Lakshmi Narayan Mandir is situated close to Connaught Place area of New Delhi. It was built by Raja Baldev Das in 1938. Popularly known as Birla Mandir, is dedicated to the goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth and his consort, Lord Vishnu. Built in a style of Orissa, its walls are adorned with various Hindu symbols and inscriptions from the holy books of the Gita and the Upanishads. The temple was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi and took six years to complete. According to the conditions imposed by it, people of all castes, including untouchables, were allowed to visit the temple. It is maintained by the Birla family, renowned industrialists of India.
The temple's tallest tower is 165 meters high. The temple complex also has Geeta Bhavan, a hall adorned with paintings depicting Hindu mythology and a temple of Buddha, with frescoes of the life of Buddha. The walls of the paintings depict the whole complex of artists from Jaipur. An artificial mountain landscape with fountains and waterfalls, has been created as a backdrop to the temple. The festival of Janmashtami is celebrated with particular fervor here. The temple of white marble and red sandstone has several 'swastika' on the screen. There are shrines for other deities in the complex, such as those dedicated to the goddess Durga and Lord Shiva.
