Delhi

Worship Guide Delhi

Delhi is a multicultural and relatively pluralistic city. The population is diverse in religion and customs. The local population includes Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians. Buddhists, and Jews. The rich secular atmosphere enables Delhi to have many attractions for people belonging to many beliefs. Apart from the beautiful temples and churches, Delhi also has countless mosques and shrines.

Some important religious places are:

Hindu Temples

Delhi neighborhoods are dotted with small temples, but some temples standout out either due to their historical and religious significance or due to amazing magnificent architecture.

• Birla Temple (near New Delhi railway station) is dedicated to the Hindu deity Vishnu and his wife Lakshmi. This temple has a symbolic structure at the entrance that welcomes people from all faiths.
• Hanuman Temple (Connaught Place) is a historic temple dedicated to the Hindu God Hanuman. Tuesday prayers are very popular here.
• Gauri Shankar Temple (Chandni Chowk) is an important Shaivite temple
• Chhatarpur Temple is the largest in India. Its sheer size and grandeur attract a large number of tourists. The mammoth marble structure looks intimidating in Delhi’s skyline.
• Shirdi Sai Temple (Lodhi Estate) is dedicated to Sai Baba of Shirdi and draws people from all backgrounds.
• ISKCON is a beautifully carved marvel dedicated to Lord Krishna.
• Akshardham temple is a mammoth yellow sandstone structure built at the cost of nearly 100 million dollars.

Churches

The English mass/service at most churches is on Sunday. Wherever available, specific timings and days have been mentioned.

• Sacred Heart Cathedral (Ashok Place, Near Gurdwara Bangla Sahib) [Phone: 23363593] is the center of the catholic faith in Delhi. English mass is on Sunday mornings and evenings.
• St Thomas Church (Mandir Marg) [Phone: 2617 4604] was originally meant for Indian converts to Christianity, English mass is on Sunday mornings.
• St. Mary’s Catholic Church (Mukherji Marg) [Phone: 23867540]
• St James Church (Kashmere Gate) is the oldest surviving church in Delhi [Phone: 23860873].
• Holy Trinity Church (Turkman Gate) [Phone: 9210128297]
• Methodist Church (Civil Lines) English mass is on Sunday mornings [Phone: 23933694].
• St. Dominic’s Church (Vasant Vihar) [Phone: 26146636]
• Vatican Embassy Chapel (Chanakyapuri) [Phone: 6146636] Sunday mass 7:30am and 10 am
• Free Church (Jantar Mantar Road) [Phone: 23361331]
• Pentecostal Mission (G.T.B. Nagar) [Phone: 27144987]
• Evangelical Church of India (Janakpuri) [Phone:25597921
• Religious Society of Friends-Quakers (YWCA Headquarters 10, Parliament Street) Timing: Sunday 10 am to 11 am.
• Cathedral Church of Redemption (Church Road) This church dates back to 1935 and is open on Sunday mornings. [Phone:
• Central Baptist Church ( Chandini Chowk) [Phone: 23863005]
• Delhi Bible Fellowship Inter-Denominational (Connaught Place) [Phone: 23360944]
• New Delhi Behtal Korean Church (Parliament St., (Korean) at free Church) [Phone: 6886054] Timings : Sunday 8 am
• Church of Jesus Christ of LDS –Mormon (Kalusarai) [Phone: 6148422, 6140253] Sunday service 9:30am
• Interdenominational (Bhai Veer Singh Marg) [Phone: 46223849] Timings : 9:30 am
• Delhi Christian Fellowship International (Hyatt Regency) [Phone: 4618002] Timing: 9 am.

Mosques

• Jama Masjid (Shahjahanbad) is the largest mosque in India [Phone: 3268344]
• Dargah of Nizam-ud-din auliya (Nizam-ud-din) enshrines Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya or Nizam-ud-Din, a revered Sufi saint.
• Safdarjung Masjid (Inside Safdarjung Tomb)
• Fatehpuri Masjid (Chandni Chowk)

Sikh Gurdwaras

• Gurdwara Bangla Sahib (Near Connaught Place) Delhi’s best-known Sikh place of worship.
• Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib (Lutyen’s Delhi) a beautiful, 18th-century building near the Parliament.

Baha’i House of Worship

• Bahai Mandir (Kalkaji) The Baha’i House of Worship, better known as the Lotus Temple in New Delhi is a monument dedicated to the unity of God, unity of all religions and unity of humankind. [Phone: 26444035]

Buddhist Temples

• Ladakh Bodha Vihara (Bela Road ) is located inside the Tibeta Refugee market
• Drepung Ngakpa Tantric Buddhist Society (Majnu ka Tila)
• Tushita Mayahana Meditation Centre (Huaz Khas) [Phone: 6513400]

Jain Temples

• Digamber Jain Mandir (Chandini Chowk) is a temple dedicated to Lord Mahavir is a sacred place for Jains [Phone: 23246190]

Synagogue

• Judah Hyan Hall Synagogue (Humayun Road) [Phone: 4635500] is the only synagogue in Delhi, which caters to about 200 Jews residing in Delhi. Friday service 7 pm
• Chabad house (‘Harirama’ guest house, Paharganj) [Phone: 23561301/2], 1-770-8844770 (good if calling from USA)

Parsi Temples

• Anjuman Complex (Delhi Gate, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg) houses the fire temple and rooms for visiting Parsis. [Phone: 3317228, 3318615]