Arkshardham Temple is a defier of the modern belief we have lost all of our artisanship and expertise in quality construction. This building was recently (by Indian temple standards) completed in 2005 and is built to incredibly high levels magnificense with unbeleivable beauty of design, boasting artisanship in every corner of the development. Astoundingly, this entire structure was completed in just 5 years from construction commencement.
If you’d like to read a little on the building itself, planning, featurs, detailing stats, politics etc, click here.
The entry conditions forbid the use of cameras for photographing any of the structure, so, as you know, I always comply with the rules…………………………… At least when I know I can collect the info elsewhere, anyway. So, like anyone of the internet era, I just Google’d the shit out of it. None of the photos here are mine. If the photographer of any of these shots would like either credit or romoval of any shots, please just submit evidence of your copyright and I’ll be happy to help.
The view to the main mandir is breathtaking
The carvings around the entire base of the main Mandir form a plinth paying tribute to the Hindu cultural importance of the elephant throughout India’s history. There are 148 life sized elephants together with companions, gods and environmental elements
The Yogi Hraday Kamal, a lotus-shaped sunken garden
The stone carving throughout is phenomenal
The main attraction of the Swaminarayan Akshardham complex is the Akshardham Mandir.
The intricate stone carving shows incredidible finesse and astounding detail.
Being a newly constructed temple, I was initially not as enthusiastic to attend as the historic temples. Given I knew photography was forbidden, I nearly didn’t visit it at all. That would have been a huge mistake. Seeing the capability of current generation people to complete architecture of this standard was exceedingly worth the time and effort.
The Akshardham Mandir is entirely constructed from Rajasthani pink sandstone and Italian Carrara marble. Based on traditional Hindu architectural guidelines (Shilpa shastras) on maximum temple life span, it makes no use of ferrous metal. Thus, it has no support from steel or concrete.
Exhibits
Sahajanand Darshan (Hall of Values)
The Hall of Values features lifelike robotics and dioramas which display incidents from Swaminarayan’s life, portraying his message about the importance of peace, harmony, humility, service to others and devotion to God. Set in 18th century India, the audience experiences eternal messages gleaned from ancient Hindu culture such as non‐violence, vegetarianism, perseverance, prayers, morality, and family harmony through 15 3-dimensional dioramas .
Nilkanth Darshan (Theatre)
The theatre houses Delhi’s first and only large format screen, measuring 26-metre by 20-metre. The theatre shows a 40-minute film specially commissioned for the complex, Neelkanth Yatra, to recount a seven-year pilgrimage made by Swaminarayan made during his teenage years throughout India. An 8.2-metre tall bronze murti of Nilkanth Varni is located outside the theatre.
Sanskruti Vihar (Boat Ride)
The Boat Ride is a 12-minute journey through 10,000 years glorious heritage, using life size figures and robotics to depict life in Vedic India, from family life to bazaars and teaching. It also shows the contributions of Vedic Indians to various fields such as science, astronomy, arts, literature, yoga, mathematics, etc. by eminent persons like mathematician-astronomers Aryabhata and Brahmagupta, grammarian Pāṇini, contributors to the ancient art and science of Ayurveda like Sushruta and Charaka, Classical Sanskrit writer Kālidāsa, philosopher, economist and royal advisor Chanakya, among others. It shows the world’s first university, Takshashila and the subjects taught there such as horse riding and warfare. It moves on to the Middle Ages to Sufi saints like Kabir and saints from the Bhakti movement such as Meera and Ramananda and then to recent times highlighting the contributions of modern Indian mathematicians such as Jagadish Chandra Bose, Srinivasa Ramanujan, C. V. Raman and Satyendra Nath Bose and philosophers like Swami Vivekananda.[citation needed]
The musical fountain and the statue of Neelkanth Varni in its background
Musical fountain
The Musical fountain, also known as the Yagnapurush Kund, is India’s largest stepwell. It features a very large series of steps down to a traditional ‘yagna kund’. During the day, these steps provide rest for the visitors to the complex and at night, a musical fountain show named Sahaj Anand – Multi-Media Water Show is shown. Sahaj Anand Water Show is a 24-minute presentation which unites a variety of media to bring to life a story from the Kena Upanishad. Multi-color lasers, video projections, underwater flames, water jets and surround sound in symphony with lights and live actors produce a presentation. The fountain measures 91 metres (300 ft) by 91 metres (300 ft) with 2,870 steps and 108 small shrines. In its centre lies an eight-petaled lotus-shaped yagna kund designed according to the Jayaakhya Samhita of the Pancharatra shastra.
Gardens
Garden of India
Also known as the Bharat Upavan, this garden has lush manicured lawns, trees, and shrubs. The garden is lined with bronze sculptures of contributors to India’s culture and history. These sculptures include children, women, national figures, freedom fighters, and warriors of India, including notable figures such as Mahatma Gandhi.
Yogi Hraday Kamal
A sunken gardinene, shaped like a lotus when viewed from above, features large stones engraved with quotes from world luminaries ranging from Shakespeare and Martin Luther King Jr. to Swami Vivekananda and Swaminarayan.