ISKCON Temple located at Mainavati Marg in Bithoor, is only 4 km away from the boundaries of Kanpur city. The temple is constructed on a fifteen-acre plot, near the River Ganges. With astounding architecture, grand towers and a widespread courtyard, it is a feast for the eyes and when heading here, do not forget to carry your camera along!
ISKCON Temple, an international spiritual gateway
ISKCON Temple is part of the intercontinental spiritual movement founded by His Divine Grace, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, in New York City, in 1966. Under the guidance of his Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami and Sriman Devakinandan Das, ISKCON Kanpur is home to many practising Hare Krishna devotees and dedicated monks.
A Parikrama Marg encircles the temple with three altars. Within the premises, there is a Vedic Ashram, Bhakti Vedanta Youth Academy, a library, a guest house for devotees, a conference room, a community hall and also a gift shop, to bag some souvenirs.
Best time to visit ISKCON Temple is in August & September
There are various bhajans, kirtans and festivals organised by the temple, for its believers. Since Janmashtami and Radhashtami fall in the months of August and September, devotees prefer visiting the temple in these months. A traditional blessing shower or maha abhishek takes place at the Royal Gold Leaf Shrine for the deities.
There are three festivals that are significant to this temple- Jagannath Rath Yatra, Janmashtami and Diwali. The avatars of Lord Krishna, Sri Sri Radha Madhav, Sri Sri Nitai Gaursundar and Sri Sri Janakai Janaki Vallabha Laxman Hanuman, are customarily embellished and preserved.
A part of the Gaudiya-Vaishnava Sampradāya
ISKCON Temple is a part of the Gaudiya-Vaishnava Sampradāya, a monotheistic tradition within the Vedic or Hindu culture. Anthropologically, it is based on the Sanskrit texts- Bhagavad Gita and the Bhagavat Purana, also known as Srimad Bhagavatam. To promote the culture’s literature, various festivals, performing arts, yoga seminars and religious chanting, are also organised.
Practical application of Devotional yoga
ISKCON members of Kanpur have also aided in the construction of hospitals, schools, colleges, eco-villages, free food distribution projects and other institutions, as a practical application of the path of devotional yoga. So whenever in Kanpur, make sure to take a quick trip to this place, even if you aren’t a believer, and let the serenity of this edifice overtake your consciousness.
Location: Mainavati Marg in Bithoor, Kanpur
Visiting Slots:
- 4:30 AM- 5:30 AM
- 7:30 AM- 1 PM
- 4 PM- 8:30 PM
