About Akshardham Temple Delhi
Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi epitomizes 10,000 years of Indian culture in all its breathtaking grandeur, beauty, wisdom, and bliss. Opened in November 2005, the complex brilliantly displays the essence of India’s ancient architecture, traditions, and timeless spiritual messages.
The central attraction is the Akshardham Mandir, constructed entirely without the use of steel or metal framing. It consists of 234 ornately carved pillars, 9 ornate domes, and 20,000 statues of India’s revered spiritual figures. Surrounding the base of the central monument is the Gajendra Pith, a plinth honoring the elephant's place in Indian culture and mythology featuring 148 life-sized stone elephants.
Key Attractions within the Complex:
- Sahaj Anand Water Show: A breathtaking 24-minute night show featuring multi-color lasers, video projections, underwater flames, and water jets synchronized to dynamic soundscapes.
- Sanskruti Vihar (Boat Ride): A 12-minute immersive indoor boat ride taking visitors through 10,000 years of Indian heritage, showcasing Vedic era contributions to science, mathematics, art, and governance.
- Sahajanand Darshan (Hall of Values): Experiential exhibits depicting universal values of peace, harmony, and devotion through modern audio-animatronics and dioramas.
- Neelkanth Darshan: An IMAX-style giant screen theater showing an inspiring film on the seven-year pilgrimage of young Neelkanth Varni across India.
- Bharat Upavan: Lush thematic gardens featuring bronze statues of India’s eminent freedom fighters, national leaders, and cultural icons.
History
The vision for Akshardham was conceived in 1968 by Yogiji Maharaj, the spiritual head of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS). However, it was under the leadership of his successor, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, that the grand dream materialized.
Construction commenced in 2000 on a 100-acre site along the banks of the Yamuna River in East Delhi. Over 7,000 artisans along with 3,000 volunteers contributed over 300 million volunteer hours to bring the complex to life. The temple was officially inaugurated on November 6, 2005, by Pramukh Swami Maharaj in the presence of APJ Abdul Kalam, then President of India, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Built strictly according to ancient Vastu Shastra and Pancharatra Shastra guidelines, the primary shrine is crafted using Pink Sandstone from Rajasthan and White Carrara Marble from Italy, designed to endure for centuries without any structural metal supports.