Akshardham is a Hindu temple complex which has been located near the banks of River Yamuna, Delhi. The complex was inaugurated on 6th November 2005 by the president of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam in the great presence of the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the leader of the Organization respocible for the creation of Akshardham Pramukh Swami Maharaj.This temple has already attracted thousands of visitors from all over the world. Akshardham temple is also known as “Delhi Akshardham” or “Swaminarayan Akshardham”. Entry to the complex is free. But for exhibitions and light and sound show inside the complex, one has to take tickets. Hall of Values A modern feature of the complex is a set of three exhibition pavilions. The first is a walk-through hall of dioramas with audio-animatronics and light-and-sound shows. Each show shares a message about charity, integrity, non-violence, and other values
“Akshardham is a unique place in India as well as whole world. It is even more beautiful than what I had imagined. Taj Mahal is definitely beautiful, but this place, along with beauty, has a beautiful message.” Stone colonnade The temple and its surrounding area are garlanded by a 3,000 ft (214 m)-long two-tiered stone colonnade. It features 1,152 pillars, 145 windows and 154 cupolas. Indoor boat ride A 12-minute boat ride introduces visitors to India's ancient past. Traversing along an indoor river, visitors float by dioramas of a Vedic village and bazaar, the world's first university, and other historic re-creations. The central feature of the complex is the ornately hand-carved stone temple, or mandir. Built according to ancient Vedic texts, and measuring 356 ft (109 m) long, 316 ft (96 m) wide and 141 ft (43 m) high, it is the world's largest comprehensive Hindu temple. Giant-screen theatre A large-format 40-minute film retraces the seven-year journey of Bhagwan Swaminarayan from his teenage years. He travelled alone and barefooted for more than 7,000 miles around India, into Nepal and Tibet, and through Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Garden of India / Bharat Upvan is a huge garden featuring flora and fauna from all over the length and breadth India , from the Himalayas to the Kanyakumari, and the Deserts of Persia to the Jungles of Burma. The Bharat Upvan also has statues and figures of India 's Kings, Warriors and Freedom Fighters, India 's National Figures, and India 's Women Personalities. Over 60 acres of the complex comprise various forms of landscaping. Lotus garden One part is the Lotus Garden, a lotus-shaped sunken garden with messages from great world thinkers sharing their faith in God and humanity. This temple combines several completely different and contrasting architectural styles of temple architecture in India -- Rajasthani, Orrisan, Gujarati and Jain -- into a pleasing whole. Musical Fountains / Yagnapurush Kund The Yagnapurush Kund is a fascinating combination of a Vedic yagna kund and a musical fountain. It is the world's largest yagna kund measuring 300' X 300' with 2,870 steps and 108 small shrines. In its center lies an 8-petaled lotus shaped yagna kund designed according to the Jayaakhya Samhita of the Panchratra scripture.Its perfect geometric forms testify to ancient India 's ancient knowledge in mathematics and geometry. At night, the fountain comes alive with a colourful, musical show depicting the Hindu concept of interdependency between humans, nature and God. The Mandir is built to last 10,000 years. Pari Krama Vibhuti Mandovar Akshardham Temple is a beautiful place of worship which provides sanctum of peace to one and all. Elephant plinth The temple stands on a 1,070 ft.-long plinth of 148 full-sized elephants carved entirely from stone. Together, they weigh 3,000 tonnes. Exterior carvings The outer wall of the temple is profusely covered with 200 stone figures of India's sages and intricate depictions of nature. The monument was built after over 300 million man hours of services rendered by 11,000 volunteers, sadhus and artisans. Interior carvings The temple is a fusion of pink sandstone on the outside and white marble on the inside, but with no structural steel used anywhere. Pink stone symbolizes bhakti (devotion) in eternal bloom and white marble of absolute purity and eternal peace. The interior is filled with 234 ornately carved pillars, 9 ornate domes, and intricately designed ceilings In total, there are more than 20,000 carved figures. Temple sanctum Enshrined in the temple's inner sanctum is an 11 ft.-high gilded murti (sacred image) of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, the deity to whom the temple and complex are dedicated. Other images include those of popular Hindu deities and spiritual leaders of the Swaminarayan tradition. Vedic consecration BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham was the vision and creation of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, spiritual leader of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. He ceremoniously consecrated the temple and complex according to ancient Vedic rituals on 6 November 2005.
