Akshardham Temple Delhi is one such place in our country where people are sure to be awed by its sheer magnificence and positive energy. The place is famous for its ethereal beauty, charm, and well-thought construction plan. Also called the Swaminarayan Temple complex, the spiritual haven also found its rightful place in the Guinness World Records as the largest comprehensive Hindu temple.
If you are planning to come to Delhi soon, do not miss out on the marvellous experience of visiting the Akshardham Temple. The shrine is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan, a yogic soul who preached spirituality and way of life to people in the 18th Century.
The temple is spread out over a wide area and there are several frequent cultural events that keep happening within the courtyard.
If you are coming to Delhi in the near future, consider booking your stay at Hotels in Delhi which are very close to Akshardham temple. You can save a lot of time on commuting.
Here is a complete guide about the Akshardham temple Delhi timings and ticket prices, its history, architectural plan, exhibitions and more. Read on to make your perfect travel plan!
The Akshardham Temple Delhi is not the only one in the country. To know about the other Akshardham temples, read this blog: Akshardham Temples – Visit the “Abode of God” to Experience Serenity and Peace
Akshardham Temple Delhi History
The Akshardham Temple in Delhi is dedicated to guru Swaminarayan who blessed the Earth with his presence during the 18th Century. Shri Yogiji Maharaj was the fourth successor of Swaminarayan. He was the one who wished to construct a temple in the name of his guru and proposed the idea in 1968. Shri Yogiji Maharaj was then serving as the spiritual guru in Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, also popular as BAPS. However, the temple construction did not start until the year 2000.
Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the fifth successor of Swaminarayan laid the first building block to construct the Akshardham Temple Delhi. The Delhi government offered offered 60 acres of land while the Uttar Pradesh government gave 30 acres of the state owned land. The temple construction was completed in 2005 after workers, artisans and over 8000 volunteers came together to make this wish a reality.
The temple officially opened to the public on 6th November 2005. The then prime minister of India, Manmohan Singh, along with renowned personalities like Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, B.L Joshi, and L.K Advani took part in the inauguration ceremony.
The temple was built as a symbol of Indian culture, history, art, and religion. It is to hail Lord Swaminarayan whose morals, preachings, and prayers are still very famous in the country. He was seen as an incarnation of God and people seek his holy blessings every day. It is also a way to commemorate Shri Yogiji Maharaj who was a prominent spiritual guide in BAPS. The temple stands on the banks of the river Yamuna and is one of the most peaceful temples in Delhi.
Akshardham Temple Delhi Timings
It is important to know the Akshardham temple timings before you visit the place. The Akshardham entry timing are between 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The entry of new devotees will be stopped at 6:30 PM. Whoever is inside the temple should offer their prayers and leave before 8:00 PM.
The first aarti will happen at 10:30 AM and the last one at 6:30 PM. Akshardham Temple will remained closed on mondays for maintenance purposes. The staff will clean the temple premises and keep everything spick and span for the devotees who will visit from Tuesday to Sunday.
People who want to buy tickets for exhibitions or events happening in Akshardham temple must do so between 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. People prefer to get their tickets one day ahead but you can also grab yours on the same day you visit the temple. You can attend different exhibitions and events with the tickets. We will discuss about these events in the next sections of the blog.
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Architecture of the Stunning Akshardham Temple
When you enter the compound of Akshardham temple in Delhi, you will see that everything looks like it came out of a well-written fantasy novel. The place has a powerful spiritual aura that adds to its aesthetic charm. Though the haven looks no less than a regal haveli, the founders aimed to replicate the traditional Hindu architectural style. The main sanctum sanctorum is present in the Akshardham temple which is almost 141 meters tall. Everything within this part of the temple is built taking the learnings from Vastu Shastra and Pancharatra Shastra. The height, placement, and materials used to make the idol of Swaminarayan also depend on these Shastras.
The temple is built using Rajasthani sandstones and Italian Carrara marble. The pastel red tones of the Rajasthani stones coupled with the serene white of the marble are so soothingly satisfying. That was the aim behind using these materials. On one side, they are offering the needed stability and strength to the entire construction. Also, the aesthetic beauty is going to impress the visitors. Pramukh Swami Maharaj believed this to be the perfect abode for Lord Swaminarayan.
The pillars inside the temple have intricate carvings, the domes have traditional Indian designs, and there are sculptures of spiritual heads within the complex. The Akshardham Temple Delhi has a total of 234 pillars, 20 spires, 20,000 sculptures and 8-9 domes.
Outside, you will see a courtyard with well-manicured lawns, neatly trimmed trees and bushes. There are water fountains that increase the gorgeousness of the place by several folds.
Other Special Structures
Yagnapurush Kund
The Yagnapurush Kund is a beautiful stepwell that is present in the centre of the courtyard. The steps lead to a central open space where water can be stored. On your way down, you can see inscriptions and carved sculptures of Gods and deities from the Hindu Mythology.
Narayan Sarovar
This is a small lake within the temple premises. The water here is clean, clear, and absolutely soothing. People believe this lake to have a positive energy that can transform your life. You will definitely enjoy walking around its perimeter.
