The Birla Mandir established five decades ago on Arera Hill in Bhopal has been a centre of religious faith for years. The beautiful idols of
Lord Vishnu and
Goddess Lakshmi installed in the temple are attracting devotees towards it. Spread over about 7-8 acres of hilly area, the fame of this temple has spread in various cities of the country and the state. Inside the temple, the carvings of various mythological scenes on marble are not only worth seeing, but teachings from the
Bhagavad Gita and
Ramayana are also inscribed on them. Apart from the idols of Vishnu and Lakshmi, the idol of
Shiva is situated on one side and that of
Maa Jagdamba on the other.
Hanuman and
Shivling are established in the temple premises. The huge conch shell in front of the main entrance of the temple is also worth seeing. At the time of the establishment of the temple, former Chief Minister
Kailash Nath had given land to the Birla family to establish an industry in the city and also put a condition that they should build a grand and huge temple in this inaccessible hilly area. At the time of the inauguration of the temple, a huge Vishnu Mahayagya was also organized here, in which many scholars and religious scholars participated. Even today, this temple is the main center of public faith. On
Janmashtami, the main event of
Lord Krishna's birth is organized here, in which a large number of devotees participate and worship Vishnu. == See also ==