Delhi is a city of attractions galore, with cultural and religious destinations to be visited all over the city. One of these attractions is the famous Akshardham Temple, also known as the Swaminarayan Temple. Spread over a sprawling area of 83842 sq feet, this temple is one of the largest in the world. The grand architecture is an epitome of the history, culture and tradition of India and also stands for harmony and oneness of mankind. There is plenty to know about this amazing monument, which has become a great attraction for people across the globe.
Here is a list of 10 interesting facts about Akshardham Temple:
10. Parikrama
The Parikrama around the Akshardham Temple is framed in the form of a pavement comprising of two storeys. The 3000 feet long parikrama has 1200 pillars and 155 pinnacles.
9. Narayan Sarovar
The main building of the Akshardham Temple is surrounded by a lake called the Narayan Sarovar, which carries the water of as many as 151 sacred lakes and rivers from around the country. A series of 108 gaumukhs (faces of cows) have been made along the sarovar and these stand for the 108 Hindu Gods.
8. Garden of India
Another interesting fact about Akshardham Temple is the Garden of India, the splendid green lawns on the temple premises. These lawns have been adorned with amazing bronze statues which have been built as tribute to some of the greatest personalities of the country, such as patriots, warriors, child heroes and exemplary women of the country.
7. Lotus Garden
Akshardham Temple also houses an exquisite garden called the Lotus Garden, the name which it gets because of its shape. The garden is a symbol of spirituality as has been a part of what has been said by the historical leaders, philosophers and scientists of the country.
6. Musical Fountain Show
The beautiful temple has a great attraction for the visitors in the form of the spectacular musical fountain show called the Circle of Life, a grand 15 minute spectacle held for 15 minutes every evening. The show features the cycle of life, starting from birth till death, with beautiful colorful fountains used to depict all the events.
5. Yagnapurush Kund
Akshardham Temple hoses the Yagnapurush Kund, which is the largest of its kind in the world. The lotus shaped kund has 108 small shrines along with 2870 steps. The shape of the kund is aligned in a perfect geometrical form, such as it stands as a tribute to the ancient mathematical skills and knowledge of the scholars of India.
4. Ten Gates
Another interesting fact about Akshardham Temple is that it has 10 gates, which stand for the 10 principal directions as said in the Vedic literature. These gates depict that goodness comes in from all the directions they stand in.
3. A place in the Guinness Book of Records
Akshardham Temple has found a place in the Guinness Book of Records for being the largest comprehensive Hindu temple in the world. The most amazing thing about this huge temple complex is that it took only five years to be completes, which is something surprising. As many as 11000 artisans and countless volunteers had a contribution in the construction of this temple, which was inaugurated in November 2005.
2. Attractions of Akshardham Temple
Akshardham Temple has a lot to offer to the pilgrims and tourists who visit the temple as it combines the best of architecture with tradition and spirituality. In addition to the numerous galls and buildings housed in the temple, it displays a giant film screen which shows the movie related to the life of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
1. History of Akshardham Temple
The credit of building the famous Akshardham Temple goes to an organization called BAPS, which stands for Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha. The spiritual head of BAPS, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, played a key role in overseeing the making of the temple.
Akshardham Temple has become an important landmark in the city of Delhi and a trip to the city is incomplete without a visit to this beautiful place.
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