Soren says he will resign in a day or two

Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren on Saturday said he would resign in a day or two after discussing an alternative arrangement with his party leaders after the humiliating defeat in the Assembly byelections.

"I will discuss the matter of an alternative arrangement at the party (JMM) meeting, will go to Delhi today or tomorrow and resign," Soren said in Ranchi.

The JMM president, who returned here after meeting central UPA leadership today, said an alternative would be found out soon.

Asked whether he would resign today or Sunday, Soren said was it was not legally mandatory to resign now.

"I accept my defeat at Tamar bypoll. I honour the people’s verdict. So I went to Delhi and discussed the matter with the UPA leaders there. Now after meeting my partymen I will once again go to Delhi to inform them, before submitting my resignation," Soren said while admitting that his defeat had plunged the state to a political crisis.

Returning by the same flight with Soren, state UPA chairman Madhu Koda said the central leadership had firmly asked Soren to step down and find an alternative.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s executive body is meeting today to deliberate upon Soren’s discussions with the UPA leadership.

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Inflation falls to nine-month low of 6.61 pc

Inflation almost halved to a nine-month low of 6.61 percent from this year’s peak of 12.91 percent, prompting analysts to predict that it would fall to two per cent by the end of this fiscal and giving more space to the RBI to signal further cuts in interest rates.

Wholesale prices-based inflation declined by 0.23 percentage points, for the seventh consecutive time during the week ended 13th December as manufactured goods and food items became cheaper due to the cascading effect of fuel price cuts and other factors.

"(The) declining inflation rate provides more leeway to the RBI to further slash interest rates. I expect a 100 basis point cut in both the repo (short-term lending rate) and reverse repo (short-term borrowing) rates," said Crisil Principal Economist D K Joshi.

In fact, the Mid-Year Review of the economy, tabled in Parliament, said that an aggressive easing of monetary policy may be required if manufacturing continues to be affected by global developments.

The rate of price rise was lower than this at 6.21 per cent during the week ended 1st March this year.

It touched the peak of 12.91 per cent during the week ended 9th August.

Inflation fell from 6.84 per cent a week ago. It was 3.84 per cent a year ago during the corresponding period.

Analysts expect that falling commodity prices and slackening demand globally may further bring down inflation in the range of 2-3 per cent by March 2009.

"I expect inflation to drop sharply to below 2 per cent by March due to the sharp decline in manufactured goods prices and commodity prices," HDFC Bank Chief Economist Abheek Barua said.

During the week, manufactured products became cheaper with basic heavy inorganic chemicals turning cheaper by 7.2 per cent.

Also groundnut oil, sugar, cement and certain textile items like cotton yarn turned cheaper.

Among food items, vegetable prices fell by more than three per cent followed by tea, cereals, and spices while sea fish, wheat and bajra got dearer.

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Mumbai terror strikes were an attack on India’s democratic values: Sonia

In a tough message to Pakistan, Congress President Sonia Gandhi termed the Mumbai terror attacks as an assault on the very "idea of India" and said none should take the country for granted and underestimate its resolve for peace.

Pointing out that the UPA government had initiated a number of programmes for the benefit of the poor of the country, Sonia said these programmes are now bearing fruits in the development of the society.

"The Mumbai terror strikes were an attack on the very idea of India where people of different race, religions and beliefs live harmoniously", Sonia said addressing a gathering of Congress workers in Kochi on Monday evening.

India came under assault during the attack by terrorists causing so much destruction to the democratic and secular way lof life, she said.

But ‘ let nobody take us for granted, let nobody underestimate our resolve for peace’, Gandhi said.

Paying homage to the security personnel killed in the attack, particularly NSG officer from Kerala Maj Sandeep Unnikrishnan, she said he was a valiant son of the state and India and will be remembered by a grateful nation for generations to come.

Just before the barbaric attacks by terrorists, India had shown its capabilities in space technology by successfully launching the Chandrayaan-I moon mission, she said.

People will reject Left in Kerala, Bengal: Sonia

Hitting out at the Communist parties for their criticism of the Indo-US nuclear deal, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today said Kerala will show the way for the defeat of comrades both in the state and West Bengal.

"The left parties withdrew support to the UPA Government and pointed fingers at us," Gandhi, on her first visit to Kerala after the withdrawal of support by Left parties, told a gathering of Congress workers in Kochi.

Gandhi said she was confident that when the time comes, people of the state and India will look at the Congress-led UPA and give a "positive verdict."

