The awe-inspiring Akshardham

For the five of us, the trip to Delhi last November was solely political. Our to-do list prominently featured an important meeting with a political bigwig at 7, Jantar Mantar Road, New Delhi. It was just a day’s stay at the Capital so no site-seeing plan absolutely.  Unexpectedly, we managed to finish our political job by afternoon. With nothing much constructive to do on schedule, Yatin suggested we pay a visit to Swaminarayan Akshardham. Temple? The idea was initially rejected by the rest of us, but as Yatin insisted, hesitantly though, we agreed.

Little did we know then that a little over an hour’s drive through the busy NH 24, East Delhi, we were to see the most awesome monument in India – the Akshardham, much as Yatin had described (he had seen the monument earlier). Awestruck we stood in front of what is celebrated as one of the biggest and most intricate religious places of worship entirely composed of sandstone and marble (no steel), built in a record time of non-stop five years of construction with over 300 million man hours of services rendered by 11,000 volunteers, sadhus and artisans.
After a rigid security check (phones, cameras, bags, leather items, electronic items, purses, etc are not allowed inside the complex) spanning over half-an-hour or more, we finally entered the monument dedicated to world peace. Another noteworthy aspect here is visitors are requested to dress modestly and respect the sanctity of the complex. (Devasthan’s in Goa take note).
The temple, constructed by Bochasanvasi Aksharpurushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) foundation -- the builders of the various Swaminaryan Temples across the world, is said to be a modern day Wonder of the World. After a record of five years of non-stop, round-the-clock construction, the massive and awesome monument to World Peace was inaugurated in November 2005. Combining several completely different and contrasting architectural styles of Hindu temple architecture of northern India --Rajasthani, Orrisan, Gujarati, Mughal and Jain -- the Akshardham Monument is entirely constructed of marble and the red-sandstone that Delhi is famous for, and that so many of her monuments are constructed of.
It consists of 234 ornately carved pillars, 9 ornate domes, 20 quadrangled shikhars, a spectacular Gajendra Pith (plinth of stone elephants) and 20,000 murtis and statues of India's great sadhus, devotees, acharyas and divine personalities. The monument is a fusion of several architectural styles of pink stone and pure white marble. The temple is a fine example of ancient Indian culture with all its breathtaking grandeur and beauty. The temple is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan and was inaugurated by former president APJ Abdul Kalam on November 6, 2005.
The Gajendra Peeth, a 1070 ft long pageant of elephants in stone, fascinated us the most. The peeth which displays a total of 148 stone elephants, 125 human figures, 42 animals and decorative backdrops created in four years, portrays elephants with nature, man and God, reflecting the message of peaceful coexistence, love, faith, effort, courage and service. The Gajendra Peeth exhorts mankind towards nobler living and love for nature.
Apart from the temple you can also have an insight of exhibitions, art gallery, musical fountain show and giant screen film in the IMAX theatre inside the temple complex. The source of inspiration behind the construction of the temple comes directly from the Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar (Gujarat).
The temple complex is well known for its unique blend of Hindu religion and Indian culture. It is divided into many small structures. The main monument has been built according to the  Vaastu Shastra is 141 feet high, 316 feet wide and 370 feet long with 234 ornate pillar eleven 72-foot-high huge domes (mandapams) and decorative arches. There are about 20, 000 sculptures of various Hindu gods and goddesses adorning all the parts of the temple. The grand and beautiful mandir is built without steel and consists of 234 ornately carved pillars, 9 ornate domes, 20 quadrangled shikhars, spectacular Gajendra Pith (plinth of stone elephants) and 20,000 murtis and statues of India’s great sadhus, devotees, acharyas and divine persons.
The area around the temple building has been converted into lush green lawns with beautiful water fountains. A well known tourist attraction, the Akshardham Temple is one of the finest structures built in the modern India. The temple showcases the beautiful blend of Indian culture through its statues, floral motifs, arches and wonderfully carved pillars.
A food court called Premvati Food Court serves pure vegetarian delicacies and snacks. While we treated ourselves to some tempting north and south Indian dishes at an ambience that showcase intricate cultural décor, Baba could not resist shopping at the Akshar Haat (a souvenir shop) which offers an attractive range of gift items and publications on Swaminarayan Akshardham.
After spending almost two hours inside the 100 acre cultural complex and filled with the desire to pay a special visit to the monument on another occasion, we could not thank Yatin enough for giving us an insight into a glowing testimony to what volunteerism, talent and spiritual faith can accomplish and a showcase of India’s glorious traditions of art, architecture, wisdom and spirituality.