ISKCON Bangalore - Sri Radha Krishna Temple

Sri Radha Krishnachandra, with Sri Krishna Balarama and Sri Nitai Gauranga

Rajajinagar, Bengaluru

ISKCON Bangalore - Sri Radha Krishna Temple — Photo: Svpdasa, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

Folktale & Sacred Story

A well-known story associated with ISKCON Bangalore's growth involves its founding trustees' long and difficult struggle in the 1980s to acquire and retain the Hare Krishna Hill land against competing claims, which devotees came to see as a test of faith eventually rewarded by the successful construction of a temple regarded today as an architectural and spiritual landmark of the city. The temple's daily distribution of prasadam to lakhs of schoolchildren through its associated Akshaya Patra Foundation is often narrated within the movement as a direct expression of Krishna consciousness in action, extending temple worship into large-scale social service.

Most Revered Practice

Daily aarti and kirtan sessions around the deities, along with the temple's renowned free lunch prasadam served to visitors, are its most visible and widely participated devotional practices.

Prasadam & Offerings

The temple serves free vegetarian khichdi and lunch prasadam (rice, sambar, vegetable preparations and buttermilk) to visitors through its Annadana programme.

Temple Speciality

The temple complex is built on a hillock with a distinctive blend of traditional temple architecture and modern design elements, including a large gopuram-style entrance, a museum-like exhibition on Krishna consciousness, and one of the world's largest daily free meal programmes for schoolchildren run by its associated Akshaya Patra Foundation.

Why Pilgrims Visit

Visitors can experience vibrant daily kirtan and aarti, view the richly adorned deities of Radha Krishna and Krishna Balarama, learn about Vaishnava philosophy through the temple's exhibits, and partake in its well-known prasadam.

History & Legend

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) movement, founded globally by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1966, established a presence in Bangalore in 1978, initially operating from a small rented space. In 1988 the society acquired land on a hillock in Rajajinagar known as Hare Krishna Hill, and construction of a large temple complex began in 1990 under the leadership of Madhu Pandit Dasa. The temple was formally inaugurated in 1997 and has since grown into one of the largest ISKCON temple complexes in the world, combining traditional temple worship with modern facilities, an planetarium-style exhibition and a large-scale free food distribution programme.

Divine Significance

The temple is regarded as a major centre of Gaudiya Vaishnava devotion in South India, where the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, congregational worship and the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita are actively propagated, drawing devotees and visitors from across the world.

Darshan Timings

The temple is generally open with darshan hours around 7:15 AM to 1:15 PM and 4:15 PM to 8:20 PM, with an early-morning Mangala Aarti session before 7:15 AM on most days (please confirm exact timings with the temple before visiting, as they vary by season and festival).

How To Reach

Nearest airport: Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (about 35 km); nearest railway station: KSR Bengaluru City Junction (about 6 km), a short drive from Hare Krishna Hill in Rajajinagar.

Where To Stay

Rajajinagar and the surrounding parts of Bengaluru offer numerous hotels and guesthouses across all budget categories, given the temple's location within the city.

Local Food Nearby

Besides the temple's own prasadam offerings, Rajajinagar and nearby areas of Bengaluru have a wide range of vegetarian restaurants serving South Indian and North Indian fare.

Contact & Official Info

Enquiries can be directed to the ISKCON Bangalore temple trust and administration office at Hare Krishna Hill, Rajajinagar.

Location Map

View on Google Maps → (13.0101, 77.5511)