"We have just won three state elections. People will defeat the Left parties in Kerala and West Bengal."

The UPA Government does not want a "certificate" on patriotism from the Left parties.

There is no question of the Congress party ever compromising on security issues and independence in foreign policy, she said.

Pointing out that Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had laid down their lives for the country, she said ‘we do not want a certificate from the left parties on our patriotism’.

Defending the nuclear agreement, she said it will enhance the nation’s progress in various spheres, help in generation of electricity.

The future generations will recognise the vision of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party in concluding the agreement, she said.

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We have to galvanise intl community to deal with epicentre of terrorism :PM

In the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks, winding up the debate in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that Pakistan has reportedly taken some steps against terrorists, but it needs to do much more.

The Prime Minister said India has so far exercised restraint, but cannot be satisfied with mere assurances on terror emanating from Pakistan.

Singh said, the infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan should be dismantled.

He said that the government is committed to police modernisation and further reiterated that as part of measures to strengthen maritime security, Coast Guard will henceforth be the sole agency responsible for coastal protection and the Navy that will provide back-up.

Singh said, we have identified gaps in the security system, and there is need to equip the security personnel to meet the unprecedented threat to the unity and integrity of the country.

"I apologise to the people of the country that the dastardly act in Mumbai could not be prevented", Singh said.

"As part of measures to strengthen maritime security, Coast Guard will henceforth be the sole agency responsible for coastal protection, Navy will provide back-up", said Singh.

Sleuths, telecos must cooperate to fight terror: PM

Manmohan Singh on Thursday said an effective cooperation was needed between security agencies and the telecom industry to combat such incidents.

"It is very important that there should be effective cooperation and coordination between the agencies whose responsibility is to safeguard the security of the country and producers, all actors in the industry (of technology)", Singh said while inaugurating the India Telecom 2008 conference.

Singh said this while endorsing FICCI president Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s suggestion that there was a need for very serious upgrade in the government’s thinking on the level of cooperation that is currently engaging with the telecom industry to counter terrorism.

The telecom industry currently provides real-time support through legal intercepts and monitoring mechanism.

The Prime Minister said though modern technology is a powerful tool, it still can be a threat if it falls in the hands of anti-social elements and terrorists.

Thus there is a need for an effective coordination between the security agencies and the industry.

Terrorists involved in the Mumbai attacks had managed to secure SIM cards and maintain a communication network out of the country – a matter of concern for security agencies which, as a matter of fact, have the power and ability to intercept the data and calls.

Telecom Secretary Siddartha Behura later said DoT has a security wing specially to have useful coordination between intelligence agencies, industry and the licensor (DoT) itself.

Singh said impartial regulation should administer all infrastructure sectors (like telecom) which have been thrown open for increased competition, both to the domestic as well as international investors.

Singh called for more effective, objective and impartial regulation, especially in the infrastructure sectors like telecom which have been thrown open to increased competition both by the domestic and global investors.

Lauding the role of technology in the economic progress, he said it is a powerful force in any process of growth and development.

India has no option but to operate on the frontiers of modern knowledge and imbibe the latest technology, he said.

PM apologises over Mumbai attacks, vows to gear up system

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday apologised to the country for the government’s inability to prevent the Mumbai attacks and vowed to gear up the security apparatus to prevent recurrence of such incidents besides building pressure on Pakistan to end the scourge.

Making an intervention during the debate on the Mumbai attacks in Lok Sabha, Singh noted the action by Pakistan against Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Mohd Saeed but asserted that Islamabad needed to do "much more" to take things to logical conclusion and convince the world about its actions.

Outlining steps to gear up the country’s security system to meet the "unprecedented threat", he said the government has decided to set up a National Investigation Agency, decentralise NSG, form more commando units, strengthen coastal security by making the Coast Guard the sole force responsible for it and step up air surveillance.

"I apologise to the people of the country that this dastardly act could not be prevented," he said referring to the Mumbai strikes and acknowledged that acts of terrorism have witnessed an increase resulting in death of hundreds of citizens.

Observing that the "epicentre of terrorism" is located in Pakistan, he underlined that the terror infrastructure in the neighbouring country must be dismantled and India cannot be "satisfied with mere assurances."

Singh said India has so far exercised "utmost restraint" but it should "not be misconstrued as a sign of our weakness".

