Akshardham Temple
Welcome to the magical journey of Akshardham Temple !!
Akshardham Temple of New Delhi is also known as Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple. It is one of the largest Hindu temple complexes in India. It was officially inaugurated on 6th November 2005. Its history and facts reflect 10,000 years old India’s culture, spirituality, and architecture. It has been made in the memory of Jyotirdhar Swaminarayan Bhagwan.
The construction of the Akshardham Complex was completed in just five years with the efforts of Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) along with the help of thousands of artisans and BAPS volunteers. The temple is spread over 83,342 square feet area. It consists of 350 feet long, 315 feet wide and 141 feet high monuments, which are very attractive. The structure of the temple was designed in such a way that it can last for at least 1000 years more. This article deals with 10 more amazing facts about Akshardham temple.
Located in the heart of India i.e., New Delhi, Akshardham Temple is a marvel of architecture that unfolds the cultural legacy of thousands of years and is a tribute to Lord Swaminarayan (1781- 1830) who is the avatars, devas and great sages of Hinduism. The construction of the grand structure took almost 5 years and was inaugurated on 6 November 2005. Today the imposing structure is standing on the banks of the Yamuna River and attracts millions of tourists and pilgrims across the globe.
Basically, the term Akshardham has been derived from two words 'Akshar' which means eternal and 'Dham' which means abode, which together means abode of divine or the eternal. Entering the temple, one could see the 11 feet high gilded image of Bhagwan Swaminarayan that appears mesmerizing. Visitors could feel each element of Akshardham echoing with spirituality that makes every soul potentially divine.
Witnessing the main temple, the other exhibitions takes the visitor to the additional sighting that includes the Yogi Hraday Kamal, which is a garden in the shape of lotus, the Nilkanth Abhishek, a place to offer Abhishek which is a ritual of pouring water in form of respect and prayers, the Narayan Sarovar which is a lake containing water from 151 different rivers that rims the temple, Premvati Ahargruh (restaurant which caters traditional vegetarian food) and more.
Travelers coming to see Akshardham Temple get fascinated by the decoration of the temple which comprises minute carved deities, flowers, fauna and musicians. The temple consists of 234 pillars, 9 domes, and twenty thousand statues of acharyas, sadhus, and devotees. A visit to Akshardham Temple is a spirituality enriching experience. It is the beauty and magnificence of the Akshardham Temple that makes it one of the must-visit tourist attractions in Delhi.
HISTORY
The construction of Akshardham Temple was brainstormed by Yogiji Maharaj which was created by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the former leader of BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha). Initially, the place for the construction wasn’t decided and different places including Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, and Faridabad were suggested to the Guru but he stood firm to the dream of Yogiji Maharaj who wanted to get it constructed on the banks of the Yamuna River. So keeping this in mind, Pramukh Swami Maharaj finally acquired an area of 30 acres on the banks of Yamuna and started with the construction process. The temple was consecrated on 6 November 2005 and today Akshardham Temple attracts around 70 percent of all the tourists coming from across the globe to Delhi.
VISIT TIMINGS
One can make a visit to the spiritual-cultural complex Akshardham Temple between Tuesday and Sunday from 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM of the week except Monday.
ENTRY FEES
The entry to the temple is free of cost but visitors need to pay for exhibitions and water show. In the sense, INR 170 for adults (Exhibition), INR 100 for children (Exhibition) 125 for senior citizens (Exhibition) INR 30 for adults (Musical Fountain), INR 20 for children (Musical Fountain).
HOW TO REACH?
To visit Akshardham Temple the convenient and best way is to travel by Delhi Metro. The nearest metro station to Akshardham Temple is Akshardham Metro station which is located on the Blue Line of Delhi Metro.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
A visit to Akshardham Temple can be made all throughout the year. But winter season between November and February is considered to the best time as the weather remains cool and pleasant.
TOP THINGS TO DO & PLACES TO SEE NEARBY
Visiting Delhi never disappoints the travelers as it has a lot of things to do and places to see that makes the Delhi Sightseeing Tour complete.
- Located at a distance of 8km, visit India Gate which is the most iconic structures in New Delhi and yet another popular tourist attraction which is a must visit.
- A visit to Lotus Temple which is located at a distance of 15 km from Akshardham Temple would take you to a pleasant and tranquil ambiance.
- For Shopaholics, a visit to Connaught Place would be the right choice which is located at a distance of 9 km from the magnificent Akshardham Temple.
- A visit to Red Fort which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a must visit which speaks volumes about its cultural value.
- Seek blessings at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib which is at a distance of 11 km from Akshardham Temple.
With "Unseen India Tour" explore the best of Akshardham Temple as a tourist
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