PATNA: The construction of Shri Shri Radha Banke Bihariji temple and spiritual centre, Patna, is expected to be completed by 2014. Spread over two acres of land, this temple is being constructed by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on Budh Marg here.

“The temple was supposed to have been constructed by the end of 2012 but because of drainage problems, the deadline had to be extended,” said Nand Gopal Das, spokesperson, ISKCON, Patna. In April 2007, CM Nitish Kumar had laid the foundation stone of the temple.

“To be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 51 crore, this temple premises will comprise mediation and spiritual centre, restaurant, medical consultancy centre, community kitchen, guesthouse and an auditorium besides the two-storey main structure,” Krishna Kripadas, president, ISKCON, Patna region, told TOI. The contract for construction of the temple has been given to a Delhi-based architect, Uday Pandey, who had also designed the Geeta temple at Haridwar.

The structure will have a central dome and three ‘darbar’ halls on the top floor where deities will be placed. At the main ‘darbar’, deities of Lord Krishna and Radha will be placed along with Lalita and Vishakha. The second ‘darbar’ hall would be for Lord Rama with Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman while the third ‘darbar’ hall will have deifies of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityanand Mahaprabhu. All the deities would be placed on a 24-carat gold plated throne.

Read more: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/ISKCON-temple-at-Patna-to-be-completed-by-2014/articleshow/14481077.cms