Around the Brahma Sarovar, dozens of small and mid-sized temples cluster densely along the ghats and in the lanes behind them, each dedicated to a different deity or to a specific episode from the Mahabharata or the Bhagavad Gita. The circuit is best done on foot, moving from one ghat to the next and dipping into whichever shrines are active.
Among the most visited are the Laxmi Narayan Temple, the Devi Mandir, and the Bhadra Kali Temple — the last of these one of the oldest Shakti shrines in the region, believed to mark the spot where Sati's ankle fell. Most temples are free to enter and non-Hindus are generally welcome, though the inner sanctums of a few are restricted to Hindus. The standard courtesies apply: cover your shoulders, remove shoes at the entrance. Early morning, when the temples are freshly washed and incense is being lit for the first puja of the day, is the most atmospheric time.