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Yuvraj Singh and Pragyan Ojha named in India’s Test squad

Dashing middle order batsman Yuvraj Singh was on Thursday recalled while left arm spinner Pragyan Ojha was also named in India’s 15-member Test squad for the two-match series against England beginning next week.

Yuvraj, who had been in sizzling form in the recent ODI series against England, forced his way back into Test reckoning following Sourav Ganguly’s retirement from international cricket.

Hyderabad spinner Ojha has been rewarded with a berth in the Test team, filling up the spot left vacant by former Test captain Anil Kumble who has also bid farewell to the game.

Paceman R P Singh has been dropped. Tamil Nadu opener Murali Vijay, who made his debut against Australia in the last Test in Nagpur, has been retained in the squad which has eight specialist batsmen, three pacers, three spinners and one wicket-keeper batsman in captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Another Tamil Nadu batsman S Badrinath has also been named in the squad which otherwise has no surprise inclusions.

England are scheduled to play the first Test in Chennai from 11th to 15th December and the second Test in Mohali from 19th to 23rd December after the itinerary was revised following the terror attacks in Mumbai.

The Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag (vice-captain), Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Amit Mishra, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, S Badrinath, Munaf Patel, Murali Vijay, Pragyan Ojha.

Yuvraj has so far played 23 Tests and has compiled 1050 runs for an average of 32.81 which does not quite justify the talent he has got.

Hyderabad spinner Ojha has been rewarded with a berth in the Test team, filling up the spot left vacant by former Test captain Anil Kumble who has also bid farewell to the game.

With the selectors opting to strengthen the spin department, paceman R P Singh had be left out of the team.

Tamil Nadu opener Murali Vijay, who made a rather impressive debut against Australia, has been retained in the squad which has eight specialist batsmen, three pacers, three spinners and one wicket-keeper batsman in captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Vijay will be the reserve opener with Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir being the regular openers.

In the absence of veteran leg-spinner Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh will have to shoulder the spin responsibility alongwith leg spinner Amit Mishra who made quite an impact in the series against Australia.

VVS laxman, who pulled out of the Ranji Trophy tie against Mumbai because of an injury, has been included in the team which means that he has recovered from the injury.

Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid are the two most experienced batsmen in the line-up and the duo will have a big role to play in the series.

The terror attacks in Mumbai had cast a shadow of uncertainty on the Test series with the England team returning home, abandoning the last two ODIs in Guwahati and New Delhi.

S. Badrinath and Murali Vijay too has found a place in the squad.

The first Test will be played in Chennai from 11th December and the second in Mohali from 19th December.

As the selectors sit to pick a squad, the first job for them will be to fill the void created by the retirements of former captains Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble after the memorable home series against Australia.

Even though Amit Mishra almost effortlessly filled the spin void, there is no automatic choice to step into Ganguly’s shoe in the middle-order.

The agile S Badrinath was part of the Indian squad for the first two Tests against Australia but a maiden Test cap continues to elude the Tamil Nadu batsman.

Yuvraj Singh could have been the automatic choice but his inability to replicate his short game form in the longer version has been his bane and hence is not a certainty in Test cricket despite hanging around for quite a while.

From the side that played Australia in the fourth and final Test at Nagpur, Murali Vijay would be fancying his chances.

With Gautam Gambhir serving a one-Test ban for elbowing Shane Watson in the previous match, Vijay was plucked out of Ranji matches to open the innings with Virender Sehwag and he didn’t let down.

Thirty three in the first innings and 41 in the second may not have set the record books on fire but Vijay still made his mark in the game.

With most in the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side picking themselves, selectors have a rather easy job this time.

Sehwag and Gambhir are in sizzling form at the top, while Rahul Dravid despite his prolonged bad patch Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman have made the next slots their own.

In case Badrinath manages to sneak in, Dhoni would follow him at five down.

Kumble’s retirement passes the spin spearhead’s baton to Harbhajan Singh and the off-spinner would expect Mishra’s prodigious spin to put the Englishmen on a leash.

In the pace bowling department, as Ishant Sharma keeps telling, Zaheer Khan has been a mentor for his pace colleagues and Ishant himself is a beneficiary.

Both the pacers made Australia’s life difficult in the home series and Dhoni could not praise them enough.

Though Munaf Patel didn’t get a chance to prove his mettle against Australia, his sterling show in the ODI series against England means RP Singh has reasons to feel insecure.

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Trip to India is to “express solidarity”, says Rice

The Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said that the primary goal of her visit to India is to "express solidarity".

