9 Temples in Delhi You Must Visit on Your Delhi Darshan

Delhi – the capital of India has always been famous for its extravagant culture. It is vibrant, jolly, and fills your heart with happiness. The city houses some of India’s most famous tourist spots, heritage spots, and party locations that make Delhi a complete package. Not to forget, the mouth-watering street food of the city adds on to the enjoyment of your vacation by leaps and bounds. While places like the Connaught Place, President’s Estate, Chandini Chowk, Old Delhi, and so on are very famous as tourist attractions; the city also houses some of the best temples in Delhi that are absolutely a must-visit on your Delhi Darshan.

It is not just about the spiritual aura that the temple emanates; it is also about the magnificent beauty and the intriguing story that the breathtaking structure has. India is a land of culture and spiritual dhams where people from all over the world visit. And, Delhi is just the right place for those looking to experience the magnificence of Indian architecture, divinity, and serene aura. The city houses a plethora of temples and visiting every spot is quite not possible – it will take you a month, trust us!

So, to make your work a little simple and your vacation more enjoyable, here are the 9 temples that must make it to your Delhi tour package: -

1. Akshardham Temple – Delhi’s Epitome of Indian Culture

One of the most famous Hindu temples and a magnificent spiritual-cultural complex – the Akshardham Temple in Delhi holds a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the World’s Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temples. Known for its impressive and grandeur structure, the temple is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan and has eight beautifully carved mandapams with scripts from Hindu teachings and devotional traditions are carved into the temple walls. Since the temple is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan; it is also known as Temple of Swaminarayan Akshardham in Delhi. The Lord’s idol, along with idols of other 20,000 deities, speaks volumes about the grand history of India’s architecture and culture. Delhi’s Akshardham complex houses the largest stepwell in India that hosts the most mesmerising water show for the visitors. Adding to this, there is an open garden, Narayan Sarovar, various expeditions, and rituals that make the visit to this temple worth the time.

Note: There are a few things that you need to keep in mind like NO photography, videography, and so on while roaming in the temple complex. 

2. ISKCON Temple in Delhi

Also known as the Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple, it is a Vaishnav temple that is dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radharani. The temple was established in 1998 by Achyut Kavinde and is situated at the Krishna Hills in the East of Kailash, Delhi. The temple is beautifully designed with intricate carvings and stonework along with a beautiful fountain inside the complex. The idols of Lord Krishna and Radharani are dressed in rich clothes and gorgeous jewellery that amazes visitors in the first sight. The ISKCON temple in Delhi is also a centre of Vedic Sciences and devotional lectures are organised for the devotees that help them soothe their mind from the chaos of daily life. The centre hall of the temple echoes the divine tune of “Hare Rama Hare Krishna” and the complex also has a museum that organises multimedia shows for epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana.

3. Lotus Temple – Delhi’s White Beauty 

One of the most famous temples in Delhi, Lotus Temple is dedicated to the Baha’i faith. It is structured in the shape of a lotus and is one of the most-visited tourist attractions in the world. The Lotus Temple was conceptualised by Fariborz Sahba, who was a Canadian architect and the construction was complete in 1986. The temple is open for everyone, regardless of their caste or creed, and is considered one of the seven Baha’i Houses of Worship in the world. The entrance gate of the temple is extremely enchanting that is beautifully complemented by the mesmeric floral gardens and dazzling pools. The tranquillity that the temple complex adorns makes it one of the most divine and attractive temple complexes in the city.

4. Bangla Sahib – Gurudwara in Delhi

If you are in Delhi, visiting the prominent Bangla Sahib is a must. Located in Connaught Place on Baba Kharak Singh Marg, the Gurudwara is the abode to the eighth Sikh Guru – Guru Har Krishan and houses a holy river inside the complex itself, which is known as the “Sarovar”. Bangla Sahib, before turning into a Gurudwara, was a bungalow that belonged to the 17th-century Indian ruler – Raja Jai Singh. It was known as the Jaisinghpura Palace back then and it is said that Guru Har Krishan had taken residence here in 1664 when smallpox and cholera pandemic had hit the country. Guru Har Krishan helped in treating the affected ones and soon contracted the disease himself. The Bangla Sahib Gurudwara is of extreme importance to the Sikh community and everyone visiting Delhi makes sure to visit the Gurudwara without fail. Since the Gurudwara is located in the main city, there are a lot of places to eat in Delhi that you must try out for the lip-smacking flavours on offer.

