Get ready to immerse yourself in the divine aura of the ISKCON Temple, also known as the Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple. You don’t have to be a spiritual person to visit this place.
Built in 1998 by Achyut Kanvinde, the ISKCON temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radharani, and is located on top of the Hare Krishna Hills in the East Kailash area of New Delhi. You won’t miss it, because it’s a towering 90 feet tall, just like the three spires that lead to the three shrines inside dedicated to Radha-Krishna, Sita-Ram, and Guara-Nitai.
Once you step inside the main sanctum, your eyes will feast on the rich clothes and jewelry adorning the idols. But it’s not just about the visuals here – the center hall resonates with the heavenly tune of “Hare Rama Hare Krishna,” and the devotees will welcome you with open arms. In fact, Sunday prayer services and the Janmashtami festival are celebrated with so much energy and enthusiasm that you might forget you’re in Delhi and feel like you’re in the midst of a cosmic celebration.
The temple complex also houses a museum called the Museum of Vedic Culture. You can learn about the gods and goddesses through multimedia displays, watch the Ramayana come to life with light and sound effects in the Ramayana Art Gallery, or even experience the Bhagavadgita through clay robots in the Bhagavadgita Animatronics Robot Show.
And if you’re looking for some entertainment, head to the Vedic Centre For Performing Arts, where you can enjoy open-air performances from artists showcasing their skills and depicting scenes from various Hindu epics. Or you can catch the Mahabharat Experience, a light and sound show that brings the epic to life.
But let’s not forget about the food. The temple complex has its own restaurant called “Govinda’s” that serves up some of the most delicious vegetarian meals around. Trust us, you won’t miss the meat. Just make sure you have cash on hand to purchase coupons.
Getting to the temple is easy – just take the metro to Nehru Place Station or Kailash Colony Station, both a quick five-minute walk away. And if you’re coming from Nizamuddin Railway Station, the ISKCON Sant Nagar is only 5 km away, and taxis, auto rickshaws, and public buses are available from every part of the city.
So come for the spirituality, stay for the art, entertainment, and food. You won’t regret it!