Delhi has a rich culture and history at its core, with people from different parts of India making the national capital their home. After the partition of India, a man moved to Delhi and later became associated with the city's iconic landmark, which is what we now call the 'Shri Ganesh Mandir of Connaught Place'.

What is the history of Shri Ganesh Mandir of Connaught Place?

Shri Ganesh Mandir is a significant landmark at Connaught Place, with hundreds of devotees visiting the temple for Bappa's blessings every day. But not many are aware of its history, South Indian roots and fascinating story of its foundation.
Shri Ganesh Mandir, located on Baba Kharak Singh Marg in Connaught Place, was founded by V. Sankar Aiyar on  October 31, 1952, a few years after the Independence of India. It was later renovated in April 1999.
V. Sankar Aiyar hailed from Karugudi, a village in the Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu. He was a Partner of Iyer & Co. in Lahore in the pre-independence period and later moved to Delhi in 1946 to start his own practice as a proprietor of V. Sankar Aiyar & Co.
He retired as a Chartered Accountant in 1952, and in the same year, he was the founder of the Shri Ganesh Mandir in CP. What makes the Shri Ganesh Mandir special is that it is also the first South Indian Temple in Delhi.

What is so special about the architecture of Shri Ganesh Mandir?

Shri Ganesh Mandir is designed in a traditional South Indian temple style, making it known as the first South Indian-style temple in Delhi. Not just architecture, it is also managed by priests of South Indian origin.
There is a beautiful sanctum for Lord Ganesha, along with shrines of several deities as well. Inside the temple, you will witness the beautiful idols of Lord Shiva, Shani Dev, Goddess Durga, Lord Hanuman, among others.
What makes the temple even more special is that it has a Navgraha shrine too. Nava means nine, and graha means planet. It shares the boundary with Lord Shiv and Shani Mandir and is located near the famous Lord Hanuman mandir. 

Shri Ganesh Mandir Connaught Place Timings:

The temple is open every day, but the timing may differ. The timings are: 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 9:30 PM.

How to reach Shri Ganesh Mandir in Connaught Place?

Rajiv Chowk Metro Station is the nearest one to reach the temple. Exit from Gate No. 7 and head towards Baba Kharak Singh Marg. You can easily walk upto the temple and also find an auto-rickshaw to reach there. It is located near the famous Pracheen Hanuman Mandir.

Conclusion:

Like Shri Ganesh Mandir of Connaught Place, there are several other temples in the national capital with fascinating history and culture. There will be a large crowd during the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival for 10 days at the mandir.
Moreover, many people gather to witness the morning and evening aarti and take Lord Ganpati’s blessings. Tuesday and Wednesday also attract a crowd as they are considered auspicious days to pray to Lord Ganesh.
Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 is set to begin on September 14, 2026. The Ganesh Visarjan will take place on September 25. You can visit several prominent pandals in Delhi and some temples too during the 10 days festival. Even though the festival is more prominent in Maharashtra, it is also celebrated widely in Delhi. 
 
(Image Credits: Instagram)
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