Akshardham Temple Delhi: A Marvel of Art, Culture, and Spirituality

Akshardham Temple Delhi: Timings, Ticket Price, Things To Do

Delhi's Akshardham Temple, also known as Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. This architectural marvel, standing tall at 141.3 feet is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest comprehensive Hindu temple.

Constructed in 2005, the temple showcases the old-world architecture of historical Hindu temples, with a design inspired by the Ajanta and Ellora caves. This UNESCO World Heritage Site features more than 234 beautifully carved pillars, nine elaborate domes, 20 quadrangle spires, and 20000 sculptures of spiritual personalities from India.

What is Akshardham Temple Delhi ?

- Akshardham Temple Delhi stands on the banks of the Yamuna river in the heart of the capital city.

- Dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, the founder of the Swaminarayan sect of Hinduism.

- "Akshardham" means "the abode of the eternal" in Sanskrit.

- Built by the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a socio-spiritual organization and inaugurated by late Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

- Made of pink sandstone and white marble, with no steel or concrete in its construction.

- Covers an area of 100 acres and has a height of 43 meters.

- 234 ornate pillars, 9 ornamental domes, 20 quadrangled shikhars, and over 20,000 statues of deities, saints, and sages.

- Intricate carvings, paintings, and sculptures depict scenes from Hindu mythology, history, and culture.

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Attractions Inside Akshardham Temple Delhi

The Mandir: This is the main attraction of Akshardham Temple Delhi and the focal point of worship. It is a grand edifice that houses the idol of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and his successors. It also has idols of other Hindu deities such as Radha-Krishna, Sita-Ram, Lakshmi-Narayan etc. It is open for darshan (viewing) from 9:30 am to 8 pm every day except on Mondays.

Abhishek Mandap: This is a sacred chamber where visitors can offer water to the idol of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and seek his blessings. The water is infused with herbs and flowers and symbolizes purity and devotion. It is open from 9:30 am to 8 pm every day except on Mondays.

The Exhibitions: These are three multimedia shows that present the life and teachings of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the rich heritage of India. They are:

- Hall of Values, Sahajanand Darshan: This is a hall of values that depicts the moral values and principles of Bhagwan Swaminarayan through animatronics, dioramas, audio-visuals etc.

- Giant Screen Film, Neelkanth Darshan: This is a giant screen film that narrates the story of Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s seven-year pilgrimage across India as a young ascetic named Neelkanth.

- Boat Ride , Sanskruti Darshan: This is a cultural boat ride that takes visitors through 10,000 years of India’s history and culture. It also displays the contributions of India to various fields such as science, art, literature etc.

The Water Show: This spectacular show combines water, fire, laser, sound, and light effects to create a stunning visual spectacle. It also narrates the story of Nachiketa, a young boy who learns the secret of immortality from Yama, the god of death. The water show takes place at 7:30 pm every day except on Mondays.

The Gardens: These are beautiful gardens that surround the temple complex and provide a serene and green environment for visitors to relax and enjoy. They also have various themes and features such as:

Bharat Upvan: This is a garden of India that displays the statues of India’s great personalities such as Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Rani Lakshmi Bai etc.

Yogi Hraday Kamal: This is a lotus-shaped garden that represents the heart of a yogi. It has petals that display the messages and quotes of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and his successors.

Nilkanth Abhishek Snan: This is a musical fountain that recreates the scene of Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s bath in the Mansarovar lake during his pilgrimage.

Yagnapurush Kund: This is a sunken garden that has a large step well and a musical fountain. It also has 108 gaumukhs (cow mouths) that symbolize the 108 names of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

The Food Court: This is a place where visitors can enjoy delicious vegetarian food from various cuisines of India. It also has a bakery, a snack bar, and a souvenir shop. The food court is open from 11 am to 8 pm every day except on Mondays.

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Timings Of Akshardham Temple Delhi

Timings: Akshardham Temple Delhi is open from 9:30 am to 8 pm every day except on Mondays. The last entry is at 6:30 pm. The timings for the various attractions inside the temple complex are as follows:

The Mandir: Open for darshan from 9:30 am to 8 pm.

The Abhishek Mandap: Open from 9:30 am to 8 pm.

