AKSHARDHAM TEMPLE

Location : Banks of River Yamuna in East DelhiManaged By : Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan SansthaFamous For : Exquisite Architecture and Ornate PillarsRemember To See : Audio Animatronics Show (Sahajanand Darshan)

As you will move south from ITO, after a kilometre or so, you will find a grand monument rising elegantly to your right, the ambrosial Akshardham Temple. Nestling on the banks of river Yamuna over 100 acres of land, the temple is a modern signature of exquisite beauty. Akshardham means the eternal, divine abode of the supreme God, the haunt of eternal values and virtues of 'Akshar' as defined in the Hindu texts where a heart of devotion, purity and peace forever perches. Portraying an impeccable blend of breathtaking grandeur, beauty, wisdom and bliss, the temple is a desired fruit of 5 years of non-stop, round-the-clock construction and blessings of HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), which now manages this pristine architecture. The temple affords a beautiful matrix of marble and red sandstone, with many alluring sculptures that embellish its periphery. Come, experience divinity rising before your peeled eyes at Akshardham, where a religious poetry is offered to every individual heart.
Behold A Poetry Carved In Stone:
You will have to leave all your materialism before you enter the hallowed shrine. Put off shoes, leather purse, belts, cell phones and other accessories as a security measure with the temple authorities. Walk on the chaste pavement that reflects the sanctity of this eminent temple in its heart. Gaze anywhere..and you will be overwhelmed to see immense beauty sprawled all around you in exquisitely carved pillars, ornate domes, quadrangled shikhars, reincarnated in a pink and white attire. Enter the 'Mandir', standing with its head held high at 141 ft. Before you reach the sanctum sanctorum, spare out some time to appreciate the impressive pillars, hauling the colossal alcove on their shoulders. They are beautiful. You can even figure out consummate artistry - flora, fauna, dancers, musicians and Gods - crafted on their surfaces from top to bottom! Amazing, aren't they? The Garbhagriha (Inner Sanctum) reminds one of the Gothic architecture, standing like a silent spectator of divine divinity, where you can even hear your heart beat!