Akshardham, New Delhi

Akshardham (Delhi)

Akshardham is a Hindu temple complex in Delhi, India. Also referred to as Delhi Akshardham or Swaminarayan Akshardham, the complex displays centuries of traditional Indian and Hindu culture, spirituality, and architecture. The building was inspired and moderated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual head of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, whose 3,000 volunteers helped 7,000 artisans construct Akshardham.

The temple, which attracts approximately 70 percent of all tourists who visit Delhi, was officially opened on 6 November 2005. It sits on the banks of the Yamuna adjacent to the proposed 2010 Commonwealth Games village. The monument at the center of the complex of built off of the Vastu Shastra and Pancharatra Shastra. The complex features a large central monument crafted entirely of stone, exhibitions on incidents from the life of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the history of India, an IMAX feature, a musical fountain, and large landscaped gardens.



Guinness World Record

On 17 December 2007, Michael Whitty, an official world record adjudicator for Guinness World Records, traveled to Ahmedabad, India to present a new world record to Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, for the Akshardham complex.

The record was presented for Akshardham as the World’s Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple.




The certificate states,

"BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi, India, is the world's largest comprehensive Hindu temple. It measures 356 ft (109 m). long, 316 ft (96 m). wide and 141 ft (43 m). high, covering an area of 86,342 sq ft (8,021.4 m2). The grand, ancient-style, ornately hand-carved stone temple has been built without structural steel within five years by 11,000 artisans and volunteers. His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, revered spiritual leader of BAPS, consecrated the temple on 6 November 2005. Akshardham showcases the essence of India's ageless art, borderless culture and timeless values."

Upon presentation of the award, Michael Whitty stated, "It took us three months of research, poring over the extensive architectural plans of the Akshardham and also those of other temples of comparable size, visiting and inspecting the site, before we were convinced that Akshardham deserved the title."

Some Beautiful Pictures ...

Religious part aside, it's a remarkable piece of human construction. Nothing beats Angkor Wat, though.

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Yamaraj's Signature:

This one has any resamblance to the one in Gujrat? Or the two are constructed differently?

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Safin's Signature:

Have Fun, Take part in debates, Read jokes, Ogle at Celebs; Just follow the Rules!

“There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is having lots to do and not doing it.”

delhi one can be considered enlarged version of gandhinagar akshardham.

the fundamental design / principle / concept / orientation is the same.

only the scale is different.

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medpal's Signature:

Amazing piece of Art...I so wanted to visit the Ahmedabad Akshardham

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xXx's Signature:

This is officially on my "Places to see" list ! Amazing !

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Blade_Runner's Signature:

My Flickr

very nice Temple....its almost the similer one of the Gujrat one......

Reps...for such a wonderful pics

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Aero's Signature:

Its a grand grand temple... Was there last year...
Architecture is amazing
Just a day is not enough to explore the beauty....
And the musical fountains are just

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heathcliff's Signature:

Ditto, Delhi has so many tourists hotspots

Amazing pics, is it been constructed by ISKCON?


EDIT: Need to spread reps

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Ninja's Signature:

^Nah... I don't think it has any connection with ISKCON.

Here is the official site : www.Akshardham.com


Akshardham Gandhinagar in Gandhinagar, Gujarat is the sister complex of Delhi Akshardham. The monument in Gandhinagar was also constructed by BAPS. Opened in 1992 amid fanfare, Akshardham Gandhinagar comprises a monument, exhibition halls, a vast colonnade, contemplative gardens, and a restaurant, much like the monument in New Delhi. The architecture and carvings of the monument in Delhi resemble those of the monument in Gandhinagar.

Akshardham Gandhinagar has attracted millions of visitors from across the world, including Bill Clinton who commented, "Akshardham is not only a unique place in India but in the whole world. It is even more beautiful than what I had imagined. Taj Mahal is definitely beautiful, but this place, along with beauty, has a beautiful message.

Wiki.

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Bluffmaster's Signature:

As life goes on I’m starting to learn more and more about responsibility
I realize everything I do is affecting the people around me
So I want to take this time out to apologize for things I have done
And things that have not occurred yet
And the things they don’t want to take responsibility for!