Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple New Delhi , History, Beautiful Inside, The Complete Information

Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple

Timings: All days of the week except Monday: 10:00 AM — 8:00 PM,

Ticket counters close at 6:00 PM

Time Required : 3 to 4 hours

Exhibition Fee: Adults (12 years and above): INR 220

Senior Citizens: INR 170

Children (4 to 11 years): INR 120 for children

Children below 4 Years: Free

Nearest Metro Station: Akshardham Station on Noida-bound Blue Line

Aarti Timings : 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Timings: 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM; closed on Mondays

Entry closes at 6:30 PM

DRES’S Code: Arms, shoulders, chest, navel and legs have to be covered.

Established Date: November 6, 2005

Photography: Not allowed

Electronics & Mobile Phones: Not allowed

Outside Food: Not allowed

Parking: Available

Water Bottle: Only transparent bottles are allowed

Prior Darshan Booking: Not Required

Akshardham — Temple Guide

Akshardham Temple Overview

Akshardham Temple is a notable Hindu temple and a spiritual-cultural complex that epitomises Indian culture, spirituality, and architecture. It is devoted to Lord Swaminarayan and is also known as Swaminarayan Akshardham. The World’s Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple, Akshardham, has been inscribed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The beautiful architecture of the Akshardham Temple is well-known.

It contains eight ornately carved mandapams, and the temple’s walls are adorned with timeless Hindu teachings and extravagant devotional traditions. The Murti of Lord Swaminarayan, as well as the Murtis of 20,000 other deities, historical figures, and sages, represent the essence of Indian architecture, traditions, and everlasting spiritual thoughts. The Akshardham complex includes India’s largest step well, which hosts a mesmerising water show; an open garden, Narayan Sarovar, numerous expeditions, and ceremonies; and an open garden, Narayan Sarovar. For spiritual searchers, the compound is nothing short of a paradise.

Akshardham Temple History

On November 6, 2005, the Akshardham Mandir in Delhi was officially opened to the public. It was opened by India’s late president, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. The complete Swaminarayan Akshardham complex took about 5 years to construct using traditional methodologies such as Vastu shastra and Pancharatra shastra.

This temple is near the 2010 Commonwealth Games village and is located on the banks of the Yamuna River. Yogiji Maharaj, the then-spiritual head of the BAPS, conceptualised the concept of a temple complex about 1968. Later, in 1982, his successor, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, began the construction of the Akshardham complex. The Delhi Development Authority and the Uttar Pradesh government each provided 60 acres and 30 acres of land for the project in 2000.

The construction of the temple complex began in November 2000 and took roughly 5 years to finish. In November 2005, it was formally inaugurated. The then-Prime Minister of India, Mr Manmohan Singh, and the leader of the opposition, Mr L.K. Advani, both attended the opening ceremony.

The largest comprehensive Hindu Temple in the world, Akshardham Delhi, has also been awarded a Guinness World Record.

Akshardham Delhi Architecture

The Swaminarayan Akshardham complex is centred on Akshardham Mandir, which is made of pink sandstone and marble. The main temple, beautifully planned out gardens, exhibitions, open courtyards, and water bodies make up the enormous Swaminarayan Akshardham Delhi complex, with each portion offering an intriguing facet of Hindu religion and spirituality.

Akshardham Delhi was erected according to ancient Indian architecture in the traditional Hindu architectural style. It is based on both classical Vastu and Pancharatra Shastra. Intricate carvings of flowers, animals, musicians, dancers, and Hindu deities adorn the Mandir and the surrounding complex. The temple’s construction materials, red sandstone from Rajasthan and Italian Carrara marble create an enticing contrast that adds to the structure’s overall attractiveness. More than 6,000 tonnes of pink sandstone from Rajasthan were used in the construction.

Akshardham Temple- With a height of 141.3 feet and a width of 316 feet, it is a magnificent sight. It consists of around 234 intricately carved pillars. It includes nine ornately decorated domes and 20 quadrangle summits. At the temple, there are around 20,000 Hindu idols. Swaminarayan’s main statue is 11 feet tall and stands beneath the central dome. Statues of several famous sages surround the primary god. Other Hindu Gods and Goddesses are also represented through statues. The five metals known as panch were used to make each statue at the Akshardham Mandir.

Gates at Akshardham — The beautiful gates are the first thing you see when you arrive in Akshardham Delhi. There are ten gates, each representing one of the ten directions. According to Hindu teachings, the 10 gates represent accepting good from all sources to foster a sense of oneness and peace in the world.

To access Akshardham Delhi, visitors must pass through Bhakti Dwar, popularly known as the Gate of Devotion. They then proceed to the Visitor Center. Two Mayur Dwars, also known as Peacock Gates, exist. The ‘Charnarvind’ is located between these two Mayur Gates. It’s a massive facsimile of Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s footprints. Water showers may be found on all four sides of the structure, which is made of marble. There are also 16 holy symbols in the holy footprints.



Architectural techniques

The Swaminarayan Akshardham Mandir was built using a combination of numerous old Indian architectural forms. In its creation, Maharishi Vastu Architecture principles are meticulously observed.