The Exhibitions: Open from 10 am to 7 pm.

The Water Show: Starts at 7:30 pm.

The Gardens: Open from 9:30 am to 8 pm.

The Food Court: Open from 11 am to 8 pm.

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Entry Fee Of Akshardham Temple Delhi

Akshardham Temple Delhi does not charge any entry fee for the temple complex, the gardens, and the food court. However, there is a nominal charge for the exhibitions and the water show.

For Indians: Adults: INR 170 for the exhibitions and INR 80 for the water show.

Senior Citizens (above 65 years): INR 125 for the exhibitions and INR 80 for the water show.

Children (4 to 11 years): INR 100 for the exhibitions and INR 50 for the water show.

Children (below 4 years): free for both the exhibitions and the water show.

For Foreigners: Adults: INR 310 for the exhibitions and INR 150 for the water show.

Children (4 to 11 years): INR 200 for the exhibitions and INR 125 for the water show.

Children (below 4 years): Free for both the exhibitions and the water show.

Dining Options At Akshardham Temple Delhi

Akshardham Temple offers dining options that cater to visitors looking for a variety of vegetarian food.

Premvati Food Court: Located within the temple complex, the Premvati Food Court offers a range of vegetarian dishes from different cuisines of India. Visitors can enjoy North Indian, South Indian, Gujarati, and Rajasthani cuisine, among others. The food court also has a bakery, a snack bar, and a souvenir shop.

Neelkanth Sweets and Snacks: This is a popular spot within the temple complex for visitors looking for sweets and snacks. It offers a variety of traditional Indian sweets, snacks, and beverages.

Narayani Namkeen: For those looking for light snacks and beverages, Narayani Namkeen offers a variety of snacks such as bhel puri, pani puri, and samosas, along with refreshing drinks.

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Place To Visit Near Akshardham Temple

Laxminarayan Temple (Birla Mandir): Located about 6 kilometers from Akshardham Temple, this temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. It is known for its architectural beauty and serene surroundings.

India Gate: Situated approximately 10 kilometers from Akshardham Temple, India Gate is a war memorial dedicated to the Indian soldiers who died during World War I. It is a popular spot for picnics and evening strolls.

Humayun's Tomb: About 8 kilometers from Akshardham Temple, Humayun's Tomb is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a splendid example of Mughal architecture. It is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun and is surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Red Fort (Lal Qila): Located around 8 kilometers from Akshardham Temple, the Red Fort is another UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of India's rich history. It was the main residence of the Mughal emperors for nearly 200 years.

Chandni Chowk: Situated approximately 9 kilometers from Akshardham Temple, Chandni Chowk is one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi. It offers a vibrant shopping experience and is famous for its street food.

How to Reach Akshardham Temple Delhi

Akshardham Temple Delhi can be reached by different modes of transportation such as metro, bus, taxi, or auto-rickshaw.

The nearest metro station is Akshardham Metro Station on Blue Line, which is just a few minutes walk from the temple complex.

The nearest bus stop is Akshardham Mandir Bus Stop, which is served by several buses that connect to different parts of Delhi.

You can also take a taxi or an auto-rickshaw from any part of Delhi to reach Akshardham Temple Delhi. The approximate fare or time required will depend on the traffic and distance.

Tips For Visiting Akshardham Temple Delhi

- Carry a valid photo ID proof.

- Don't carry electronic items; deposit them at the cloakroom.

- Don't miss the water show at 7:30 pm daily (except Mondays).

- Don't forget to visit the food court offering delicious vegetarian food.

