, it was the ancient capital of the Pandavas. Delhi surfaced as one of the important cultural, political, and mercenary city on the trade routes between the Gangetic plain and northwest India and during the Delhi Sultanate era. Emperor Shah Jahan in AD 1639 built a new walled city Shahjahanbad in Delhi. From 1649 until the Great Mutiny of 1857 it acted as the capital of the Mughal Empire.

Today, Shahjahanbad is known as Old Delhi. A major section of Old Delhi is even now restricted within the walls of Shah Jahan’s fort. It still has many of the gates which were built during his rule. These gates include Kashmiri Gate, Delhi Gate, Ajmeri Gate and the Turkman Gate all of which are still there. In 1911, the British shifted their capital from Kolkata to Delhi.

Architecture

The primal architectural monuments of Delhi are from the Mauryan period (c. 300 BC). An imprint of Emperor Ashoka was discovered near Srinivaspuri. The ruins of 8 of the main cities have also been discovered in Delhi. It was in the in the southern part of the present Delhi that the first five cities were discovered. The city of Lal Kot was founded by Anang Pal in AD 736 who was of the Tomara dynasty. In 1180, the Chauhans vanquished Lal Kot and renamed it Qila Rai Pithora.

Nearby Attractions

• Red Fort: It is one of the famous monuments in Delhi and stands as a remembrance of the emperors of the Mughal dynasty who ruled India. The walls of the Red fort extend for more than 2 kilometers. It was in 1638 that these walls were built to keep out invaders. However, these very walls could not keep the Sikhs and the British from capturing the fort. When in the Red fort, you can witness a one hour light and sound show of the fort's history which is held every evening.
• Jama Masjid: This is another of Delhi’s marvelous treasure. It is India’s largest mosque. The courtyard of the mosque can hold 25,000 devotees at a time. It took thirteen years to be completed and it was finally finished in 1650. It is advised that you dress as per the mosque’s rules when visiting the mosque or you won't be allowed in.
• Chandni Chowk: It is located in the main street of old Delhi. It is also one of the oldest as well as the busiest markets in India having narrow winding lanes which sell inexpensive jewelry, fabrics, and electronics. If you are fond of eating, then Chandni Chowk is an ideal hang out if you wish to savor some of Delhi's street food. Here, you will also find the famous Karim Hotel, a Delhi dining institution.
• Humayun's Tomb: If you think Humayun's Tomb is similar to the Taj Mahal of Agra, then the reason for this is that it was the inspiration for Taj Mahal's creation. It was built in 1570. It is here that the body of the second Mughal emperor, Humayun lies buried.

When to Visit

The ideal time to visit Delhi is during the months of October to March. This is because it is at this time that the weather is excellent. Also, as this time of the year the flowers are in full bloom, the weather is enjoyable and pleasant and to experience Incredible Delhi.

How to Reach

• Air: You can reach Delhi by air as the Indira Gandhi Airport is well linked with all flights to all of the major cities within and outside India. All of the major airlines also operate their flights from this airport.
• Train: You can also reach Delhi by train as Delhi is well linked by an excellent network of railways from all the major cities of India.
• By Bus: You can also reach Delhi by roadways as Delhi is well linked by an excellent network of roads thereby connecting Delhi from all the major cities of India.

 

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. 

Pay Your Homage to Lakshmi Narayan Temples Across India

Birla family is of the view that if at any point, the construction work in these temples would be stopped, then it would result in bad fate. For this very reason, the construction work at many of the temples is a continuous process. You would notice many of Birla temples always under construction. They purposely continue this process at a slow rate to ensure it is ongoing. 

Birla Mandir across India

Temple	Location	Deity
Laxminarayan Temple	Delhi	Lakshmi Narayan
Birla Mandir	Hyderabad	Venkateswara
Birla Mandir	Kolkata	Radha Krishna
Birla Mandir	Kurukshetra	Krishna
Birla Mandir	Shahad	Vithoba
Birla Mandir (Sharda Peeth)	BITS Pilani	Saraswati
Birla Mandir	Bhopal	Lakshmi Narayan
Birla Mandir, Jaipur	Jaipur	Lakshmi Narayan
Birla Mandir	Patna	Lakshmi Narayan
Birla Mandir	Shahad	Vithoba
Birla Mandir	Akola	Rama
Birla Mandir (New Vishwanath Temple)	Varanasi	Shiva
Birla Mandir	Renukoot	Shiva
Birla Mandir	Nagda	Vishnu
Birla Mandir	Brajrajnagar	Shiva
Birla Mandir	Gwalior	Surya
Birla Mandir	Alibaug	Ganesha

 

Rules & Regulations at Birla Mandir

• Footwear should be removed before entering the temple premises.
• No food items are allowed in the temple.
• Maintain the decorum of the place by avoiding private conversations specially using prayers.
• It is expected from the parents or the guardians accompanying the children that they would ensure that their kids do not cause any damage to the temple or create unwanted disturbance.
• All the things that would be done should be according to the Hindu tradition.
• Alcohol is strictly prohibited inside the temple premises.
• Chewing betel leaves, gum or smoking is not allowed inside the temple. Devotees should refrain themselves from indulging in any such activity.
• Donations should be approved by Temple’s MC. One can directly write to the manager of the temple to seek approval.
• Pets are not allowed in the temple.
• Cell phones must be switched off or kept at silent to avoid disturbance during prayer time.