Unbeknownst to most, the second largest Hindu temple in the world (and certainly the largest in the Western Hemisphere) sits only an hour and a half’s drive away from Manhattan.
The campus is way larger and much more detailed than I expected- even having seen photos and videos before my visit.
Once you step onto the campus, it’s hard to believe you’re still in America- let alone New Jersey!
Swaminarayan Akshardham was built in Robbinsville, New Jersey over the course of eight years. Over 12,500 volunteers of all different backgrounds assisted in the building of the temple during this time period, making up nearly 75% of the project’s workforce.
Volunteers are still used to maintain the campus, and offer daily tours of the space. I arrived just in time to experience one of these tours and my guide had actually worked on the building of the temple itself- she was very proud of this!
Upon arriving to the campus, the first thing you’ll see is the massive stepped pond in front of the temples. This pond is filled with water from India’s 108 holy rivers as well as water from each of America’s fifty states.
Most will enter through the Nilkanth Plaza, which is hard to miss with its 49-foot tall golden statue of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
The Welcome Center is almost like a portal through which visitors walk to enter the main campus. The Welcome Center is typically populated with volunteers offering maps and answering questions. This is also where I met my guide for my tour of the temple. Guided tours are free and last about one hour.
Immediately outside the Welcome Center is the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir- a smaller traditional temple built from 2011- 2014. This temple closed earlier than the rest of the campus on the day that I visited, so I was not able to see inside.
I didn’t mind this so much, because my attention was immediately drawn to what is undeniably the crown jewel of the campus; Akshardham Mahamandir itself.
At 191 feet high and 354 feet wide, the temple is absolutely massive and every inch is lovingly covered in carvings. I could stare at it for hours and still be finding new details!
As stunning as the temple is from the outside, the inside is even more intricate. Volunteers carved about 2,000,000 cubic feet of stone into detailed statues, dance forms, and sacred scriptures. Photos aren’t allowed in here, but trust me, it’s definitely worth going inside.
Although I enjoyed my guided tour, it went through this section fairly quickly so I recommend doubling back through the temple to really appreciate the details.
Be aware that the delicate carvings, while tempting, are not allowed to be touched. I’d imagine that children would need to be watched closely in here!
Shoes are also not allowed to be worn in the temple, but don’t worry- the floors are heated! The miracle of modern technology. There is a locker section at the entrance of the temple where you are compelled to leave your shoes for the duration of your visit.
Once you’re done exploring the campus, I recommend stopping by Shayona Café for a tasty Indian dish. There’s also a shop supplying Indian groceries and even a gift shop.
Although I got the impression that the campus was still a work in progress, the temples and structures were an incredible sight to explore, and an impressive feat of construction. With all our money and technology, it’s still rare to see buildings like this these days. It’s definitely worth visiting at least once!
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