Exhibitions and their Ticket prices at Akshardham Temple
There is no Akshardham temple ticket price to enter the grounds. Entry is free for all devotees. But if you wish to see the water show or attend any exhibition, you will need to buy a ticket.
Sahajanand Darshan – Hall 1
Sahajanand Darshan is a 1-hour show that uses animations, 3D figurines and modern multimedia technology to tell visitors about the Hindu culture and its significance. It is an interesting way to highlight the importance of sticking to our age-old beliefs and leading a righteous life.
Languages: Separate Shows in Hindu and English languages
Neelkanth Darshan – Hall 2
Hall 2 has a huge theatre screen where you can watch a 1-hour movie that tracks the journey of Lord Swaminarayan during his teenage years. He set out on a pilgrimage called the Neelkanth Darshan and you can learn everything about it in this 45-minute cinema.
Languages: Hindi and English. For those who prefer English, special headphones will be given with English commentary.
Sanskriti Darshan – Hall 3
Sail through the marvellous history of India and get glimpses of 10,000-year-old stories! Sanskriti Darshan involves getting seated on a boat that sails through the exhibition hall. Here, you can see India’s influence on the world, achievements and contributions to its people. The darshan lasts for 15 minutes.
Languages: Hindi. If you want to hear the commentary in English, you will have to request the temple authorities.
Musical Fountain Show
Delhi Temple Akshardham is the most sought-after tourist attraction in the capital because of its musical fountain show! This is a 24-minute spectacle of sound, colourful laser lights, water jets, video clippings, and underwater fire effects! The show narrates a very interesting tale from the Kena Upanishad. The first show generally starts around 7:45 PM. However, the show starts after sunset so the timings might differ depending on the season. On public holidays and religious occasions, multiple shows will be arranged.
Ticket Price: INR 90 for adults; INR 60 for children, Free for kids below 4 years of age.
Language: Hindi
You need to buy the tickets to the exhibition prior. You can pick them up on the day you visit the temple from the counter between 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. For everyone above 12 years old, the ticket will cost INR 250. For senior citizens above the age of 60, the ticket price is INR 200. For children above 4 years, the price is INR 150. Children below 4 years old can enter the exhibition without any ticket.
Facts About Akshardham Temple
- The Narayan Sarovar in Akshardham Temple Delhi complex comprises water from 151 lakes in India. It also has 108 cow faces along its outer lining which signify the main 108 names of god in the Hindu religion.
- The Akshardham Garden is shaped like a lotus that is clearly distinguishable in the aerial view. It has quotes by Swami Vivekananda, Shakespeare, and Martin Luther engraved on its stones.
- There are 10 gates from which you can enter the temple. These signify the 10 directions mentioned in Vedic scriptures.
- The Yagnapurush Kund in Akshardham temple is the world’s largest yagna kund.
- Akshardham means ‘Akshar’ – eternal and ‘Dham’ – home or abode. The name says that the temple is the abode of the eternal spiritual one.
- The temple construction was done solely using the Rajasthani stones and Italian marble. Cement, concrete and bricks were not used.
- Premvati Ahargurh is the eating space within the temple complex. Its design and architecture are inspired by the infamous Ajanta and Elora Caves of India.
- The Akshardham Temple construction took 3,00,000,000 Hours in total. It was the collective effort of 8000 volunteers and almost 10,500 to 11000 artisans.
How To Reach Delhi?
Delhi is the capital city of India. It is well connected with the rest of the Indian cities and also flights that come from other countries. Here’s how you can reach Delhi first and head toward the Akshardham Temple.
By Air
The fastest way to reach Delhi is by boarding a flight from your respective Indian city. You will be reaching the Indira Gandhi International Airport. From here, it is very easy to find a taxi or cab service that can take you to your hotel or directly to Akshardham Temple Delhi. The temple is about 30 km away from IGI airport.
By Rail
There are 4 railway stations in Delhi – The New Delhi Railway Station, Old Delhi Railway Station, Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, and Anand Vihar Railway Station. Akshardham temple is close to Anand Vihar Railway Station so if there is a train that travels through your city and stops at this station, go for it. The temple is about 5-6 km away from this station and autorickshaw/cab services are easily available. The nearest local metro station is the Akshardham Mandir Metro Station. You will have to travel on the blue line. For those who are coming from the railway station or the airport, change the yellow line to blue line at Rajeev Chowk and head toward the temple.
By Road
People who are taking a bus to Delhi must get down at the Anand Vihar Bus terminal. It is very easy to travel from Jaipur, Agra, Dehradun, Manali, Chandigarh, Shimla, and Kolkata to Delhi. NH2 and NH8 connect most of these major cities with Delhi. From Anand Vihar Bus Terminal, the temple is about 5-6 km.
Akshardham Temple Delhi is India’s pride and one of the most prominent spiritual places in the capital of the country, Also, you will find Akshardham temples in other major Indian cities and also the United States! Whenever you visit Delhi the next time, book your stay at Hotels in Delhi and set out to explore the gorgeous Akshardham temple!
