The City of Joy has a lot to offer to its visitors and that is quite interesting to explore. And the Birla Mandir Kolkata is one of the most popular sightseeing spots in the city that attracts a huge number of visitors. Other than being a site of pilgrimage, the architecture and the grandeur of this construction makes this a popular site to visit as well. This is not a very ancient temple and you will be able to notice a subtle touch of modernity in the construction of this temple. What makes this temple even more gorgeous is the beautiful white marble that shines through the day and glows in the night. Keep on reading this article to know more about the Birla Mandir Kolkata and plan a visit to this temple as soon as you can.
Birla Mandir Kolkata
Location of Birla Mandir Kolkata: 29, Ashutosh Chowdary Ave, Ballygunge, opposite Ballygunge Post Office, Ballygunge, Kolkata, West Bengal
Birla Mandir Kolkata timing: The Birla Mandir Kolkata opening time is from 5:30 am to 11 am and again from 4:30 pm to 9 pm on all days
Entry fee of Birla Mandir Kolkata: There is no entry fee
How to reach Birla Mandir Kolkata
By air
The Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is the nearest airport to reach Birla Mandir if you are travelling by air. You will get flights from almost all major cities to reach the airport. From there you will get taxis or you can hire cabs as well to reach the temple. The distance is about 20. 4 km and you can reach there in about an hour. Also you can take buses from the airport to reach the Birla temple as well.
By train
If you are travelling by train then the nearest railway station is Tollygunge Railway Station. You can take trains from Sealdah Station South section to reach the Tollygunge railway station. From there Birla Mandir is only 4.8 km away and you can reach there in about 15 minutes. Also if you are travelling from anywhere far then the major railway station is the Sealdah Railway Station. From there the distance of the Birla Mandir is 4.8 km away. You can easily get buses or you can take a cab or taxi to reach the Birla Mandir in about 20 minutes. The Kolkata Railway Station is yet another railway station that you can opt for. It is 9.6 km away from the Birla Temple Kolkata and you can reach there in about 35 minutes.
By road
Kolkata is well accessible by buses. You will get buses from almost all parts of the city to reach Ballygunge. The temple is located just opposite the Ballygunge Post Office. Also you will get yellow taxis or you can hire a cab to reach there as well.
By metro
Travelling in a metro is very convenient in Kolkata. There is no direct metro station in Ballygunge. However the Birla Mandir Kolkata nearest metro station is the Kalighat Metro Station which is only 4.1 km away. It would hardly take around 12 minutes to reach the temple from the metro station. You will get buses from the metro station to reach the temple or else you can get auto rickshaws as well. You can also opt for yellow taxis or hire a cab to reach there conveniently as well.
Overview of Birla Mandir Kolkata
A stunning structure located in the Ballygunge area of Kolkata, the Birla Mandir is an exemplary form of architecture. It is a dedicated temple of Lord Shri Krishna and Devi Radha that is one of the major sightseeing spots in Kolkata. For the people of Kolkata or for people who are willing to explore the city, visiting the Birla Mandir is a must. This is a beautiful temple with gorgeous architecture that reflects a mix of modern and ancient styles of architecture. Also the temple is an example of finest craftsmanship and engineering techniques. In the year 1970 the construction work of this temple began. It took 26 years of hard work and execution to complete the construction finally in 1996. Artisans especially from Agra, Muzzaffarpur and Mirzapur made intricate patterns on the walls of the temple that look splendid.
The artwork is surely one of the major attractions of this temple. You will be amazed by the intricate stone patterns and stonework on the walls. There are towering domes that adorn the main façade of the temple and that looks beautiful. The whole temple complex is pearly white in colour with white marble work. Some of the artifacts of this temple are made of Belgian glass and silver. In addition the whole ambiance of the temple will transport you into a different world of divinity and bliss.
Even though the main temple has dedicated shrines of Lord Shri Krishna and Devi Radha, there are other deities present here as well. You will find deities of Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman, and Goddess Durga along with ten avatars of Lord Vishnu here.
What’s more?
The white marbled temple looks splendid with the daylight glistening on its wall. However the temple totally transforms as the dusk approaches. With the beautiful lighting in the temple, the temple looks even more beautiful and attractive. There are electric diyas and spectacular chandeliers that elevate the beauty of the construction a few notches higher. Along with that a soft music and continuous chanting of hymns and mantras totally creates a trance. There are obvious reasons why devotees from all over visit this temple. Birla Temple Kolkata is a popular landmark in the City of Joy. You must visit here once to witness the beautiful architecture. Also the spiritual impact of this temple will provide you the much needed bliss as well. So make sure you are visiting here once.
