Art of Traditional and Modern Artwork: Birla Temple

Here is Birla Temple of Kolkata. It stands in the heart of South Kolkata (between Ballygaunge and Park Circus). Birla Mandir of Kolkata has an exemplary work of art in modern art history. Birla Temple designed by Birla Group, is one of the finest architectural beauties of the City of Joy.

The aboriginal craftsmanship of Birla Temple is the trademark of its opulence and architectural grandeur. It represents a gorgeous unification of traditional and contemporary art.

The temple made by the Bilras is also a revered place of worship and devotion. Thousands of people from various parts of the country come here to offer their prayers especially on Janmashtami. This day is known for the birthday of Lord Krishna. During the festive months when Birla temple and its surroundings are illuminated with lights, it provides for a spectacularly divine vision with peace. The best time to visit this beautiful temple is in the evening during evening prayer or Aarti when the white marble temple is at its glittering best. The serene and sublime atmosphere of Birla Temple offers peace and tranquillity in the midst of isolation to the mind. It is one of the most visited tourist spots of Kolkata.

The splendid architecture of this modern day white concrete temple of South Kolkata is the work of intricate Rajasthani style of architecture. The entire temple has been constructed with sandstone and white marble. The manner in which the layering and decoration of the temple facades have been done is a pointer to the high degree of skill involved during the construction process.

The interiors of the temple of Birla are laid with exquisite marble carvings that depict shlokas and pictorial engravings from the Bhagavata Gita. The engraving is spectacularly eye-catching. The ceiling of the temple of Birla is bedecked with breath-taking chandeliers and electric lamps that add marvellous lustre and shine to the interior.

The colossal structure of Birla Temple stands at 160 feet above the ground and is spread over 44 cottahs of land. The architectural pattern is partly inspired from the Laxmi Narayan Temple and Lingaraj Temple of Bhubaneswar, Odisha, which is very near to Puri. Apart from the beautiful Radha-Krishna idols, the idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga have also been installed inside the sanctum of the temple. Birla Temple depicts the ideals of Hinduism as enshrined in the Vedas and Upanishads and their application to everyday life.

Birla Mandir of Kolkata has been built by the ‘Birla family’, the famous industrialist family of India. The construction of the temple began in the year 1970. It took 26 years to complete the indelible structure.