AKSHARDHAM TEMPLE IN DELHI Location : Banks of River Yamuna in East Delhi Managed By : Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha Famous For : Exquisite Architecture and Ornate Pillars Remember To See : Audio Animatronics Show (Sahajanand Darshan)

An Exquisite Sonnet Created By Human Hands

Akshardham Temple in Delhi is a brilliant example of the modern day architecture having its roots rooted deep in the past. The Akshardham Temple of Delhi is one of the modern monumental wonders of India, a specimen of rich Indian architecture much famous for its minute carvings and magnificent sculptures. Every year millions of travelers from all around the globe come to Delhi to have a look at this marvelous monumental wonder.

Akshardham Temple, Delhi

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As you will move south from ITO, after a kilometre or so, you will find a grand monument rising elegantly to your right, the ambrosial Akshardham Temple. Nestling on the banks of river Yamuna over 100 acres of land, the Akshardham temple Delhi is a modern signature of exquisite beauty. Akshardham means the eternal, divine abode of the supreme God, the haunt of eternal values and virtues of 'Akshar' as defined in the Hindu texts where a heart of devotion, purity and peace forever perches. Portraying an impeccable blend of breathtaking grandeur, beauty, wisdom and bliss, the Akshardham temple in Delhi is a desired fruit of 5 years of non-stop, round-the-clock construction and blessings of HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), which now manages this pristine architecture. The Akshardham temple affords a beautiful matrix of marble and red sandstone, with many alluring sculptures that embellish its periphery. Come, experience divinity rising before your peeled eyes at Akshardham, where a religious poetry is offered to every individual heart.

Behold A Poetry Carved In Stone

You will have to leave all your materialism before you enter the hallowed shrine. Put off shoes, leather purse, belts, cell phones and other accessories as a security measure with the temple authorities. Walk on the chaste pavement that reflects the sanctity of this eminent temple in its heart. Gaze anywhere..and you will be overwhelmed to see immense beauty sprawled all around you in exquisitely carved pillars, ornate domes, quadrangled shikhars, reincarnated in a pink and white attire. Enter the 'Mandir', standing with its head held high at 141 ft. Before you reach the sanctum sanctorum, spare out some time to appreciate the impressive pillars, hauling the colossal alcove on their shoulders. They are beautiful. You can even figure out consummate artistry - flora, fauna, dancers, musicians and Gods - crafted on their surfaces from top to bottom! Amazing, aren't they? The Garbhagriha (Inner Sanctum) reminds one of the Gothic architecture, standing like a silent spectator of divine divinity, where you can even hear your heart beat!

Remember to behold the magnificent Mandovar, the ornate exterior wall of the Akshardham Temple. In the last 800 years this is the only and largest, intricately carved Mandovar in India, embellished with sculptured stone effigies of India's great rishis, sadhus, devotees, acharyas and divine incarnations. Walk around the temple premises to reach the tranquil Narayan Sarovar. In the evenings, the lake glitters like a sparkling diamond amidst floating lotus leaves - as if pride nestling amidst purity and detachment. You will be amazed to know that the lake contains holy waters from 151 rivers and lakes sanctified by Bhagwan Swaminarayan, including Mansarovar in Tibet.

Let The Legend Come To Life

Akshardham Temple Amidst Its Lush Manicured Lawns, Delhi

For a better experience of the Akshardham temple, attend the Audio Animatronics Show (Sahajanand Darshan) at the Hall of Values, where the life of Bhagwan Swaminarayan is portrayed through robotics, fibre optics, light and sound effects, dialogues and music; transporting the audience to 18th century India. Come outside only to be greeted by a colourful matrix of bubbling fountains that chill the ambience. Interestingly, it is the Yagnapurush Kund, the world's largest yagna kund, with perfect geometric forms testifying the ancient India's advanced knowledge in mathematics and geometry. At night the center comes to life with a colorful musical water fountain that echoes the Vedic rhymes in everyone's heart.

Some Amazing Facts About The Temple

• It is one of the biggest and most intricate religious places of worship ever constructed
• The Akshardham temple, built without steel, is entirely composed of sandstone and marble
• It consists of 234 ornately carved pillars, 9 ornate domes, 20 quadrangled shikhars, a spectacular Gajendra Pith (plinth of stone elephants) and 20,000 murtis and statues of India's great sadhus, devotees, acharyas and divine personalities
• The Akshardham temple Delhi was built after over 300 million man hours of services rendered by 11,000 volunteers, sadhus and artisans
• The ornate external wall (Mandovar) is the only and largest, intricately carved structure with dimensions of 611ft x 31ft that is built in the last 800 years
• The Gajendra Pith stretching for 1,070 ft and weighing 3,000 tons, has 148 full-sized elephants, 42 birds and animals, 125 human sculptures!
• The Akshardham parikrama (circumambulatory path) consists of 1,152 pillars, 145 windows and 154 samvaran shikhars; amounting to a total of 53,956 stones.

Temple of Guinness

Akshardham temple Delhi has come into spotlight as being the largest Hindu temple complex in world, as revealed by the Guinness Record Books. A senior official of Guinness World Record Main Management Committee, Michael Witty presented two world record certificates to the head of Swaminarayan Sansthan, Pramukh Swami Maharaj. The two title were : Most Hindu temples consecrated by a single person and secondly, the world's largest comprehensive Hindu temple. After inspecting various temple all over the world for around seven months, the committee reached to this conclusion – that made Akshardham the largest Hindu temple in th world. Come to see the Akshardham temple that is incomparable, both in terms of – Magnitude and Stateliness.

Tips To Remember

The Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple is situated on NH 24 near Noida Mor, towards East Delhi. Avoid carrying leather goods, otherwise you have to leave those items at the gate, before entering the temple. The temple is open from 9 am till 6 pm on an average basis. Entry into the Swaminarayan Akshardham Complex is free, but you have to shed a few rupees if you want to view the exhibitions, or want to go for a boat ride.