5. Birla Mandir in Delhi

A temple dedicated to Laxminarayan, this famous Delhi Mandir is located in Connaught Place and was constructed by the Birla family. The temple is commonly known as the Birla Mandir but at times, you may also hear the locals addressing it as the Laxminarayan temple. It was constructed in the early 1900s and is spread across 7.5 acres that house many shrines, gardens, fountains, along with beautiful sculptures and carvings. The prime idol is of Lord Narayan along with Goddess Laxmi; however, it also houses shrines dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Shiva, Hanuman, and so on. Birla Mandir is one of the most famous temples in Delhi and tourists from all over the world visit here.

6. Kalka Mandir, Delhi

One of the most renowned temples in Delhi that is dedicated to the mighty Goddess Kali, the Kalka Mandir or the Kalkaji Temple is located in the southern part of the city. Maa Kali is known to symbolise power and is considered to be a fiery goddess who destroys evil. It is believed that Maa Kali was born at the same place where the Kalka Mandir is constructed and that, during Mahabharata, Lord Krishna and the Pandavas worshipped her at the same temple. Kalkaji Temple welcomes the maximum number of visitors during the nine nights of Navratri and the celebrations take place with full fervour and grandeur. Devotees offer milk bath to the idol of Maa Kali following which a grand tantric Aarti is held in the morning as well as in the evening.

7. Chattarpur Mandir, Delhi

Located in South Delhi’s most posh locality, the Chattarpur Temple is dedicated to Goddess Katyayani who is considered to be a part of Navadurga. Established by Baba Sant Nagpal Ji in 1974, this Delhi Mandir is the second largest temple complex in India after the Akshardham Temple. The temple is very famous for its marvellous lattice screen work (jaali design) and houses smaller complexes for other deities like Maa Mahishasurmardini, Ram-Darbar, Radha-Krishna, Shiv-Parvati, Laxmiji, Ganeshji, Hanumanji, and so on. The main highlight of the Chattarpur Mandir is the lavish ‘Shayya Kaksh’ that is the resting room for the presiding goddess.

8. Jhandewalan - Delhi’s famous Hanuman Mandir

A 108 feet colossal idol of Lord Hanuman, it towers over the entire city and is located above the metro line of Karol Bagh and Jhandewalan Metro Stations. The gigantic statue that the temple houses are one of the most famous attractions and it has been showcased in many movies and Indian Television shows that has a backdrop of New Delhi. Other than the statue, another highlight of the temple is the dramatic entrance that is designed like the mouth of a demon that has been slaughtered. The temple was built in 1997 and also houses a small shrine that is dedicated to Maa Kali. Apart from Jhandewalan, there is another Hanuman Mandir in Delhi’s Connaught Place, which is visited by devotees every Tuesday without fail.

9. Nili Chhatri in Delhi

Last but not the least, the Nili Chhatri temple is yet another famous temple in Delhi that you must visit during the city’s darshan. Located at the Nigambodh Ghat on the banks of the famous River Yamuna, the Nili Chhatri temple is a 5300 years old temple that is believed to be constructed by the oldest Pandava, Yudhistir. It is said that a ritual of sacrificing a horse, Ashwamedha followed by a Vedic recitation was performed in the temple. The name Nili Chhatri in literal translation means the ‘Blue Umbrella’ and is named so because of the huge blue dome of the temple. Under this dome, Lord Shiva resides and on auspicious days like Mahashivratri, Basant Panchami and Shravana; people from different parts of the country visit to pray for wealth, good health, and happiness.

Other than these, the Jagannath temple in Delhi, the famous Kali Baari, Shani Dham Temple, and so on are some of the other temples in Delhi that you shouldn’t miss out on. Make your next visit to Delhi a spiritual one!