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Birla Mandir
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Birla Mandir Description : |
 Near to Connaught Place, this garish modern temple was erected by the
industrialist B.D. Birla in 1938. It is dedicated to Lakshmi, the
goddess of prosperity and good fortune, and is commonly known as Birla Mandir or
Lakshmi Narayan Temple.
The temple is an important prayer site and contains idols of several
deities . Interestingly Mahatama Gandhi who inaugurated the temple was
also a regular visitor to it and would often pray there.
This temple was built over a six-year period (1933 - 1939) and was inaurgated by Mahatma Gandhi on the condition that people of all
castes especially untouchables would be allowed in. It was built in
the 20th century by the Birla family of industrialists known for its
many other temples in India.
Built in Orissan style, the highest tower in the temple reaches a
height of 165ft, while the ancillary towers reach 116ft. The Geeta
Bhavan, a hall adorned with beautiful paintings depicting scenes from
Indian mythology. There is also a temple dedicated to Buddha in this
complex with fresco paintings describing his life and work.
The entire complex, especially the walls and the upper gallery are
full of paintings carried out by artists from Jaipur in Rajasthan. The
rear of the temple has been developed as an artificial mountainous
landscape with fountains and waterfalls. |
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