Also Read: Akshardham Mandir Delhi: Timings, Prices, History

Akshardham Temple Reviews

Anand Menon

733 Followers

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We leave again to our last stop for the day – Akshardham Temple(no photos allowed, so I’ll make the description as detailed as I can). It was almost 5:30pm and that meant we’d miss the exhibition. Oh and before I forget, you are not allowed to carry anything into the temple. No mobiles, no cameras and not even a big handbag. So it’s better to leave your stuff in your car or hotel room or you’d have to waste another hour keeping and retrieving it from the cloak room. We didn’t have to waste that hour as we didn’t bring any such thing. As soon as we entered the temple complex, we rushed to the ticket counter and luckily made it in time for the last show. The first thing that strikes you when you go to an Akshardham temple is its beautiful architecture. With intricate patterns on marble and brilliant sculptures all around, it sure is a treat for the eyes.The exhibition starts off in a theatre where they show a short movie about Swaminarayan and how he gave up everything at 11 years of age and how he attained his spiritual excellence by 21 years. The movie ends and the entire crowd rushes into the exit to the next hall. This seems pretty funny as people are rushing to get the best seats. In the end, some people are left standing. As soon as this show ends, the people standing there rush and get the best seats. Rat race even here! :P But at least everyone is happy. Anyway, this room doesn’t exactly look like a room. This place has a huge tree with statues of many kids playing all around it. Some of them are on the tree and some are playing below it. There is a small lake and a set of seats in a semi-circle beyond it. There are a couple of statues of fishermen standing in the lake. Suddenly, the kid in the middle starts speaking. His hands move, so do his head, lips and everything else. He even blinks his eyes like a real kid. It is a robot which seems just like a real kid. Then the fishermen speak, move hands and even look at us. The whole scene is mesmerizing. It is a story of how the kid in the middle, Swaminarayan makes the fishermen give up fishing because it is a sin to take lives of creatures.Next we step into a corridor and see that it is raining there. Literally. There is even thunder rumbling and we see the front portion of a house. A small boy is walking out of the house and getting drenched in the rain. This one is a still statue but the scene is so real that if we move close to the house, we’ll also get drenched. We then walk through caves and the swami as a child walking through jungles and crossing rivers. The scenes are complete with trees and creepers and snakes. We cross a bridge over a stream and see the swami sitting on a rock in the flowing stream with snakes slithering next to him. Do not get unfazed – all that I’m describing are statues, not real snakes or people. These rooms depict the journey of Swaminarayan across India through the wilderness.After this we enter the open balcony of a village house. We see many life sized statues of people doing different activities. So basically, we have a bird’s eye view of the entire house from the top. Swaminarayan is teaching the inmates. He speaks, nods and blinks. As we look up, we see a blue sky painted. We really get the feel of being inside a village complete with people and everything. The next room is even more awesome. Swami is sitting on a chair and the whole village is sitting around listening to him speak. We can see the excitement on everyone’s faces. The statue next to Swami starts speaking and gesturing. Swami responds to him and gives everyone a few words of wisdom. And then he does something unpredictable. He stands up. He actually stands up! I was awestruck by the ingenious engineering that had gone behind all this. The scenes look so natural. You look to the left and see two women speaking in the village. You look to the right and see that a lady is closely watching the proceedings from behind a pillar. And then you feel that you are actually sitting in that village.After this, we enter a huge theatre. This place is filled with people – probably waiting for the hall to fill up. We happened to be last group, luckily, so the movie started as soon as we were in. It is a 40 minute documentary on the life of Swaminarayan. The kid in the movie acting as the Swami was really cute and innocent and felt apt for the role. After this was the boat ride. The boat is shaped like a giant paddle boat – without paddles. :P There is a chain and track along which the boat moves. This one is a still exhibition of the rich heritage of India and how India has contributed to the world. With this ended the 2 hour exhibition at Akshardham.

