ISKCON TEMPLE, DELHI

ISKCON TEMPLE, DELHI
Shri Radha Parthasartha Mandir

Shri Radha Parthasatha Mandir
Photo by: Mitu B

Location:                                 Hare Krishna Hill, East of Kailash, New Delhi

Approach:   

By air-                           17 KM (Indira Gandhi International Airport)

By railway station-       5 KM (Nizamuddin Railway Station)

By metro-                     1.6 KM(Nehru Palace Metro)

Project size:                              3 acres

Construction period:                 1993-1998(5 years)

Architecture style:                    Contemporary

Architect/Designer:                  Ar. Achyut P Kanvinde

Ladscape Designer:                  Prof. Ravindra Bhan

AREA REQUIREMENTS

Area requirements
Photo by: Ravindra Bhan and Associates

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

TEMPLE

Photo by: Mitu B

• Garbha griha

Radha Parthasarti at Iskcon temple, Delhi
Photo by: Bill William Compton

Interior: Gold plated sinhasan with ek ratna style elevation in white marble.

Each shikhara for each diety

Dieties include:

1. Radha Krishna parthasarthi
2. Shri Ram Lakshman Sita
3. Shri Gaur Nitai
4. Narsimha Avatar

• Mandapa

Vaishnava devotees weaving flower garlands for deities at Iskcon temple
Photo by: Mitu B

Space designed for approx. 1500 visitors at a time

Interior: Flooring and cladding in white marble with black, grey and yellow terracotta finish

Prabhupada statue facing garbhagriha

Statue of A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ( founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, commonly known as the "Hare Krishna Movement") 
Photo by: Mitu B

Circular hall with columns forming haunch with skylight provided at crown

Skylight centered at the roof of mandapa
Photo by: Mitu B

• Pradakshina path

Signage directing the parikrama path
Photo by: Mitu B

Interior: 6" Polished grey marble used in wall cladding with black and white marble flooring in 2'-0" x 2'-0" grey marble tile with 3" black granite and red granite at the edge.

Entry to the pradakshina path
Photo by: Mitu B

Pradakshina path is decorated with hindu mythology depicting paintings by russian artists

Ceiling lights are positioned and oriented such that wall light foucuses on paintings

INSTITUTION BLOCK A- VEDIC EXPO, GUEST HOUSE AND AUDITORIUM

Institution Block A 
Photo by: Mitu B

Museum with light and sound depicting events of Mahabharat

COMMERICAL

Dining hall on the ground floor

Bookshops, Garment, Sweet shops, life membership office, seminar hall on the first floor

Shops
Photo by: Mitu B

Shops
Photo by: Mitu B

INSTITUTION BLOCK B- ADMIN BLOCK, PREACHING OFFICE, RECEPTION AND LIFE MEMBERSHIP OFFICE, TOILET AND DRINKING WATER FACILITIES

Admin block
Photo by: Mitu B

Direct access route provided from admin office to temple as it is located right below the temple

Toilet
Photo by: Mitu B

GOVINDA' S RESTAURANT

Photo by: Mitu B

PARKING

Parking near the main entrance
Photo by: Mitu B

Main entry
Photo by: Mitu B

STRUCTURE

Reinforced concrete frame structure with red and white stone finish.

Shikhara concept by Ar. A P Kanvinde
Photo by: Achyut Kanvinde Chronology of Works | Aζ South Asia (architexturez.net)
Transparent concrete facade of Shikhara characterised by oriel ans arched by openings framed in red sandstone and white marble

Shikhara

Rests on 8 octagonal columns polished in white marble forming an 8 (extruded) triangular-shaped haunch.

Corners are removed and replaced by slits for day lighting and ventilation.

Photo by: Mitu B

LANDSCAPE FEATURES

Flooring in Kotah and brown Dholpur stone in cladding.

Photo by: Mitu B

Column base were in different profiles.

Entry to entrance plaza
Photo by: Mitu B

Different types of shrub plantation near man made waterfall.

Diverse plant species
Photo by: Mitu B

For the manmade waterfall, red granite blocks were used as backdrop.

Artificial waterfall backdrop
Photo by: Mitu B 

Homogeneity in materials used.

Wall lighting were found at 1'-0" from ground floor level to lighten the pavements. 

Efficient use of Signage has helped in communicating and directing devotees and visitors to explore the temple campus as well as the message and goals they want to share as a religious community 

Guest house facade
Photo by: Mitu B

 

Source for the data mentioned below: Ravindra Bhan and Associates

ISKCON TEMPLE is situated over a hill with the main temple block occupying the highest portion of the site.

CENTRAL OPEN AREA

Photo by: Mitu B

The open area is arranged in terraces to meet the buildings at various levels and create spatial relationship with its architecture.

Photo by: Mitu B

HARDSCAPE

The landscape conceived is predominantly hard because of the nature of the open spaces and their usage.

 PROMENADE

A long promenade is created over the restaurant and along the institutional blocks for approaching the main temple block.

Photo by: Mitu B

A series of decks separates the lower most garden area, which is 3.4 meters below from the last deck.

WATER

Sculpture of Lord Krishna dancing on snake demon Kaliya
Photo by: Mitu B

This unique site conditions has dictated the main focal feature of landscape that is use of water.

For night effect appropriate artificial lighting has been used to enhance the landscape features.

TREES (SOFTSCAPE)

Extensive use of permanent groundcovers and flowering shrubs has been used.
 Lawn areas have been created wherever they were needed.
Photo by: Mitu B

In the landscape areas indigenous long lasting trees of religious significance have been used.

Photo by: Mitu B

These trees will flower in different seasons changing the environment at different times.

Photo by: Mitu B

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