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will reach New Delhi on Wednesday after cutting short her last meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Rice will meet Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and is likely to meet Home Minister and NSA.

Speaking in Brussels at the NATO headquarters, Rice said that expressing solidarity with the people of the country will be the focus of her visit to India.

"I am going to, of course, express solidarity with the Indian people. This was a horrible attack. It was, of course, also an attack that killed American citizens. And it is therefore of very great concern to the United States," Rice said.

"It underscores the importance of getting to the bottom of what happened, both to bring those who perpetrated this terrible crime to justice and to try and prevent further attacks of this kind. And in that regard, I want to consult with the Indian government further about what we can do to help," she said in response to a query.

Noting that everyone, including Pakistan, needs to cooperate fully and transparently in the investigations of the audacious attacks in India’s financial capital, the top US official said, "I was pleased to see the statements of the Pakistani government that they intend to do so, but that is the nature of my trip to India".

In response to another query related to any advance warning the United States may have passed on to India before the Mumbai attacks, Rice was reluctant to comment on the issue.

"As to the reports that I have seen, as you have, I don’t really know the source of them, and I’m always reluctant to speak to unnamed sources who are speaking on background, because one never knows what they’re talking about," she said.

"That’s one of the problems with the unnamed source issue. But we obviously try to pass information to countries all around the world if we pick up information. But I’ll tell you, having been on the receiving end of information sometimes which one could constitute as ‘warnings’, they are often difficult to act on, sometimes not very concrete," Rice added.

"So the real problem we have with terrorism is that terrorists can be right once and we have to be right 100 per cent of the time. And in that regard, I have some not just sympathy, but empathy for what the Indian Government has gone through," she added, according to a transcript released by the State Department in Washington.

Rice was pressed on whether the United States passed on specific information that there was increased chatter as you (America) had before 9/11.

"I dont know who this source is, and so I don’t know what they’re referring to. As I said to you, I’ve been on the other side of this, and I’m not going to respond to whether there are chatter or whatever," she said.

"And I know that the Indian government is looking hard at how it might have more effective counterterrorism responses, how it might better use information. We’ve been through in that United States; it is a tough business, particularly for a democracy. And so I have to tell you, I have a lot of empathy for what they are going through," Rice replied.

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Bomb Blast And Terrorist Firing In Mumbai

Mumbai city is under terrorist attack, yes once more, there were total 12 blasts in different areas in South Mumbai and firing at 5 places. Two five star hotels, Taj and Oberoi have been attacked.

5 terrorists are still inside Taj Hotel room no.631, there were total 4 blasts in Taj hotel and 2 in Oberoi. The police and the commandos have surrounded both the hotels and around 200 more NSG commandos are immediately called.

2 blasts happened inside a cab in 2 different areas. One below the flyover in Vile Parle near the domestic airport and another in Mazgaon area. One blast happened outside the assembly house; where as few terrorists threw grenades from the terrace of a building in Colaba.

The Police has so far succeeded in killing 2 terrorists and two have been nabbed. 2 policemen were killed in the crossfiring near Girgaum whereas 6o civilians lost their lives in the blasts today.

Maharashtra, Delhi and Gujarat states have been declared on high alert. 2 terrorist fled in a police van no. MH-01, BA-5179, which was parked near Metro cinema.

There are lot of civilians who are still trapped in the basement of Taj and Oberoi Hotel including a friend of mine as I type this story.

Its high time all the nations unitie together and fight terrorists and the barbarian act of killing innocents.

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Mumbai Bomb Blast

At least 100 people were killed and around 714 injured, many seriously, as seven powerful blasts ripped through packed train cars and on stations during rush hour here Tuesday evening in the worst terror attack in India in over a decade.

Dazed survivors, blood on their faces, stared blankly at the explosion sites, some trying desperately to speak to their families on mobile telephones held by young men who came rushing from neighbourhood buildings. All this while it kept raining all over the city, making the situation much more grim and difficult.

Terror and mayhem struck Mumbai and Srinagar, two cities 1600 km apart in the west and north of India, killing at least 143 people, the majority of them in suburban trains in the country’s financial and entertainment capital.

The targets of bombings in Mumbai during the evening rush hour were the suburban train service that is the lifeline of the city. The stations that were targeted were Khar, Mahim, Matunga, Jogeshwari, Borivili, Bhayandra (Mira Road) and the Khar-Santa Cruz subway.

