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Vishnu temples in Delhi
विष्णु
Delhi's Vishnu temple is the Laxminarayan Temple (Birla Mandir), completed in 1939, where he is worshipped as Narayana beside Lakshmi. The second place on the list, Akshardham (2005), is not a Vishnu temple: it is dedicated to Swaminarayan, and a Lakshmi-Narayana image stands there among several others. The broader guide to the city's temples is on the [Delhi temples page](/en/delhi/temples/).
Vishnu
The preserver of the world. When dharma weakens, he descends as an avatar: Rama, Krishna and eight more.
Vishnu as Narayana
Vishnu is the preserver of the world. When dharma weakens he descends as an avatar, and two of the ten, Rama and Krishna, are worshipped in their own right in temples across India. Narayana is one of his names (his mantra is "Om namo Narayanaya"), and in Delhi you meet him mostly under it, as half of Lakshmi-Narayana, the divine couple worshipped together. More about Vishnu: Vishnu.
The two places on the list
Laxminarayan Temple (Birla Mandir): Narayana's own temple
Built by the Birla family in 1933–1939 in the northern Nagara style, west of Connaught Place, with a main tower of about 160 feet. Narayana and Lakshmi share the main shrine; side shrines hold Shiva, Ganesha, Hanuman, Durga and the Buddha. Gandhi agreed to open it only if people of every caste were let in. Delhi Tourism gives 4:30–13:30 and 14:30–21:00 daily; entry is free, phones and cameras stay outside. The biggest crowds come at Janmashtami and Diwali. More: Laxminarayan Temple.
Akshardham: a Swaminarayan temple with a Lakshmi-Narayana image
The temple is dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, whose seated image stands at its centre. Around him are the pairs Sita-Rama, Radha-Krishna, Shiva-Parvati and Lakshmi-Narayana; Vishnu and his avatars are present, but the temple is not his. Hand-carved in pink sandstone and white marble and opened on 6 November 2005. Closed on Mondays; the grounds and the mandir are free, phones and bags go to the free cloakroom. More: Akshardham.
✅ Where Delhi worships his avatars
- Krishna — ISKCON Delhi is the city's big Krishna temple; Birla Mandir fills at Janmashtami, Krishna's birthday, next on 25 August 2027.
- Rama — Delhi's Rama is less a temple than a stage: in the Navratri weeks the Ramlilas by the Red Fort play the Ramayana every evening up to Dussehra, 20 October 2026 (Dussehra in Delhi). Ram Navami, his birthday, falls on 15 April 2027.
- Kartik — The month most loved by Vaishnavas, when a lamp is offered every evening, runs from 27 October to 24 November 2026 (projected). See Kartik Month.
Seeing both in one day
They are on opposite sides of central Delhi, both on the Blue Line: RK Ashram Marg station is about 1.5 km from Birla Mandir, Akshardham station about 350 m from the Akshardham gate. Birla Mandir opens at 4:30 and Akshardham's first entry is at 10:00, so the order is easy: the morning prayer at Birla Mandir, which Delhi Tourism recommends, then east to Akshardham, entering before the 18:30 last entry. Neither allows phones inside, so leaving yours at the hotel saves two queues.
❓ FAQ
Which is the Vishnu temple in Delhi?
The Laxminarayan Temple (Birla Mandir) near Connaught Place, dedicated to Lakshmi and Narayana, a name of Vishnu.
Which god is Akshardham in Delhi dedicated to?
To Bhagwan Swaminarayan. The temple also houses images of Sita-Rama, Radha-Krishna, Shiva-Parvati and Lakshmi-Narayana.
What are the Birla Mandir timings?
4:30–13:30 and 14:30–21:00 every day, according to Delhi Tourism. Entry is free.
When is the best time to visit?
Delhi Tourism suggests the morning or evening prayer times at Birla Mandir. Akshardham opens for entry at 10:00 and is closed on Mondays.