Name: Mumbai
Rating: 3.3

ISKCON Temple, Mumbai Overview

ISCKON Temple is a divine and spiritual getaway from all the hustle and bustle of the capital city of Mumbai. Dedicated to Lord Krishna who is considered as the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, the temple is clad in marble and glass. Meters away from the Juhu Beach, incorporating Iskcon Temple in your weekend plans might just be the perfect peaceful escape you are looking for. This place has a tranquil feel about it and the in-house vegetarian restaurant serves exceptional food at cheap rates.

The ISCKON Temple has an impressive architecture and paintings on the temple walls depict scenes from the Mahabharata. Swami Prabhupada, a devout follower of Krishna went to the United States at the age of 69 and founded Iskcon when most men look for the comfort of homes. Gates are opened at four thirty in the morning for visitors. The best time to visit ISKCON temple is early in the morning when the deities are decorated with flowers. A charged ambience with the humming of mantras from devotees during the daily morning and evening Aarti and the delicious Prasad served just after is a must during a visit to this place.

ISKCON Temple Mumbai History

Iskcon Temple was built in 1978. The colorful and vibrant deities of Lord Krishna and Radha accompanied by Lord Hanuman to the right, and Lord Ram and Lakshman to the left were personally installed by Swami Prabhupada. In 1965, at the age of 69, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada boarded a steamship from Mumbai on his way to the United States. In July of 1966, while he was still working from a storefront on New York City’s Lower East Side, he founded a spiritual society. He called it International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). There was not a single follower of the community at the time of its inception, but that did little to deter the faith of Swami. He started listing volunteers from his lectures attendees. Today ISKCON has over a hundred temples and forty communities.

Facilities Offered at ISKCON Temple Mumbai

The ISKCON Temple complex has furnished and clean air conditioned and non-air conditioned rooms at nominal rates, the rooms are subject to availability. The guest house has an in-house cyber cafe and telephone booth where you could also arrange local sight-seeing through the reception. The temple also has a multi-purpose hall and a bakery with a delicious variety of bakery products. A Campus Preaching booth is situated at the exit gate of the temple; it is a dedicated enquiry cum information desk regarding temple programs and facilities. It also offers counsel for social, personal and spiritual problems.

Best Time To Visit ISKCON Temple

The temple is beautifully decorated during major festivals like Janmashtami, Diwali and Dusshera, this can be a good time to visit this place, though it will be a bit crowded around these festivals.

Restaurants Near ISKCON Temple

Govinda, a vegetarian restaurant serves Saatvik food inside the temple. Sattva is one of the three 'gunas' (qualities) based on the Hindu philosophy. The other two are rajas ( passion and activity) and tamas ( chaos and destruction). Sattva comprises of qualities like truth, peacefulness and virtuousness which are supposed to draw one towards Dharma. Saatvik food is believed to contain these qualities and is organically grown vegetarian food consisting of seasonal foods, fruits, nuts, seeds, oils, legumes and whole grains.
Dakshinayan, a south Indian restaurant just opposite to the temple is good but might get crowded, especially on weekend evenings. Parking is quite easily available here as well.

Tips For Visiting ISKCON Temple

Leave your footwear outside the temple. There is no dress code but one should dress up conservatively.

How To Reach ISKCON Temple Mumbai

Andheri Railway Station, 3.4 kilometres away on the western and harbour line is the nearest local station. Cabs and Auto Rickshaws are readily available. City buses ply from Arogya Nidhi Hospital (300 m), from the temple to all parts of the city.
If you are planning to come by your vehicle, there is a dedicated two-wheeler and four wheeler parking right in front of Juhu Beach which is a few meters away. Finding a parking near the temple is difficult. You may contact them on the following numbers: +91-22-26239704 or +91-9819925594