To maximise the longevity of this outstanding architectural item, the builders of this gorgeous temple followed the Shilpa Shastras and did not utilise steel or concrete. The entire temple of Akshardham is made of Rajasthani pink sandstone and Italian Carrara marble.

Akshardham — Temple Guide

Akshardham Temple Inside

Garbhagruh-Garbhagruh is the name given to the temple’s inner sanctum. Gunatitanand Swami, Yogiji Maharaj, Shastriji Maharaj, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, and Bhagatji Maharaj are among the saints who succeeded Bhagwan Swaminarayan. There are altars dedicated to Hindu deities such as Shri Shiv-Parvati, Shri Sita-Ram, Shri Lakshmi-Narayan, and Shri Radha-Krishna throughout the inner sanctuary.

Mandapams- Visitors will find nine mandapams inside Akshardham Temple, each with elaborate carvings on pillars, domes, and ceilings, as well as intriguing statues. These mandapams’ interiors are captivating in their magnificence.



The primary mandapa inside Akshardham Temple is Swaminarayan Mandapam, which is the temple’s centre sanctum and represents the Lord’s divine home. Another mandap, Paramhansa Mandapam, stands 72 feet tall and is adorned with intricately carved domes and pillars. It houses the idols of Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s Paramhansa, who were initiated into monkhood by Shri Swaminarayan.

The Ghanshyam Mandapam, which stands 38 feet tall and is supported by eight pillars, features a large saucer-shaped dome. The pillars and roof of this mandapa depict occurrences from Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s childhood. The four-faced pillars of the 72-foot-high Lila Mandapam are etched with stories from Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s life. It also features an etched dome.

The idol of Neelkanth Varni is housed in Neelkanth Mandapam, which is ornamented with eight-sided pillars and a carved dome. After embarking on his 7-year trip, Bhagwan Swaminarayan became known as Neelkanth Varni. Smruti Mandapam, as the name suggests, is a site where holy relics of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, such as his garments, hair, beads, footprints, and so on, have been preserved and kept for darshan.

Sahajanand Mandapam is a 32-foot-high carved-domed mandapam. It depicts Bhagwan Swaminarayan seated under a neem tree as an idol. The name of this mandapa refers to Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s initiation as a sage, when he was given the name Sahajanand. The Bhakta Mandapam contains 148 statues of Shri Swaminarayan’s devoted disciples. A statue of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and his disciple Akshar may be found in Purushottam Mandapam.

Akshardham structures

Mandovi- The temple’s exterior portico is known as Mandovi. One of the largest mandovars in the country is at Swaminarayan Akshardham Delhi. It is 25 feet high and 611 feet long, with 2000 stone carvings of prominent Hindu saints, avatars, and followers.

The base of Mandovar, Jagati, is embellished with carvings of living species ranging from modern-day animals to those from the Puranic era. Intricate sculptures reflect diverse Hindu themes of life, spirituality, and God on each layer of Mandovi.

Narayan Peeth- It is a way for devotees to do Akshardham Temple pradakshinas. It contains a bronze relief panel that is 60 feet long and depicts scenes from Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s life.

Gajendra Peeth, also known as Elephant Plinth, is the lower pradakshina of Akshardham Temple. It features elephant representations, their interactions with humans, and occurrences from Panchtantra legends. Gajendra Peeth is a form of ancient architecture that depicts elephant bases at palaces and temples.

Yagnapurush Kund- Yagnapurush Kund, which is built in the style of traditional step wells, contains around 2800 steps and 108 tiny shrines. The central pool was designed to resemble nine lotus blooms. In front of the stepwell is a 29-foot bronze monument of Neelkanth Varni. It is here that the Sahaj Anand Water Show takes place.

Thematic Gardens- Akshardham Two beautiful gardens may be seen in Delhi. These gardens not only beautify the Akshardham campus but also feature stunning sculptures of famous Indian figures. Bharat Upvan is one of the temple complex’s two gardens. It features bronze statues of ancient warriors, liberation fighters, national leaders, and other notable Indian characters, as well as a huge expanse of lush flora. Yogihriday Kamal, the other garden, is designed in the shape of a lotus flower.

This garden is named after Shri Swaminarayan’s fourth successor, Yogiji Maharaj, who was the driving force behind the construction of the temple on the Yamuna’s riverbed. Thematic gardens are open from 9.30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Akshardham Mandir. The garden is open to the public for free and closes at 6.30 p.m.

Abhishek Mandap- Devotees can perform abhishekam of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s consecrated Neelkanth Varni idol at this mandapa. Chanting shlokas, tying the holy thread, and bathing the idol with sacred water are all part of this 10- to 15-minute ritual. Devotees must donate Rs.50 to participate in the Abhishek.

Narayan Sarovar- A water body has been built around the Akshardham Mandir in Delhi. This body of water contains holy water from 151 rivers and lakes, including the Prayag Triveni Sangam, Manikarnika Ghat, Manasarovar, Pushkar Sarovar, and River Ganda, among others. 108 bronze gaumukhs have been carved into the temple’s outer walls, signifying the Lord’s 108 names.

