Akshardham Temple, Delhi

The Akshardham temple is a comprehensive Hindu temple that encompasses the traditional Indian culture, timeless art and spiritual messages, and limitless spirit. The meaning of the word ‘Akshardham’ is the everlasting and divine abode of the supreme power where purity and peace never leaves. It is one of the recently built temples in Delhi by the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) and exists on the banks of the Yamuna River along the National Highway 24. The opening of the temple in November 2005 was done in the presence of the President APJ Abdul Kalam.

There are 20,000 statues of the Indian sadhus, Acharyas, devotees, and divine characters. The temple is characterized by an IMAX theatre, a Swaminarayan temple, and an elaborate musical fountain. The surrounding area is full of landscape gardens and green lawns with attractive fountains.

This modern shrine of India is an abode of the statue of Lord Swaminarayan. Further, it also houses the significant Akshardham Temple Monument to World Peace in the complex. Besides these architectural masterpieces, there is an Ayurvedic bazaar and restaurant carved on the outlines of the Ajanta and Ellora caves. This temple is a wonder of modern India and attracts 70 percent of the tourists in Delhi.

The temple is recorded in the Guinness World Records in 2007 as being the largest Hindu temple and has been designated as India’s Spiritual Theme Park.

Construction and Architecture

The huge, medieval-styled complex was built in five years over an area of 100 acres according to Vastu Shastra and Pancharatra Shastra, saluting the efforts of 11000 artisans and 3000 volunteers. The temple is erected in a similar architectural style as that of the Akshardham temple of Gandhinagar in Gujarat.

Its construction includes only Italian Carrara marble and Rajasthani pink sandstone with no place for steel or concrete. Around 234 elaborated pillars, floral ornamentation, arches, gracefully carved pavilions, 9 metaphorical domes, 20 four-sided Shikhars, and the extravagant Gajendra Pith (tribute to 148 stone elephants), embellish this sculptural miracle. The complex exhibits the combination of Gujarati, Rajasthani, Odissi, Mughal, and Jain Mandir architecture to deliver a pattern of Multiart Vision.

The main monument forms the heart of the complex that is completely carved from flora, fauna, dancers, and deities. Under its central dome, is the idol of Lord Swaminarayan that is 11-foot high. Surrounding the idol, are the statues of gurus. Each idol or statue is composed of Panch Dhatu or five metals well known in the Hindu tradition. Besides these statues, there are idols of other Hindu deities such as of Ram and Sita, Radha and Krishna, and Shiv Parvati.

The Akshardham journey is an enlightening experience of the country’s art, values, and culture that are inevitable for the humanity’s progress and harmony.

Exhibitions and Attractions of the Temple

Hall of Values

This is also named Sahajanand Pradarshan that depicts life-like robotics to exhibit the incidents of Swaminarayan’s life to spread his message of peace, humility, harmony, and devotion to God. It exhibits 15 dioramas through robotics, light and sound effects, dialogues, music, and fiber optics. The main feature is the globe’s smallest animatic robot as the Ghanshyam Maharaj, which is the childhood form of Swaminarayan.

Theatre

This is also known as the Nilkanth Kalyan Yatra and is a first one in Delhi to have a large format screen of 26m x 20 m. In this theatre, a film only for the complex, is shown that takes you into the 7-year pilgrimage made by Swaminarayan in his teenage years in India. An international version of this film called Mystic India was released in 2005 worldwide.

Musical Fountain

This is also named the Yagnapurush Kund and is largest step well of the country. It offers 108 small shrines and a large sequence of 2,870 steps that takes you to a traditional Yagna Kund. At the daytime, these steps offer rest to the visitors, while at night, a musical circular fountain is played that indicates the circle of life. In the middle of the fountain, is an 8-petaled lotus shaped Kund carved according to the Pancharatra Shastra.

Boat Ride

This is also known as the Sanskruti Vihar wherein a peacock-shaped boat passing through an artificial river takes you through a journey of 10,000 years of Indian history in just 12 minutes. The world famous first university, Takshashila; chemistry laboratories, ancient hospitals, markets, and lastly giving a message of hope for the country’s future are major views.

Garden of India

This is also named the Bharat Upvan wherein there are rich lawns, plants, trees, and shrubs. You can also see the bronze sculptures of the great personas of the India’s culture and history such as children, women, freedom fighters, and warriors. One of them is Mahatma Gandhi, which is notice worthy piece of work.

Yogi Hriday Kamal

This is a sunken garden with a shape similar to a lotus as seen from a height. Its main feature is huge stones upon which quotes from the world popular personas such as Shakespeare, Swami Vivekananda, and Swaminarayan are written.

Nilkanth Abhishek

This involves giving Abhishek that refers to a custom of pouring water on the Nilkanth Varni idol to revere and pray for the spiritual progress.

Narayan Sarovar

This is a lake that is around the main monument and consists of the holy waters of 151 rivers and lakes including Mansarovar (the famous holy lake in the Himalayas). Around the Sarovar, there are 108 Gaumukhs (names for god).

Premvati Aahar Gruh

This is a vegetarian food court and an Ayurvedic bazaar.

Akshardham Centre for Applied Research in Social Harmony (AARSH) Centre

This is a place of research on social harmony and related topics. Studies include education, tribal and rural topics, ecology, and culture.

Visiting the Complex

The complex can be visited on any day between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., except Monday as it is closed. To view the magnificent lightings, evening is the best time.