Birla Mandir

Birla Mandir, at 29 Syed Amir Ali Avenue in Ballygunge, South Kolkata, West Bengal, India, is a large Hindu temple dedicated to Radha and Krishna, built by the Birla family in the second half of the twentieth century. The temple is built mainly of white marble and sandstone and follows the tall, curving spire style of Odisha-influenced temple architecture, with a central shikhara rising above a broad hall and smaller towers around it. The grounds include a wide forecourt, carved pillars, a series of sculpted panels and a landscaped garden, and the white stone looks especially striking in the evening when it is lit. Visitors remove shoes at the entrance, walk up the steps to the main hall and join the line for darshan of the deities, with the interior decorated in marble and ornamental carving. The atmosphere is calmer than at older temples such as Kalighat, and the compound is clean, well organised and wide enough to absorb crowds. A visit takes 45 to 60 minutes, which includes time to walk around the exterior and sit in the courtyard. The temple is open in two sessions, with a long afternoon break, so the morning from 6:00AM and the evening from 4:00PM are the times to go. Evenings give the best views of the lit marble, while mornings are quieter and cooler. Janmashtami, the birth anniversary of Krishna, draws very large crowds with queues stretching beyond the gates. Dress is expected to be modest, and cameras and mobile phones are not permitted inside the sanctum, with cloakroom facilities provided. The temple is close to the Birla Planetarium and other South Kolkata sights, and is easily reached by taxi or app cab.