Birla Mandir

Birla Mandir is a white marble Hindu temple dedicated to Lakshmi and Narayan located in Ballygunge, Kolkata, West Bengal. Built by industrialist G. D. Birla and inaugurated in 1996 after 26 years of construction, it blends traditional Rajasthani temple architecture with modern craftsmanship. The temple features intricate marble carvings, idols of Radha-Krishna and other deities, and is noted for its evening illumination and serene setting in central Kolkata.

Visitors can expect a white marble temple complex set in landscaped grounds in Ballygunge. The main shrine houses idols of Lakshmi and Narayan, with additional shrines for Shiva, Ganesh, Hanuman and Durga. The exterior and interior feature detailed marble carvings and sculptures depicting Hindu scriptures. The temple has open courtyards, steps leading to the sanctum, and is illuminated in the evening. Photography is allowed in the outer complex but restricted inside the sanctum.

Construction was started in 1970 by industrialist G. D. Birla of the Birla family and completed in 1996 after 26 years. The temple was inaugurated in 1996. It was built to resemble the Lingaraj Temple style with Rajasthani temple architecture, constructed entirely of white marble and featuring craftsmanship by artisans from Rajasthan.

Dedicated to Lakshmi and Narayan (Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi), the temple is an important Hindu religious site in Kolkata. It also enshrines deities including Shiva, Ganesh, Hanuman and Durga, and displays carvings illustrating teachings from the Bhagavad Gita and other Hindu scriptures, serving as a cultural and spiritual centre for devotees and visitors.