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Laxminarayan Temple (Birla Mandir), Delhi: timings, rules and metro
The Laxminarayan Temple, better known as Birla Mandir, stands on Mandir Marg west of Connaught Place. According to Delhi Tourism it is open **4:30 am to 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm to 9 pm**, entry is free, and mobile phones and cameras are not allowed inside. The nearest metro station is RK Ashram Marg. Built by the Birla family between 1933 and 1939, it was opened by Mahatma Gandhi on condition that people of every caste could enter.
Cream and ochre-red towers in the Nagara style rise over a garden west of Connaught Place: the temple to Lakshmi and Narayana that the Birla family built between 1933 and 1939. Mahatma Gandhi agreed to inaugurate it on one condition: that people of every caste be admitted, which at the time was a considerable statement. The 7.5-acre grounds hold subsidiary shrines, fountains and shaded walks that stay calm even at midday. Free, open from early morning to 21:00 with a midday break; cameras are not allowed inside.
The mandir Gandhi opened only on condition that every caste could enter
Birla Mandir timings
Delhi Tourism, the city government's tourism site, gives two sessions every day:
- Morning: 4:30 am to 1:30 pm
- Evening: 2:30 pm to 9:00 pm
The temple closes for an hour in the middle of the day. Delhi Tourism suggests coming at the morning or evening prayer times. The visit card above has no exact hours yet; the Delhi Tourism timings are the ones to plan with.
The temple is at its busiest during Janmashtami, Krishna's birthday, and Diwali.
✅ Rules and what to wear
Entry is free. The main rules:
- No phones or cameras — Delhi Tourism states that photography, mobiles and cameras are not allowed in the temple.
- Shoes off — Shoes come off before you enter the temple, as in any Hindu temple.
- Dress — Delhi Tourism lists no formal dress code, and jeans are not singled out. Covered shoulders and knees are the respectful choice in a working temple.
History: Gandhi's condition
The industrialist Jugal Kishore Birla and his father Baldeo Das Birla built the temple between 1933 and 1939, which is why Delhi calls it Birla Mandir. It is dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, and Narayana, a name of Vishnu the preserver.
Mahatma Gandhi agreed to inaugurate it on one condition: that people of all castes be allowed in. In the 1930s, when many temples still barred so-called untouchables, that was a public statement.
What to see
The architect Sris Chandra Chatterjee designed the temple in the northern Nagara style; its main tower, the shikhara, rises about 160 feet. More than a hundred artisans from Benares carved the icons in marble brought from Jaipur; Kota stone from Makrana, Agra, Kota and Jaisalmer went into the temple premises.
Besides the main shrine to Lakshmi and Narayana, there are shrines to Shiva, Ganesha, Hanuman, Durga and the Buddha, and the Geeta Bhawan hall, used for religious discourses. The grounds cover about 7.5 acres, with gardens, fountains and shaded walks that stay calm even at midday.
How to reach Birla Mandir by metro
The temple is on Mandir Marg near Gole Market, west of Connaught Place. Delhi Tourism names RK Ashram Marg on the Blue Line as the nearest metro station; it is about 1.5 km from the temple, a walk or a short auto-rickshaw ride.
❓ FAQ
What are Birla Mandir Delhi timings?
4:30 am to 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm to 9 pm daily, according to Delhi Tourism.
Which is the nearest metro station to Birla Mandir?
RK Ashram Marg on the Blue Line, about 1.5 km away.
Can we wear jeans to Birla Mandir?
Delhi Tourism lists no dress code and does not mention jeans. Dress modestly and remember that phones and cameras are not allowed inside.
Who built Birla Mandir in Delhi?
The Birla family: Jugal Kishore Birla and his father Baldeo Das Birla, between 1933 and 1939. Mahatma Gandhi inaugurated it.
Is there a Lakshmi temple in Delhi?
Yes. The Laxminarayan Temple (Birla Mandir) near Connaught Place is dedicated to Lakshmi and Narayana.
Is there an entry fee?
No. Entry is free.