10/28/21, 8:19 AM ISKCON Temples in India List: Information, History, Architecture, Location

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JUNE 13, 2019

ISKCON Temples: A Religious Organization

Dedicated to Lord Krishna

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Meenakshi Taheem (https://www.fabhotels.com/blog/author/meenakshi/)

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The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, more popularly known as ISKCON, is a Hindu religious organization with temples
established across India as well as abroad. Also called the Hare Krishna movement, the organization follows the line of Gaudiya
Vaishnavism, a monotheistic tradition within the Hindu culture. The beautiful ISKCON temples spread across the county serve as great
attractions for devotees and travelers who want some time away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Want to know more about the ISKCON movement? This blog has everything you should know about the organization, including its
history, architecture, core beliefs, and a list of major ISKCON temples in India.

ISKCON Temples Information:

Name of Foundation: The International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Also Known as: Hare Krishna Movement
Location: Worldwide
Type: Religious Organization
Founder: C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Year of Establishment: 13 th July 1966 in New York City, USA
Headquarters: Mayapur, West Bengal 
Affiliations: Gaudiya Vaishnavism
Largest ISKCON Complex: ISKCON Bangalore
Architecture of ISKCON Temples: Neo-Vedic and Classical Indian with a touch of modern elements

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10/28/21, 8:19 AM ISKCON Temples in India List: Information, History, Architecture, Location

ISKCON: History
ISKCON was founded by Abhaya Caranaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami (born Abhay Charan De) in New York City, USA, in the year 1966.
He is considered as the spiritual guru of the organization. ISKCON was founded with the objective of encouraging the practice of
Bhakti Yoga or Krishna Consciousness. The members of ISKCON dedicate their words and deeds towards pleasing Lord Krishna,
whom they consider to be the Supreme One.

ISKCON: Today
In the last 53 years, the organization has opened hundreds of temples, centers, and rural communities across the world. ISKCON has
also established over a hundred vegetarian restaurants, several local meeting groups, and a number of community projects including
free food distribution programs (Food for Life Project) and eco-villages, to mention a few. They have also founded a scientific
research branch in 1976, named Bhaktivedanta Institute (BI), which encourages the study of the origin of life and nature by making
use of Vedic insights.

Architecture of ISKCON Temples

Many of the ISKCON temples in India and abroad showcase features of neo-Vedic and traditional forms of architecture. For instance,
the temple established in Spanish Fork, United States is designed like a 15 th -century Indian palace complete with elaborate arches,
verandas, and columns. The temple in West Virginia, which has been called the Taj of America, features a splendid gold dome. Many
ISKCON temples in India are also designed using classic architectural styles.

Core Beliefs of ISKCON

The members of ISKCON follow the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, a Vaishnava religious movement that has been prevalent in India
since the latter part of the 15 th century.  ISKCON followers form the largest branch of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Bhaktivedanta Swami took
this tradition to the Western world and spread it through his write-ups and translations of Hindu Holy Scriptures like the Srimad
Bhagavatam, Bhagavad Gita, and Chaitanya Charitamrita among others. These works are now regarded as the scriptures of ISKCON
and are available in many languages.

The ISKCON theology upholds Lord Krishna as the ultimate God and the source of all avatars of the Almighty. Radha is regarded as
the female counterpart of Krishna and the epitome of divine love.         

Preaching is a major element of the ISKCON movement. Followers of this organization spread consciousness about Lord Krishna
mainly through the singing of Hare Krishna songs and mantras in public places and distributing books written by the founder-guru.
These activities are called Sankirtan within the organization.

Major ISKCON Temples in India

ISKCON has a huge following of devotees in India. Several cities and towns have elaborately designed temples where Lord Krishna is
worshipped and glorified. Here is a list of the major ISKCON temples in India:

Temple Name Location

Mayapur, West Bengal
ISKCON Mayapur Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Temple (https://www.fabhotels.com/blog/india-
tourism/west-bengal-tourism/)
ISKCON Bangalore Sri Radha Krishna Temple Rajajinagar, Bangalore
Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh
ISKCON Vrindavan Sri Krishna Balaram Temple (https://www.fabhotels.com/blog/india-
tourism/uttar-pradesh-tourism/)
East of Kailash, New Delhi
ISKCON New Delhi Sri Sri Radhikaraman-Krishna Balaram Temple (https://www.fabhotels.com/blog/india-
tourism/delhi-tourism/)
ISKCON Mumbai Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Temple Chowpatty, Mumbai
ISKCON Pune Sri Sri Radha Vrindavanchandra Temple Camp, Pune
ISKCON Hyderabad Sri Sri Radha-Madanmohan Mandir Abids, Hyderabad
ISKCON Noida Sri Sri Radha Govind Mandir Sector 33, Noida
Sarkhej – Gandhinagar Highway,
ISKCON Ahmedabad Sri Sri Radha Govind Dham
Ahmedabad

ISKCON Chennai Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple Sholinganallur, Chennai
ISKCON Siliguri Sri Sri Radha Madhav Sundar Mandir Siliguri, West Bengal
ISKCON Guwahati Sri Sri Rukmini Krishna South Sarania, Guwahati

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10/28/21, 8:19 AM ISKCON Temples in India List: Information, History, Architecture, Location

ISKCON Bhubaneswar Shri Krishna Balaram Temple Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar

ISKCON Surat Sri Sri Radha Damodar Mandir Jahangir Pura, Surat
Somaladoddi, Andhra Pradesh
ISKCON Anantapur Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Temple (https://www.fabhotels.com/blog/india-
tourism/andhra-pradesh-tourism/)
ISKCON Chandigarh Sri Sri Radha Madhav Temple Sector-36B, Chandigarh

Lesser-known Facts about ISKCON Temples

The ISKCON temple in Bangalore is touted to be the largest ISKCON complex in the world. It features a gold-plated flag post that
is 56 feet high.
The ISKCON temple in Delhi is known for its Bhagavad Gita Animatronics, Mahabharata Light and Sound Show, and a Ramayana
Art Gallery.
The ISKCON temple in Delhi also houses the Astounding Bhagavad Gita, which is arguably the largest religious book ever printed.
The book weighs over 800 kilograms.
George Harrison, one of the members of the Beatles, was a follower of the Krishna Consciousness. He is believed to have
provided financial support to the ISKCON temple in the UK.
Abhaya Caranaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami, the founder of ISKCON, was a family man running a small pharmaceutical business
before he renounced the worldly pleasures and took the religious path.

The ISKCON temples serve as major tourist place in most cities across India. Whether you follow the religious beliefs propagated by
the organization or not, you can always walk into these elaborate temples and immerse in the spiritual vibe, architectural grandeur,
and serenity of the place. So next time when you are in any of these cities, don’t forget to include the ISKCON temple in your itinerary.

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Meenakshi Taheem
I am obsessed with old edifices, museums and different cultures. When not
writing and editing stories, I love to explore forgotten ruins or indulge in
gardening and cooking – the other things I'm passionate about. My motto in life
is “Love what you Do and Do what you Love”, and that is what is driving me all
through.

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