India GO
Krishna temples in Delhi
कृष्ण
Both of Delhi's Krishna temples in this guide are young, and both are large. ISKCON on Hare Krishna Hills, opened in 1998, is a temple where Krishna stands at the centre and the evening ends in kirtan. At Akshardham, opened in 2005 to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Radha and Krishna have one of the altars around the main shrine. Entry to both is free.
Krishna
The eighth avatar of Vishnu; for Gaudiya Vaishnavas and ISKCON, the Supreme himself: cowherd, lover, Arjuna's charioteer and the voice of the Bhagavad Gita.
Where Krishna is worshipped
ISKCON Delhi: Krishna as Arjuna's charioteer
ISKCON Delhi, East of Kailash, near the Lotus Temple. The main altar is Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi, Krishna as the charioteer of Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita, with Radha; the other two hold Sita, Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman, and Chaitanya with Nityananda. The temple also keeps what it calls the world's largest printed Bhagavad Gita, unveiled in 2019.
Akshardham: one altar among many
Akshardham in East Delhi is dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Around the central sanctum, its site says, are altars to Sita-Ram, Radha-Krishna, Lakshmi-Narayan and Shiv-Parvati. Come for the scale and the carving in pink sandstone and white marble, and look for the Radha-Krishna altar on your way round.
Hours and aarti
ISKCON Delhi is open every day from 4:30 to 21:00, according to its site. The sanctum closes from 13:00 to 16:00 after the midday offering, while the complex stays open. The day turns on six aartis (offerings of lamps, incense and song): Mangala at 4:30, Sringar around 7:00–7:15, Raj Bhog at 12:30, Dhup at 16:15, Sandhya around 18:30–19:00 and Shayana at 20:30. Mangala and Sandhya move by about half an hour between summer and winter. Sandhya is the most attended: that is the time for kirtan.
Akshardham is open Tuesday to Sunday, first entry 10:00, last entry 18:30, and closed every Monday. Mandir darshan runs 10:00–20:00, with arti at 10:30 and 18:00. The grounds and the mandir are free; only the exhibitions and the water show are ticketed.
✅ Rules at the door
The two temples treat phones very differently.
- Akshardham: no phones at all — Phones, cameras, all electronics, luggage and food stay in the free cloakroom; a wallet and money may go in. Shoulders, upper arms and knees must be covered.
- ISKCON: phones away during aarti — Photography is allowed in the open complex and gardens; in the main hall keep your phone away during aarti and darshan.
- Shoes and dress — Shoes come off before the temple hall at both. Covered shoulders and knees are the norm.
Getting there and festivals
By metro: for ISKCON, Nehru Place on the Violet Line is the station the temple names; for Akshardham, Akshardham station on the Blue Line is about 350 m from the gate.
Festivals: the month of Kartik runs from 27 October to 24 November 2026 by the India GO calendar (projected), and Janmashtami, Krishna's birthday, falls on 25 August 2027. See Kartik month and Janmashtami. For the rest of Delhi's temples, from Birla Mandir to Yogmaya, see temples in Delhi.
❓ FAQ
Which is the main Krishna temple in Delhi?
ISKCON's Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi temple on Hare Krishna Hills, East of Kailash, opened in 1998.
What are ISKCON Delhi's timings?
Daily 4:30–21:00; the sanctum is closed from 13:00 to 16:00.
Is there a Krishna shrine at Akshardham?
Yes. Around the central sanctum dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan there are altars to Radha-Krishna, Sita-Ram, Lakshmi-Narayan and Shiv-Parvati.
Is Akshardham open on Monday?
No. It is closed every Monday; Tuesday to Sunday the last entry is at 18:30.
Do I need a ticket?
Not for worship. ISKCON is free, and at Akshardham the grounds and the mandir are free; only the exhibitions and the water show are paid.