ISKCON Temple Nehru Place, formally Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Mandir, opens its doors at 4:30 AM with Mangala Arati and closes at 9 PM, with a midday break that catches many first-time visitors off guard. Set on Hare Krishna Hills in East of Kailash, just above the Nehru Place market, it’s one of Delhi’s most visited temples. Few visitors realise the building itself was designed free of charge by one of India’s most celebrated modernist architects.
ISKCON Temple Delhi at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Formal name | Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Mandir |
| Deities | Radha and Krishna, in the form of Radha Parthasarathi |
| Address | Hare Krishna Hills, Sant Nagar, East of Kailash, New Delhi 110065 |
| Inaugurated | 5 April 1998, by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| Architect | Achyut Kanvinde (pro bono commission accepted in 1993) |
| Reported cost | About ₹12 crore, per the temple |
| Opening hours | 4:30 AM – 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
| Morning aarti | Mangala Arati, 4:30 AM |
| Evening aarti | Sandhya Arati, 6:30 PM |
| Auditorium | About 375 seats |
| Highlights | Vedic museum, Govinda’s restaurant, Astounding Bhagavad Gita |
| Entry fee | None for the temple |
| Nearest metro | Nehru Place (Violet Line), Gate 1 |
| Silver Jubilee | Celebrated in 2023 |
Timings come from the temple’s schedule and Incredible India. Festival days may follow different timings.
A Temple Designed Pro Bono by a Modernist
Here’s the story behind the building. The ISKCON temple complex was designed by Achyut Kanvinde, who in 1993 accepted a pro bono commission to build it for the followers of Srila Prabhupada.
Kanvinde wasn’t a temple specialist. He was a Padma Shri-awarded architect whose firm designed the IIT Kanpur campus, the National Science Centre in Delhi and numerous dairy plants for the National Dairy Development Board. He was known for functional, Brutalist-influenced design and trained alongside names like I. M. Pei.
At ISKCON, he blended traditional temple elements with modern ideas. Incredible India highlights the complex’s gardens, fountains, spires and a striking lattice tower, along with the thoughtful use of natural light and water. His approach to form also addressed ventilation and heat, useful on a sunny hilltop in Delhi.
So the same architect behind one of India’s best-known engineering campuses gave Delhi one of its best-known Krishna temples, without charging for it.
Daily Timings and Aarti Schedule
The temple follows a set daily programme, according to its official schedule:
| Time | Programme |
| 4:30 AM | Mangala Arati |
| 5:15 AM | Japa (mantra) meditation |
| 7:00 AM | Darshan Arati |
| 7:30 AM | Guru Puja |
| 8:00 AM | Srimad Bhagavatam discourse |
| 12:30 PM | Raj Bhog Arati |
| 1:00 – 4:00 PM | Temple hall closed |
| 4:15 PM | Usthapana Arati |
| 6:30 PM | Sandhya Arati |
| 8:00 PM | Bhagavad Gita discourse |
| 8:30 PM | Sayana Arati |
| 9:00 PM | Temple hall closes |
Don’t Arrive at 2 PM
The midday closure trips up many tourists. Incredible India lists the temple as open from 4:30 AM to 1 PM and again from 4 PM to 9 PM. Arriving mid-afternoon usually means waiting outside.
The most atmospheric visits tend to be early morning, around Darshan Arati at 7 AM, or evening, for Sandhya Arati at 6:30 PM.
What Each Aarti Means for Visitors
You don’t need to understand the rituals to appreciate them, but a little context helps:
- Mangala Arati (4:30 AM): The first ceremony of the day, attended mostly by devotees.
- Darshan Arati (7:00 AM): A good time for visitors to see the deities formally presented.
- Raj Bhog Arati (12:30 PM): The midday offering, just before the temple hall closes.
- Sandhya Arati (6:30 PM): The evening ceremony, usually the busiest and most lively.
- Sayana Arati (8:30 PM): The final ceremony before the hall closes.
Inside the Complex
The temple is much more than a single shrine. The complex includes:
- The main temple hall with the Radha Parthasarathi deities
- A Vedic museum with a robotics show, art gallery and light and sound presentation
- The Astounding Bhagavad Gita, an 800 kg printed edition unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 26 February 2019
- A 375-seat auditorium for cultural and religious functions
- Govinda’s, the temple’s vegetarian restaurant
- Bookshops selling spiritual literature
- Gardens and fountains around the complex
Visitor Etiquette
A few customs apply inside the temple:
- Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees.
- Remove shoes at the designated shoe-deposit area.
- Keep phones silent, especially during aarti and discourses.
- Follow photography rules posted in different areas.
- Stay seated or stand quietly during kirtan if you’re not participating.
Getting There From Nehru Place
The temple’s official website names Nehru Place metro station on the Violet Line as the nearest stop. Use Gate 1, which station guides mark toward ISKCON Temple. Travel guides estimate the walk at about 14 minutes, with a climb up the hill at the end.
Autos, e-rickshaws and cabs are easy to find around Nehru Place and save the uphill walk. The temple lists parking for visitors who drive.
Festival Days
Major festivals transform the temple. Janmashtami, celebrating Krishna’s birth, draws enormous crowds, with extended programmes and heavy traffic around East of Kailash and Nehru Place.
The temple also marks other festivals with special events. In 2023, it celebrated its Silver Jubilee alongside the Ram Navami festival, with thousands attending.
On festival days, expect changed timings, security checks and long queues. Arrive early, or plan your visit for a regular weekday if you prefer a quieter experience.
Combining Your Visit
ISKCON sits within easy reach of several South Delhi landmarks:
- Nehru Place market, for shopping before or after your visit
- Lotus Temple, roughly a 20-minute walk away, closed on Mondays
- Kalkaji Mandir, one of Delhi’s most visited Kali temples
A practical plan: shop in Nehru Place in the afternoon, head up to ISKCON for Sandhya Arati at 6:30 PM, then eat at Govinda’s before heading home.
ISKCON Temple Questions People Ask
Q1. What are ISKCON Temple Delhi timings?
A. ISKCON Temple Delhi is open from 4:30 AM to 1:00 PM and again from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The temple hall remains closed between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM.
Q2. What time is the evening aarti at ISKCON Delhi?
A. Sandhya Arati takes place at 6:30 PM, followed by a Bhagavad Gita discourse at 8:00 PM and Sayana Arati at 8:30 PM.
Q3. Who inaugurated ISKCON Temple Delhi?
A. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee inaugurated ISKCON Temple Delhi on 5 April 1998, in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma and Sushma Swaraj.
Q4. Who designed ISKCON Temple Delhi?
A. Architect Achyut Kanvinde designed the temple complex after accepting the commission pro bono in 1993. His architectural firm also designed the IIT Kanpur campus.
Q5. Is there an entry fee at ISKCON Temple Delhi?
A. No. There is no entry fee to visit ISKCON Temple Delhi. However, some attractions or museum shows inside the complex may have separate arrangements or charges.
Q6. Which metro station is nearest to ISKCON Temple Delhi?
A. Nehru Place Metro Station on the Violet Line is a convenient nearby station. Visitors can use Gate 1 and walk for about 14 minutes to the temple or take an auto or e-rickshaw.
