Breakaway Destination Guides (International)

Birla Mandir or Naubath Pahad is a magnificent Hindu temple of Lord Venkateshwara, entirely built in white marble is located in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. The Birla Foundation has constructed several similar temples in India, all of which are known as Birla Mandir.

The Laxmi Narayan Temple (also written Lakshmi Narayan Temple, and also called the Birla Mandhir) is a lovely temple built of beautiful white marble to the south of Jaipur. The Laxmi Narayan was in 1979 built by the Birla family, a noted industrialist family of India, hence it is also called the Birla Mandhir.

There was much controversy and uproar surrounding the construction of the Laxmi Narayan Temple because the land was sold by the Jaipur royal family for only a token sum to the Birla family, nevertheless today the temple has become a major attraction in Jaipur. The Laxmi Narayan is dedicated to Vishnu the the Shri Laxmi Narayan, the goddess of wealth.

The Laxmi Narayan Temple has three domes, each portraying a different approach to religion. Within the temple are deities in the Hindu pantheon. The Laxmi Narayan Temple is situated at the foot of a hill which is topped by the Moti Dungari fort (also written Mooti Doongari and Moti Doongri) which was built like a Scottish castle.

On the outside of the temple walls one can see many carvings of many historic and religious figures. The three marble domes of the temple represent the three major religions of the country. The Birlas have thus attempted to keep the temple out of religious bigotry and made it a place of secular worship.

Help Me Get it Right

  About the Author