Divine Serenity !!!

Having visited many temples in South India , I did not expect such intricate styles of architecture in

" Akshardham " - Shri Swaminarayan Mandir   at  Robinsville, New Jersey 

We visited the temple during the thanksgiving week and hence it was crowded. The temple's construction is still in progress. 

This temple is a masterpiece of Indian architecture and workmanship.This temple is planned to be constructed to spread over 162 acres and hence would become the World's largest Hindu Temple after Srirangam, TamilNadu.

We can see a mixture of South Indian Temple and North Indian Temple architecture. Many idols and scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata are depicted here.

Photography is strictly prohibited inside the temple. I remember seeing such intricate carvings in Srirangapatna, Karnataka and Konark Temple, Odisha. 

You can just marvel at the beautiful, intricate sculptures and carvings for hours and hours

I could see many peacock style arches, elephant sculptures and decorative ceilings and pillars.After darshan, the nice aroma from the cafe nearby tempted us to pick up some lip-smacking traditional Indian dishes .It was a pleasant experience.

 Planning to visit?

1. Do not use the GPS to show directions. Google Maps helps you to navigate better.
2. In case of public transportation , you may need to hire a cab from Princeton, Hamilton or Hightstown stations
3. The timings are usually from 9 AM to 6 PM but they do close darshan for a few hours.Please check website before planning a visit.
4.  Check website for dress code
5. Cell phones must be in silent or switch off mode
6. Pets are not allowed in the temple
7. Smoking is prohibited in the premises.