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About Delhi

History of Delhi :

An Introduction :

It’s hard to think of Delhi as anything but the capital of India but for a surprisingly long time Delhi was not the hot seat of power. Having said that, however, it’s also true that Delhi was never exactly a sidekick on the scene of Indian history. All through its long innings, the present capital of India has been an important player.Reasons for this might be found in its geographical location. Delhi has always been a convenient link between Central Asia, the northwest frontiers and the rest of the country. An inscription dating from the time of Asoka, the famous Mauryan king, tells us that Delhi was on the great northern highway of the Mauryas and linked their capital Patliputta (near modern Patna, Bihar) with Taxila (Takshashila), now in Pakistan. This was apparently the route that Buddhist monks took on their way to Taxila, the intellectual hotbed in those days, and Central Asia. What one can read between the lines is that it was also the route that the Mauryan armies took enroute to quelling the frequent rebellions and foreign insurgencies in Taxila and other such border trouble spots. So, this gave Delhi considerable strategic importanceKashmere Gate delhi.

The story of Delhi unfolds far back in the dark mists of history.

City :- Indraprastha

Date :-1450 BC (approx.)

Site :- In Purana Qila

Remains :- Archeological finds now support the view that this was indeed Delhi’s earliest city. This has not surprised anyone in Delhi, for popular opinion had never doubted the existence of Indra-prashtha. Reasons for its decline are not known.

City :- Lal Kot or Qila Rai Pithora

Date :- 1060 AD; built by Rajput Tomaras. 12th century; captured and enlarged by the Rajput king Prithviraj Chauhan.

Site :- QutubMinar-Mehraulicomplex.

Remains :- Very little remains of the original Lal Kot. of the 13 gates of Rai Pithora fort, now only three remain.

City :- Siri

Date :-1304 AD; built by Alauddin Khilji of the Delhi Sultanate. Alauddin Khilji was well-known for his trade reforms, so it’s not surprising that Siri was a major trading throughout the centre the Hauz-i-Alai, 14th century.

Site :- Near Hauz Khas and Gulmohar Park.

Remains :- Some portions and walls remain. Alauddin Khilji also built other things around Siri. Like, the beautiful Alai Darwaza, the south gate of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque and reservoir in present-day Hauz Khas.

City :- Tughlaqabad

Date :- 1321-23 AD. Built by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.

Site :- 8km from the Qutub complex.

Remains :- Walls and some ruined buildings.

City :-Jahanpanah

Date :- Mid-14th century. Built by Mohammad- bin-Tughlaq, the so-called lunatic king. Actually he had some brilliant ideas but fumbled badly in their execution.

Site :- Between Siri and Qutub Minar.

Remains :-A few remnants of defensive ramparts.

City :-Ferozabad

Date :- 1354 AD; by Feroze Tughlaq. It remained the capital until Sikander Lodi moved to Agra.

Site :- Kotla Feroze Shah.

Remains :- Only the Asoka Pillar rising from the ruins remains. There is stadium for cricket which is called Feroze Shah Kotla grounds. It is also a regular bus stop.

City :- Dilli Sher Shahi (Shergarh)

Date :- 1534; This Delhi was actually started by Humayun, the second Mughal emperor. After he was defeated and forced into exile, his far more able overthrower Sher Shah Suri completed it.

Site :- Opposite the zoo. Around Purana Qila.

Remains :- High gates,walls,mosque and a great baoli(well). Kabuli and Lal Darwaza gates and the Sher Mandal.

City :- Shajahanabad

Date :- Mid-17th century. Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor moved his capital from Agra to here.

Site :- The existing Old Delhi.

Remains :- The Red Fort, Jama Masjid, main streets of Old Delhi (like Chandini Chowk), long sections of walls and several city gates. Old Delhi might be congested, but it still retains its medieval charm. The people are very warm and welcoming, even though riots between Hindus and Muslims are quite common.

City :- New Delhi

Date :- 1920s. The formal announcement to move the seat of power from Calcutta to Delhi was made during the famous Delhi Durbar in 1911. Contractors and workers working from the designs of Edward Lutyens completed the main buildings 20 years later. Since then Delhi has remained the capital of India.

Site :- Connaught Place and Rajpath.

Remains :- All the main British buildings, which include the spacious bungalows of the now elite New Delhi area, the President’s House, the Parliament and Supreme Court.

