Delhi, the capital of India, is known for its history and modernity. Here you will still get to see those old and narrow streets, while on the other hand, more than one beautiful building and mall are also seen. It is the focal point of everything related to the country and that is the reason why it is one of the most visited places in India. The capital city of Delhi also presents an excellent view of communal unity with a multi-religious population of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists all living in harmony. Delhi wakes up every day to the sounds of prayers in mosques, bells in temples, and chants in gurudwaras. Today in this episode, we are going to tell you about some famous religious places in Delhi that reflect the communal unity here.
Akshardham Temple
This Swaminarayan Temple, included in the largest Hindu temples in the world, will leave you awestruck. Once you step inside, you will not get tired of admiring every corner of it. This is the most famous Delhi tourist place. Coming here, you will completely forget the outside world for a while. The temple is divided into different parts that include boat rides, cultural programs, and water shows in the evenings – all of which will fill you with immense joy. If you come after taking out time, you will be able to explore every corner present here very well.
ISKCON temple
Delhi's ISKCON temple is a large, contemporary temple complex that features a modern take on an eclectic array of traditional Indian architectural styles. It is the local center of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (aka Hare Krishnas) and provides a good introduction to Vedic beliefs, especially for Westerners. ISKCON Temple is one of the most popular tourist attractions in New Delhi. Dedicated to Lord Krishna and his consort Radha, the ISKCON temple is a place of worship for devotees of Lord Krishna. The temple celebrates many festivals grandly such as Ram Navami, Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Gaura Purnima, Radhasoami, Jagannath Rath Yatra, and Naka Vihara.
JAMA Masjid
One of the largest mosques in India, it is located in Old Delhi. This mosque made of Indo-Islamic and Mughal architecture is the oldest building of Shah Jahan. Here at one time, 25000 devotees gave way to their faith. There is a huge crowd of people here on Eid, but if you want to avoid the crowd then it would be appropriate to come here in the morning. You don't need a ticket to enter. It is free but if you want to take the camera inside then you will have to pay a fee.
Bangla Sahib Gurudwara
One of the famous Gurdwaras in Delhi is Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. You can spend your whole morning here listening to recitations and interpretations of the Guru Granth Sahib. Devotees of all religions visit this Gurudwara and this holy place of the Sikh community looks grand on the day of the Gurpurab. The Gurudwara is very similar to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. On days when you need some peace of mind, consider a visit to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib.
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
The 108 ft huge Hanuman idol is located in the Hanuman temple complex at Jhandewalan which was constructed in 1997. Another attraction of the temple is the dramatic entrance gate designed like the mouth of a demon. There is a temple dedicated to Goddess Kali at the base of the idol. The evening aarti is an important ritual in the temple as the arms of the colossal Hanuman statue are retracted and the chest is spread apart and the beautiful idols of Goddess Sita and Lord Rama give darshan to the pilgrims.
Lotus Temple
Lotus Temple is one of the famous places of worship in Delhi. It is a building dedicated to the Baha'i faith whose structure appears in the form of a magnificent white-leafed lotus. The temple was designed by Canadian architect Fariborz Sahba and was completed in 1986. Lotus Temple, It is one of the Bahá'í Houses of Worship. Here you can read and chant religious texts of any religion and musical renditions of the texts can be sung without any hindrance in the temple.
Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah
This is the Dargah of the Muslim Sufi saint Nizam-ud-Din Aulia. Intricate jaalis and arches marble have been used in its structure. This dargah was built in the 14th century. Thursday is the best day to visit the dargah when qawwals are performed here. This dargah has been featured in movies like 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' and 'Rockstar'. The dargah complex houses the tombs of Sufi poet Jahanara Begum, daughter of Shah Jahan, Rais Atgah Khan, and Muhammad Shah Rangila, an 18th-century ruler. This is one of the famous places of religious places in Delhi.
Chhattarpur Temple
Located in South Delhi, this temple is a symbol of spirituality. The grand idols of various Gods like Shiva-Parvati, Radha-Krishna, Hanuman, Lakshmi, and many more will immerse you in the world of devotion. If you are religious then you can come here and indulge in your devotion, your mind will get utmost peace. Mainly this temple is dedicated to Goddess Katyayani. Spread over 70 acres of land, the architecture of this temple is also commendable.
Gurudwara Rakabganj Sahib
Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib is one of the famous religious places in Delhi. It is a historical Gurudwara near Parliament House in Delhi. The Gurudwara was built in 1783. It marks the place where the ninth Sikh Guru Guru Tegh Bahadur was cremated.
Laxmi Narayan temple
Lakshminarayan Temple (also known as Birla Mandir) is an elaborate Hindu temple with red and white pillars, artificial mountains, and waterfalls. The temple was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi with the condition that the site would be open to all castes and religions. "Lakshmi Narayan" refers to the Hindu god Vishnu, along with his consort Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
Shree Digambar Jain Lal Mandir
Among the many Jain temples in Delhi, Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir is the oldest and most famous. Made of red stone, this temple is visited by many tourists as well as devotees of different religions. Apart from the images of important saints of Jainism, you will also find a veterinary hospital and a bird hospital on the premises of this temple.
(PC: Lifeberrys)