The Akshardham mandir Delhi was officially opened to the public on November 6, 2005. It was inaugurated by the president of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam took five years to build the complex as per Pancharatra shastra and Vaastu shastra.
This temple is located on the banks of the Yamuna River, a few miles from the 2010 Commonwealth Games Village. The idea for this complex was originally conceived by Yogiji Maharaj around 1968. Then, in 1982, his successor Pramukh Swami Maharaj began construction of the Akshardham Temple Complex.
In 2000, 60 acres and 30 acres of land were offered by Delhi Development Authority and Uttar Pradesh government respectively for the project. Construction for the temple complex began in November 2000. In November 2005, it was officially opened by then Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh and leader of opposition Mr. L K Advani.
Akshardham Delhi has also been bestowed with the Guinness world record for being the largest comprehensive Hindu Temple in the world.
Akshardham, as per Swaminarayan Hinduism, means the abode of Lord. It represents the serenity and the holiness of the place where followers worship the divine and seek their blessings. It is considered to be the divine residence of God on Earth. Swaminarayan Akshardham Delhi isn't just a temple; Swaminarayan Akshardham complex is also a spiritual and cultural campus where various kinds of events related with Hindu beliefs and peace are organized.
The Akshardham Temple is the Western culmination of a divine dream and has brought forth the reality. The prayerful ambience created by the architectural excellence augurs well for the peace of mind. The idols of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and his successors are likenesses from Nature, reverently installed in this temple after being worshipped at their original shrines.
Located on the banks of the Yamuna River, Akshardham is one of India's most prized architectural wonders. Built following Vastu Shastra and Pancharatra Shastra, the temple is a traditional Hindu temple in true sense. Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam inaugurated it in 2005.
With its impressive architecture and three beautiful halls, the Akshardham Temple in Delhi attracts visitors with exhibits like spiritual exhibitions to musical concerts. You can experience everything from spiritual exhibitions to musical concerts in any one of these three halls.
The ticket counter is open from 10 AM to 7 PM. Show times are one hour and they're held through speaking in English and Hindi.
Separate tickets are not offered for individual shows. Visitors can purchase the entry tickets online, or at the door, at Akshardham. The exhibition ticket price is Rs.170 per person for adults and Rs.125 per person for those aged 60 years and above. The ticket price is Rs.100 per child between 4 - 11 years of age, and free admission to kids below four years of age.
Sahajanand Darshan presents exhibits on the subjects, including non-violence, family harmony, morality, and more. They use multimedia technologies like immersive projections, 3D dioramas with audio-animatronic figures to help bring the meaning of these topics to life.
Neelkanth Darshan is a theatre with a big screen, which is 85 feet wide and 65 feet tall. The movie it screens shows the life of Neelkanth Varni (Shree Swaminarayan) who decided to hitchhike seven long years from Himalayas to Southern beaches. This journey resulted in him preaching the values of sacrifice and devotion. The Akshardham Movie, Neelkanth Yatra, is known for being the first movie made on a large scale by an Indian organization about India's religious history. It was filmed in 108 locations with more than 45,000 actors!
Sanskruti Darshan is the most popular of all the exhibitions at Akshardham Delhi. It lasts around 12 minutes and features captivating views from ancient Indian life, investments, government systems devised in ancient India, and other tantalizing glimpses into present-day India. What's more, this boat ride takes you on a tour across different sets to offer an illustrated look at cultural life and history of India's vast past.
Akshardham Temple has a boat ride by the Akshardham Pond. The boat ride takes about 45 minutes, and tickets cost Rs.170 for adults, Rs.125 for visitors above the age of 60 years, and Rs.100 for children under the age of 11 years.
Akshardham Temple is open for both general public and specific exhibitions from Tuesday to Sunday. Public hours are from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM, while private show tours or evening performances are from 10AM to 8PM.
BAPS Akshardham has wheelchair access. You can take it from Gajendra Peeth, where there is enough space available. But the mandir area and Narayan peeth cant be accessed via wheelchair. Just like other Hindu places of worship, shoes are not allowed in the gantries in front of the main deity at BAPS Akshardham as you enter.
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