History of Birla Mandir Kolkata
The industrialist family of India the Birla Family are the creators of this beautiful temple in Kolkata and you can understand that from the name itself. Construction work of this temple began in the year 1970 and it took 26 years to finally complete it. The inauguration ceremony was held in the year 1996 on the 21st of February. Dr. Karan Singh inaugurated the sanctum sanctorum and Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj performed the Pran Pratistha ceremony.
Architecture of Birla Mandir Kolkata
The architecture of Birla Mandir is a magnificent structure. Moreover the main material of this construction is white and cream coloured sandstones. This structure reflects some parts of Rajasthani architecture as well. Dedicated to Lord Krishna and Devi Radha this architectural marvel is one of the popular spots for sightseeing in Kolkata. You will be able to notice a beautiful amalgamation of contemporary as well as modern day architectural styles in the construction of this temple. Also the temple resembles the famous Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneshwar to a lot of extent. Also the temple is inspired from the construction style of the Swaminarayan Temple as well.
This massive structure stands at 160 feet above the ground and spreads across an area of 2940 square meters. Nomi Bose is the designer of this beautiful structure. There are three corn cob shaped towers in the temple that look very impressive. And the size and height of the structure attracts even more attention. Alongside, there is a courtyard which is like a nice spot to sit and meditate. You can spend some quiet time here in peace and get engrossed into the spiritual and divine atmosphere.
What’s more?
Other than the main deities of Lord Krishna and Devi Radha there are idols of Goddess Durga, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha and more. In the left side of the dome you will find Goddess Durga and Shakti and on the right side of the dome there is an idol of Lord Shiva in mediating form.
The walls of the temples are certainly one of the major attractions here. They look alluring with verses and Shlokas of Bhagavat Gita on it. There are other engravings and pictorial depictions from the Gita as well on the marble carvings. The massive chandeliers and electric diyas on the premise further adds to the glitz and luster of the temple. It looks even more eye-catching when the temple is totally lit during the evenings. One of the best features of this temple is the evening aarti. The aarti creates a beautiful ambiance here that will bring in a lot of peace for your mind.
Also, just adjacent to this temple there is a complex, GD Birla Sabhaghar. This is like an auditorium that hosts various cultural programmes and performances.
Things to remember before visiting the Birla Temple Kolkata
1. You cannot carry mobile phones or cameras inside the temple premise.
2. There are counters where you need to submit your mobile phones or cameras before entering the temple.
3. Photography and videography in any form is not something that the authorities will give permission to.
4. You will have to remove your shoes before entering the Birla Temple.
5. Try to avoid visiting here during peak summer months as the marble flooring gets really hot with the scorching sun and it might be uncomfortable to walk over the floors in bare feet.
6. You cannot wander around in the verandah of the temple as there is no permission to do that.
7. It would be more beautiful if you can visit here during the evening, as the temple looks beautiful with the evening lights on.
8. The most beautiful thing to witness here is the time of morning aarti as well as the evening aarti. So try to visit around that time so that you can attend any of these.
9. You should not make any noise here and try to talk softly as the voices echo here and makes it disturbing
10. The Janmashtami and the Nanda Utsav are festivals that the temple celebrates with much vigour. So if you are interested to witness the grandeur you can plan your visit around those festivals.
Places to visit near Birla Mandir Kolkata
You will find a lot of other popular sightseeing locations near the Birla Mandir Kolkata that you can club with your visit to the temple. Some of the popular ones are
Quest Mall (1.2 km)
Rabindra Sarovar (2.2 km)
Kalighat Temple (3.4 km)
Birla Planetarium (4 km)
St. Paul’s Cathedral Church (4.2 km)
Victoria Memorial (4.3 km)
Park Street (6.5 km)
Indian Museum (8 km)
Wrapping Up!
Certainly the Birla Mandir Kolkata photos are unable to do justice to how pretty it looks in reality. And to witness that gorgeousness you need to plan a trip to this location right away. Let me know when you are planning a trip to this temple in Kolkata. Also do not forget to tell me if this article on the Birla Temple is helpful for you in planning a trip there.
