Pickup from airport/ hotel in Delhi and half day excursion to visit Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple a unique complex that introduces Indian culture, heritage and values. The main temples architecture is absolutely amazing and something for
everyone to admire as it is carved from stone with the most defined detail. The temple is surrounded by fantastic gardens and ponds. The building was inspired and created by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual head of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, whose 3,000 volunteers helped 7,000 artisans construct Akshardham.
Akshardham Temple
The main monument, at the center of the complex, is 141-foot (43 m) high, 316-foot (96 m) wide, and 370-foot (110 m) long, and is covered top to bottom with carved details of flora, fauna, dancers, musicians, and deities. Designed in accordance with ancient Vedic text known as the Sthapatya Shastra, it features a blend of architectural styles from across India. It is constructed entirely from Rajasthani pink sandstone and Italian Carrara marble, and has no support from steel or concrete. The monument also consists of 234 ornately carved pillars, nine domes, and 20,000 murtis and statues of Hinduism’s sadhus, devotees, and acharyas. The monument also features the Gajendra Pith at its base, a plinth paying tribute to the elephant for its importance in Hindu culture and India’s history. It contains 148 scale sized elephants in total and weighs a total of 3000 tons.
Within the monument, under the central dome, lies a murti or statue of Swaminarayan which is 11-foot (3.4 m) high. The murti is surrounded by similar statues of the gurus of the sect. Each murti is made of paanch daatu or five metals in accordance to Hindu tradition. Also within the central monument lie the murtis of other Hindu deities, including Sita Ram, Radha Krishna, Shiv Parvati, and Lakshmi Narayan.
The exhibitions at Swaminarayan Akshardham are a must see. This is where one can learn about Swaminarayan, what it is to be a spiritual leader, the history of India and the values of the society. This is done via a movie (on massive screens) and a light and sound show of robotic figures outlining Swaminarayan\’s life. There is also a boat ride through a display of 800 statues outlining India’s heritage.
