Akshardham Temple

Swaminarayan Akshardham is a large Hindu temple complex on the east bank of the Yamuna in Delhi, opened in November 2005 by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. Its central monument, dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, is carved from pink sandstone and white marble and was built using traditional methods, without steel.

Akshardham was built under the guidance of Pramukh Swami Maharaj by thousands of artisans and volunteers in about five years. The monument carries around 20,000 carved figures of deities, sages, musicians, dancers and animals, and it stands on a plinth lined with 148 life-size stone elephants. Beyond the temple, Akshardham is laid out as a cultural campus, with exhibitions on Indian values and history, a large-format film, landscaped gardens and a stepwell used for the evening water show.

What to see

• The central monument, its domes and carved pillars
• The Gajendra Pith, the elephant-lined plinth
• The exhibitions, including a boat ride through Indian history
• The Bharat Upavan gardens and bronze statues
• The Sahaj Anand water show at the stepwell after dark

What to wear

Akshardham asks for modest dress, with shoulders and knees covered; cover-ups are available if needed. Shoes are removed before the monument. Phones, cameras, bags and food must be left at the cloakroom, so carry as little as possible. Summer days are very hot, and winter evenings at the water show are cold. In Delhi you will see women in salwar kameez and sarees and men in kurta pyjama, especially at festivals and weddings.

Local food to try

The Premvati food court inside Akshardham serves strictly vegetarian Indian food: thalis, chole bhature, dosa and sweets, without onion or garlic in many dishes. For non-vegetarian or halal food, head back across the Yamuna to Connaught Place or Nizamuddin, where kebabs and biryani are the specialities.

Good to know

• Best from October to March; afternoon into the evening water show works well
• Tuesday to Sunday, about 10am to 8pm; last entry about 6:30pm; closed Mondays
• Free entry; exhibitions and the water show have separate tickets
• Allow three to four hours with the exhibitions and show
• Akshardham metro station is beside the complex; about 8 km east of Connaught Place
• No phones or cameras; security checks are strict, so allow extra time

Nearby places

Humayun's Tomb is about 5 km south-west across the river, and India Gate is about 6 km west. The Lotus Temple, also closed on Mondays, is about 8 km south.