Prem Mandir, Rajkot - Timings, History, Darshan, Pooja Timings

At a distance of 7 km from Rajkot Junction, Prem Mandir is a Syro-Malabar Catholic church in Rajkot. Also known as Sacred Heart Cathedral, it is one of the top religious places in Rajkot and among the best places of sightseeing in Rajkot.

Literally translates to the Temple of Love, Prem Mandir is dedicated to Sacred Heart of Jesus. The striking feature of the cathedral is its architecture which predominantly resembles traditional Indian temples of various religions rather than a church. The cathedral was designed by Ashwinbhai Sanghvi and the glass work was done by Balan.

The cathedral has domes and a pinnacle, and its arches and granite carvings are inspired by Indian mosques. Each of the five domes of the church consists of symbols of different religions. An oriental-style cross on a lotus flower stands atop the main dome and there is a mosaic of Jesus seated above the lotus. The symbols depicted on the windows are flame, flute and lotus.
The place also has imprints of Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and Hinduism. This may be the only church where 'Aarti', an Indian form of worship is adapted.

Timings: 6 AM - 8 PM