Siddhant Jain

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(Blog 6 in my series of blogs - Delhi Delight) We were attending a conference on Advances in Robotics, and both of us were least interested. Hence, we decided to tick off another item on our to visit list. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Delhi and an epitome of ancient culture and traditions, Akshardham Temple situated on the banks of River Yamuna is a sacred site for the Hindus. Both of us had heard of the grandeur of the temple, but had seen it only from a distance, never visited inside. Just like most of the places we visited, we arrived there just a few minutes before the ticket window for various shows within the temple closed. There was huge queue, as expected. We had to submit our phones and various other items at the entrance. Photography was not possible as phones were not allowed inside the temple premises. We decided that I would stand in the queue to submit our mobile phones, while she would go join the queue to buy us tickets. Since mobile phones would not be with us, it would not possible for us to contact each other once separated. Hence we decided on a meeting point. Even though both of us were sceptical of going different directions in a totally new place, it was the only way we could collect the tickets on time. Without watching the shows, the visit would have been incomplete. After about half an hour of waiting in the queue, and security checks, when I entered I found her easily. She was still standing at the ticket counter. On collecting the tickets, we proceeded to watch the shows. There were 4 shows in total. The first named, Sahajanand Darshan (Hall of Values) displayed incidents from Swaminarayan's life by the use of robots and other visual aids. It stressed on the importance of harmony and non violence which Swaminarayan, the main deity of Akshardham stood for. The second show was Nilkanth Darshan. It was a cinematic show, which showed us other various phases of Swaminarayan's life. The third was Sanskruti Vihar. It was a boat ride in an artificial canal through Indian history. It depicted life in ancient India. From the traditions to occupations, education to religion everything was covered. The contributions of many great men of the past was emphasised. All the three shows took about 2 hours to complete. The final show was the most awaited. We had heard a lot about it. The Musical Fountain. It as raining when we reached the large step well where the show happens. Since we had no phones, there was nothing to worry about. We watched the amazing Water Show completely drenched in rain. It went on for about half an hour. It was a completely different Musical Fountain SHow than any other I had seen. It was shown in the form of a story using characters of India's past and mythology. Combined with the light and sound effects, it was an enthralling experience. We didn't mind the rain much. Finally we went to the main temple where the deity of Swaminarayan was seated. It was well almost 10, and we were worried we wouldn't find a Metro. So we hurried, ran on the streets until we reached the Metro Station. Panting, as we reached the station, we were relieved to see that the Metro was still functional. We were under the wrong impression that Metro in Delhi is functional only until a little later than 10. We were wrong. Soaking wet, as we entered the Metro, we were glad to see it wasn't crowded. Found a seat easily. We hadn't had our dinner. But we were glad to have caught the train. It would have become very difficult if we were late.

Vikram Mn

18 Followers

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Once we got ready we took the luggage from my relatives place and started to Akshardam. It was a beautiful place but was heavily commercialized. What I like about temples is their sculptures but the temple hardly had any. With mosaic flooring and flood lights the place looked more a museum than temple to me. We partied that night with me having a couple of tequila shots and rest their own favorites. Nothing much to boast off. We settled in our home late night and got ready for our Agra trip the next day. I had a severe headache when I got up. I somehow managed and reached the bus just on time. All were old people from Tamil Nadu in the bus so we didn't have much fun. Good for me as I slept the whole journey. They had played Ek Tha Tiger in bus it seems, the rest of the guys were discussing how comic it was and teasing Balaji for wanting the coat which Salman was wearing.

Tejpal Choudhary

91 Followers

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Akshardham temple, Delhi – The glorious blend of art, architecture, learning, and devotion In need of a perfect combination of art, architecture combined with the various lessons of life?! One place that can give it all along with the right amount of devotion - Akshardham. You’ll not find this perfect blend of learning imparted by way of exhibits, anywhere else in the world. The temple complex boasts of a huge theatre for plays on various themes. They use the tools of non-violence, compassion, and honesty to propagate love across the world. One must not miss the boat ride that takes you through the achievements of Indian scientists and Rishis. The entry package also comes with a documentary film on the pilgrimage of the prime deity. One shouldn't miss the musical fountain show in any case. It is an extravaganza which still has lots to teach us about the art life around us. Not to forget the deliciously cooked umpteen food options in the canteen of the temple in Delhi.

Aditi Shukla

1684 Followers

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3. Akshardham Temple: Akshardham Temple is one of the most famous and talked about monuments situated at Noida, NCR at the banks of River Yamuna. Built in 2005 in a 100-acre land, it is the largest Hindu Temple in the world - not merely a structure of religious offerings, but a beautifully carved monument complete with its IMAX theatre, technological exhibitions, musical fountain, gardens and food court. It easily takes a day to cover every corner of the fabulous temple. Take a stroll along the Garden of India or Bharat Upavan, check out the bronze sculptures, intricate architecture, its sunken garden in the shape of a lotus, watch devotees take blessings with their offerings and rituals and more. You have to be there to believe it!