Birla Lakshmi Narayan Temple & Museum

Built in 1988 entirely of white marble, Birla Lakshmi Narayan Temple & Museum is one of the newest and most recognizable landmarks in Jaipur. The temple is dedicated to Vishnu, the Preserver, and his consort Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity.

Besides the central Vishnu and Lakshmi idols carved from a single piece of white marble, the entire temple, both inside and out, is covered with intricate marble carvings depicting Indian mythology and historical figures like Socrates, Buddha, Jesus Christ and Confucius. Stained glass window panels inside the temple show more scenes from Hindu mythology.

The temple and surrounding gardens offer a sense of serenity compared with the surrounding city, and if you’re interested in a look at a modern, functioning Hindu temple, this one’s hard to beat. The small museum displays a collection of Birla family relics and valuables.