Laxminarayan Mandir

The Laxminarayan Mandir is a landmark in our social development, as it was the first temple to open its gates to dalits (untouchables) in India. The Temple's construction commenced in 1905 under the guidance of Seth Bachhrajji; and in 1907 the Laxminarayan idols were installed. On 17th July 1928, inspired by ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, Acharya Vinoba Bhave led a group of dalits inside the temple. It was the first temple in India which welcomed dalits to offer their prayers. Later Gandhi Ji visited the temple and sought blessings before leaving for Bombay to launch the Quit India Movement. The distinctive feature of the temple is that the idols are clothed in khadi — contrast to other temples where precious jewellery and embellishments are a norm.