Akshardham, the
Swaminarayan temple of Gandhinagar, is a modern complex, built in
traditional Indian architectural style. The imposing 10 storey high
monument is made entirely of intricately carved, 6000 tons of pink
sand-stone from Rajasthan , with no steel or cement used at all,
ensuring that the monument will last for a thousand years. It is 108
feet (32.92 m) tall, 240 feet (73.15 m) long and 131 feet(39.93 m) wide.
Akshardham
is an architectural marvel of this century, oozing with awe-inspiring
auspiciousness and amazing craftsmanship. More than 12 million man-hours
of 900 skilled craftsmen have created this magnificent monument of 93
sculpted pillars, 40 windows carved from both sides, and a feast of
forms and filigrees
AKSHARDHAM MONUMENT
At the centre of the
spacious Akshardham complex, a delicate and beautiful architectural
masterpiece, the Akshardham Monument, which enshrines the golden idol of
Swaminarayan, the founder of the Swaminarayan Faith.
The first floor galleries
house a museum portraying the 500 'parahansas', and several things
belonging to Swaminarayan such as his letter to guru, Ramanand, a piece
from an old tree from Chapaya, his pure wool shawl, a replica of his old
home and other displays. The galleries outside have a state of the art
exhibition using audio-visuals, multi-media, dioramas of the life of
Swaminarayan and from Hindu epics to introduce visitors to the concept
of the Akshardham movement, founded in 1907 AD to promote the preachings
of Swaminarayan.
