Birla Temple is located in the BHU campus in Varanasi and it is known as the Birla Temple because it is built by the Birla Group of Industries. The temple was founded by the Raja Birla of the Birla family of great industrialists. It was planned by Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya (the founder of the Banaras Hindu University) as part of the BHU campus. Temple is open to all people of any castes and religion. There are nine temples in the BHU campus Shiva Lingam, Nataraj Ji, Mata Parvati Ji, Ganesh Ji, Panchmukhi Mahadev, Hanuman Ji, Mata Saraswati Ji, and Nandi Ji.
Birla Temple is made up of marble and its construction was completed in 1965. The tower of the temple is known as the tallest temple tower. Even it is tallest to the Qutub Minar in New Delhi. Birla Temple is a matchless and ostentatious temple in Varanasi. It is the most reliable home for the students at BHU. It becomes crowded daily but on some special occasions, it becomes heavily crowded with devotees from India as well as corners of the world. It is the most visiting place in Varanasi. Devotees used to say ‘Jai Bholenath’ or ‘Har Har Mahadeva’ while visiting the temple.
Birla Temple is devoted to Lord Shiva and it is the exact copy of the original Vishwanath temple. The center of the temple has a Siva lingam and the walls of the temple have stanzas of the Hindu scriptures.
The temple remains open from 04.00 a.m. to 08.00 p.m. Mangala Aarti is held at 04.00 a.m., Shringar Aarti at 08.00 a.m. and Shayan Aarti at 08.00 p.m. Kartik Month (Hindi) Shukla Ekadasi known as Prabodini Ekadasi is very important.