How to reach Akshardham Temple

The Akshardham Mandir in Delhi is easily reachable from anywhere in the city. It is well connected by public transportation, which includes everything from government-run buses to metro trains. The closest metro station to Swaminarayan Akshardham Delhi is Akshardham Metro Station, which is only 350 metres away from the Blue line. Tourists can therefore disembark at this stop and walk to the temple. If you’re interested, you can also hire an auto-rickshaw to take you to the temple for a low cost.

If arriving by Delhi Metro’s Yellow Line, exit at Rajiv Chowk and transfer to the Blue Line to reach Akshardham Temple. The distance between Delhi Airport and Akshardham Temple is approximately 21 kilometres, which can be covered in one and a half hours. Thimayya Marg is a popular route from the airport to the temple.

If you are coming from Gurgaon, it will take you about 2 hours or somewhat longer to go to the temple. The distance between Gurgaon and Akshardham Temple is around 43 kilometres, while the distance between Delhi and Akshardham Temple is 31 kilometres, which can be covered in one hour via NH9.

The distance between Karol Bagh and Akshardham temple is around 12.6 kilometres, therefore it takes about 50 minutes to travel between the two.

Akshardham Temple Timings

Every week, from Tuesday to Sunday, Akshardham Temple is open. Monday is the last day of Akshardham Delhi. The Akshardham Temple is open from 9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. Aarti at the Mandir takes place between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. The Akshardham complex opens at 9.30 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m. for various shows and exhibitions.

At the BAPs Akshardham Temple, wheelchairs are available. It is possible to take it at Gajendra Peeth, which provides sufficient room. The mandir area and the Narayan’s teeth, however, are not wheelchair accessible. Shoes are not permitted within the temple, as they are in other Hindu places of worship.

Akshardham — Temple Guide

Things to See at Swaminarayan Akshardham

- Exhibitions:- These performances are a beautiful blend of art, spirituality, culture, and science. They deliver an experience of Universal principles and Hindu history through a flawless mix of ancient values and modern techniques. The three displays are housed in three different halls. Observe a thousand-year-old eye surgery process, a Vedic marketplace, ancient yoga, the invention of chess, Swaminarayan’s life, and much more!

— Sahajanand Darshan — The Hall of Values

— Neelkanth Darshan — Giant Screen Film

— Sanskruti Darshan — Cultural Boat Ride

— Musical Fountain — The Water Show (Sahaj Anand Show)

— Narayan Sarovar

— Garden of India — The Bharat Upavan

— Food court — Premvati Ahargruh

— Lotus Garden or Yogi Hraday Kamal

Entry Fee of Akshardham Temple

The entrance to the Akshardham Temple is free. Visitors are not required to purchase a ticket to visit the temple and give their prayers. The Akshardham Laser Show, the Boat Ride at the Temple, and the Akshardham Movie Show, however, all have an admission cost. The price of Akshardham tickets for various shows varies depending on the programme.

Why Akshardham temple is famous?

The Akshardham Temple in Delhi is the world’s largest Hindu temple complex, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. It took 11,000 artisans and volunteers to construct the huge, ornately, ancient-style and hand-carved stone temple, which was built without any structural steel.

Is Akshardham open in Covid?

The famed Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in Delhi is set to reopen on October 13 after a lengthy closure but under tight COVID-19 guidelines. According to sources, the temple authorities have issued the following precautions for public visitors to safeguard their safety against COVID-19 infection.

Who built Akshardham?

Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha

Swaminarayan Sanstha Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam It was founded in 1905 by Yagnapurushdas, who believed that Swaminarayan was still present on Earth through a lineage of gurus that began with Gunatitanand Swami.

Is the Akshardham temple made of gold?

The Swaminarayan statue in this temple is constructed of gold, and the Gurus are draped in gold leaf. The temple holds the Guinness World Record for being the world’s largest comprehensive Hindu temple.

Who was Swaminarayan Bhagwan?

Swaminarayan (IAST: Svmnryaa, 3 April 1781–1 June 1830), also known as Sahajanand Swami, was a yogi and ascetic whose life and teachings fostered a renaissance of key Hindu traditions of dharma, ahimsa, and brahmacharya.

When was built Akshardham temple?

2005

Akshardham Temple is a prominent Hindu temple in Delhi that is located in a spiritual complex in New Delhi. This magnificent temple, known as Akshardham Temple or Swaminarayan Akshardham, was built in the Noida Mor neighbourhood of New Delhi in 2005.

What is the difference between Jain and Swaminarayan?

While Swaminarayan adherents eat root vegetables, they do not eat onion or garlic. People in Delhi’s Swaminarayan Akshardham temple can dine at night and eat potatoes, however, Jains cannot eat at night or eat potato since potato grows underground and contains billions of microscopic life. While Swaminarayan adherents eat root vegetables, they do not eat onion or garlic. People in Delhi’s Swaminarayan Akshardham temple can dine at night and eat potatoes, however, Jains cannot eat at night or eat potato since potato grows underground and contains billions of microscopic life.