Akshardham Temple, Delhi

Swaminarayan Akshardham stands on the eastern bank of the Yamuna in Delhi, close to the border with Noida. It was built by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, inspired by Yogiji Maharaj and created under Pramukh Swami Maharaj, and it opened on 6 November 2005. The word Akshardham means the divine abode of God in Swaminarayan belief.

The temple was built by thousands of artisans and volunteers in about five years, following traditional Hindu texts on architecture and without structural steel. It is one of the largest Hindu temple complexes in the world.

The central mandir is made of pink sandstone and white marble. It rises to about 43 metres, with 234 carved pillars, nine domes and more than 20,000 carved figures of deities, sages and devotees. Inside stands a gilded statue of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Around the base runs the Gajendra Pith, a long frieze of carved elephants. The temple is ringed by a two-storey colonnade. Other parts of the campus include the Sahajanand Darshan hall of values, the Neelkanth Darshan large-format film, the Sanskruti Darshan boat ride through Indian history, a stepped water garden and the Sahaj Anand evening water show.

Security is strict. Phones, cameras, bags and electronic items are not allowed inside and must be left at the cloakroom. Photography is not permitted in the complex.

Entry to the temple and grounds is free, while the exhibitions and the water show need paid tickets. The complex is closed on Mondays. Akshardham station on the Delhi Metro Blue Line is a short walk away.