The short answer
Gita Press and Leela Chitra Mandir: what visitors should know first
Worth an hour if you like books, calligraphy or religious art. It is a working press and bookshop, not a polished museum, so go with modest expectations, look at the painted gallery, buy a few books and keep it as a calm indoor stop.
History and context
The story behind Gita Press and Leela Chitra Mandir
Gita Press was founded in 1923; Wikipedia gives 29 April in its history section and 3 May in its infobox, so the exact day is uncertain. Jaya Dayal Goyanka worked with fellow businessmen in Gorakhpur to launch it.
The Kalyan magazine, edited by Hanuman Prasad Poddar, began publication in 1927. The Leela Chitra Mandir gallery was inaugurated by Rajendra Prasad and preserves paintings, early copies of the Gita and letters from Mahatma Gandhi.
Useful facts
Gita Press and Leela Chitra Mandir facts at a glance
- Location
- Reti Chowk, Gorakhpur
- Experience type
- Working press, bookshop and painted gallery
- Known for
- Low-cost editions of the Gita, Ramayana and Puranas; Kalyan magazine
- Architect/Built
- Founded 1923 by Goyanka, Poddar and Jalan
- Time or schedule
- Confirm opening hours locally on the day
Why it matters
Why Gita Press and Leela Chitra Mandir is worth your time
Gita Press is one of the quiet success stories of Indian publishing. Founded in Gorakhpur in 1923 by Jaya Dayal Goyanka, Hanuman Prasad Poddar and Ghanshyam Das Jalan, it set out to make accurate, inexpensive editions of the Gita, the Ramayana and the Puranas available to ordinary households, at a time when such books were costly or hard to find.
Its monthly magazine Kalyan began in 1927 and became a household name in Hindi-speaking India. A visit here explains why train station bookstalls across the country carry the same plain, durable editions, and why Gorakhpur's reputation as a religious city rests on publishing as much as on temples.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Leela Chitra Mandir
A gallery of several hundred devotional paintings of Rama and Krishna, inaugurated by Rajendra Prasad.
- 02
The marble walls
Verses of the Gita are inscribed on marble in the complex, with painted scenes from the epics beside them.
- 03
The bookshop
Books on religion and philosophy at subsidised prices, plus handloom textiles according to the district tourism page.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Start at the gate on Reti Chowk and look at the entrance and wall panels, where the district page says passages of the Gita are inscribed on marble and wall paintings show scenes from the lives of Rama and Krishna. The Leela Chitra Mandir gallery is the main interior stop. It holds hundreds of paintings, around 684 by one published count, covering the Ramayana and Krishna's life, and was inaugurated by India's first president, Rajendra Prasad.
Afterwards go to the shop. Gita Press is known for selling religious books, from pocket Gitas to illustrated Puranas and the Ramcharitmanas, at subsidised prices, and the bookstalls are the part most visitors actually use. Staff can help you find an English or Hindi edition; the books are heavy, so buy a few and let your hotel arrange packing if you are travelling by air.
Pair this with Gita Vatika and the Gorakhnath Temple on the same morning, since all three are in the northern half of the city and a single cab can cover them without much walking.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Confirm opening hours before going; closures on holidays are common
- Carry a bag for heavy books or ask about shipping
- Dress modestly; shoes may need to come off in the gallery
- Combine with Gita Vatika and Gorakhnath Temple in one morning
- Photography rules in the gallery may apply; ask staff
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Reti Chowk, about 4 km from Gorakhpur Junction
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Best time
- Morning on a weekday; winter is most comfortable
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- The gallery and shop are on the level, mostly indoors and out of the heat, with little walking between them. Courtyards can be crowded in festival weeks. Chairs are limited, so take a rest at your hotel before and after.
- Tickets and access
- The district tourism page describes entry to the gallery as open to visitors and does not list a fee; check at the gate. Hours vary, so confirm locally on the day and avoid assuming it is open on public holidays.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Gita Press and Leela Chitra Mandir
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
The gallery and shop are on the level, mostly indoors and out of the heat, with little walking between them. Courtyards can be crowded in festival weeks. Chairs are limited, so take a rest at your hotel before and after.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
What is Gita Press best known for?
Publishing affordable editions of Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana, and the monthly magazine Kalyan, since 1923.
Can visitors see the press and gallery?
Visitors can walk the campus, see the Leela Chitra Mandir paintings and shop. Check locally for hours and any restrictions on viewing the printing sections.
Is it suitable for elderly visitors?
Generally yes. It is mostly level and indoors, but allow rest breaks and avoid festival crowds.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
