delhicacies.com - Lakshmi Narayan Temple, New Delhi

LAKSHMI NARAYAN TEMPLE

Popularly known as Birla Mandir, this is the city's most popular Hindu Temple - a great specimen of the old Hindu religion as conceived and adjusted to modernism. The temple is located on Mandir Marg, west of Connaught Place. It was built by the eminent industrialist Raja Baldev Birla in 1938 and inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi. The temple is dedictaed to Lakshmi (the Goddess of Wealth) and Narayana (the Preserver), whose idols are housed seperately in the middle. The temple also houses a large number of idols representing various Indian Gods.

Adjacent to the temple is Gita Bhawan containing a grand and attractive statue of Lord Krishna and beautiful paintings from the immortal epic Mahabharata. On the other side is the temple dedicated to Lord Budha, which contains wall paintings depicting his life and preachings. The temple complex also has a guest house, a library and a reading room.