ISKCON Temple, Bangalore

A good treat for eyes and senses. It is not a traditional temple, but recently built by International Society for Krishna Consiousness (ISKCON). The ISKCON founded by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada can also be seen as a statue inside the Radha Krishna Temple.

After googled, I can find information about it being completed in 1998. This is a complex of temples. The society though founded in New York as a spiritual society to propagate the message of Bhagawad Gita, which the society still propagates. The ISKCON temple in Bangalore is the famous out of the 40 odd temples in India.

The temple is built by Hare-Rama-Hare-Krishna cult (as it is widely known in India and elsewhere). They are built as a mixture between modern and traditional temple building architecture.

This is how to reach temple in Bangalore. How to reach temple

The temple is open on all days and here is where you can find the Darshan timings. Darshan Timings

My experiences at ISKCON

I had heard about this temple for a long time since I have been in Bangalore, and it was right time when my cousin brother called me for a visit to there. We together got into bus and reached there. The temple structure, I had seen earlier through pictures. The well structured built temple deserves appreciation. The manner in which the footwear is being kept or in the manner in which parking of vehicles is being arranged is awesome. The temple structure also is maintained very well, except for the area where food court is there. (Yes you heard it right, there is a foodcourt inside the temple complex itself).

Once you come out of the inspiring Radha Krishna Temple, the spiritual part ends. From there on it is feast for eyes. There are a full variety of goods kept that will steal your attention and your money. But the proceeds from the sale is used for charitable purposes. That gives a releif.

The only good thing I take back in my mind is of the 108-step chanting stones. I liked the idea very much and would like to get this implemented in many of the crowded temples in our country. This will reduce stampedes atleast in some areas. The concept is like there are 108 granite stones and in each of the step through that you have to chant "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare". I have never seen devotees in such a disciplined lines in any of the temples previously other than here. This should be implemented atleast inside temples to enable free movement of devotees.

It is a must visit if you are visiting Bangalore or if you are in Bangalore.