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Birala Mandir Delhi

Built In :	1938.
Also Known As :	Lakshmi Narayan Temple.
History :	Built Over a Period of 6 years, Temple was Built by Famous Birla Family
Famous As :	Hindu Temple Welcoming Everyone.
Architectural Structure :	Built in Orissan Style. Exterior is of White Marble and Red Sandstone with Tall Curved Towers.
Visiting Hours :	From 7 to 12 in the Morning and 2 to 9 in Evening.
Time required :	2 Hour Approximately.
Observe :	Geeta Bhawan – Hall Where Paintings Depicting Scenes From Indian Mythology are Displayed.
Other Temple :	Buddha Temple Inside the Premises.
Fact :	This Temple was Inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi, Father of our Nation.
Most Famous Festival :	Janamashtami (Birth of Lord Krishna), Ram Navami , Diwali (Festival of Lights).
Other Attractions :	Gardens and Fountains Inside the Premises.
Don’t Miss :	Aartis, Performed During the Evenings is Worth Attending.
Must See :	The Famous Display During Janamashtami (Birth of Lord Krishna) Festival.
Nearby Attractions :	Jantar Mantar, India Gate, Hanuman Mandir.
Inside Tip :	Friday – Special Day of the Goddess Vaibhav Laxmi is Best Day to Visit this Temple.
Nearby Shopping Venues :	Connaught Place, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Palika Bazaar and Janpath.

The one thing that dominates the urbane skyline of Central Delhi is apparently the soaring spire of the Lakshmi Narayan Temple. About 1.5 km due west of Connaught Place, this garish, modern, Orissan styled temple was erected by industrialist B.D.Birla in 1938 and was inaugrated by Mahatma Gandhi on the condition that people of all castes especially untouchables would be allowed in. The temple enshrines almost all the deities of the Hindu Pantheon, the presiding deity being Narayan (Vishnu, the preserver in Hindu trinity) and his consort Lakshmi, the Goddess of prosperity and good fortune. The revered shrine, nestling in the heart of the city, is as famous for its sanctity as for its architecture. Portraying an alluring blend of cream and red, the sacred shrine also affords a curious medley of Hindu mythology and ancient Indian architecture. Enjoy a visit to the temple to savour spirituality and legends, served in a different flavour.

Experience Beauty And Divinity Melt In The Heart of Stones

The architecture is amazing. Built in the Nagara style of architecture interspersed with modern influences, the Birla Mandir awakes from the womb of lush green Link Road reigning the whole terrain. The temple faces the east and is adorned with exquisite carvings depicting scenes from Hindu mythology. The other awe-inspiring thing is apparently the soaring spires of the shrine. You will be amazed to see the main spire (shikhara), nestling above the sanctum sanctorum, soaring with its head high at almost 160 ft. Enjoy a leisure walk through the spacious corridors and you will be overwhelmed to see such beautiful friezes and artistic sculptures that only add to the aesthetic beauty of this temple. Do you know that 101 skilled pundits from Varanasi, headed by Acharya Vishvanath Shastri, were employed to create this magic in stones. Remember to visit the Buddha shrine, the rippleless walls embellished with fresco paintings depicting the Lord’s life and work. Children can also enjoy their hearts out at the miniature rock temples nestling at the backyard of the temple. There is also an arena said to be the erstwhile gym of Bhima, the second Pandava of the Mahabharata fame. An artificial landscape complete with mountains and cascading waterfalls makes for a perfect solitude.

Plan your holiday trip during Janamashtami, a festival celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Krishna. The whole temple pulsates with sacred hymes and spiritual fragrance, and you can see devotees, adorned in colourful clothes, hemming in to vow adoration to infant Gopal. During Deepawali, the whole temple is trimmed with multi-hued lights that create a magnificent spell in the heart of every tourist. Believe us, it is indeed a mind-blowing vista to look at this colossal shrine glittering amidst lakhs of spiritual hearts. Also, do not forget to behold the splendid ‘Arati’ ceremony, a ritual performed with flowers, lamps, scent and other sacred artifacts.

How To Reach

The sacred Lakshmi Narayan Temple is situated on Mandir Marg, 1.5 km due west of Connaught Place. Tourists can get multiple transportation options to reach the temple. It is easy to reach Shivaji Stadium or Talkatora Gardens from all parts of the city, and then hire an auto rickshaw to visit the Birla Mandir. Entry is free but u might have to shed a few bucks if you want to go for some ‘Puja’ (religious ritual) inside the sanctum sanctorum. The temple is open from sunrise to sunset and the dates of religious ceremonies can be seen at the Mandir’s office.

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