Akshardham, Hindu temple complex in East Delhi, India
Akshardham is a temple compound in the eastern part of Delhi that includes several prayer halls, gardens and exhibition spaces. The central main building displays intricate stone carvings on walls, columns and domes depicting deities and mythological scenes.
The compound was built during the early 2000s by the religious organization BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha and opened to the public in November 2005. Thousands of craftspeople worked on the stone reliefs and structures using traditional construction techniques.
The name means "divine abode" in Sanskrit, referring to the eternal dwelling of the supreme divinity worshipped by the Swaminarayan community. Pilgrims walk barefoot through the compound and often touch the carvings as an act of devotion.
Entry involves strict security screening where all bags, mobile phones and electronic devices must be deposited in lockers outside. The walk through the compound usually takes several hours as exhibitions and gardens can be visited alongside the main prayer hall.
The compound uses no metal beams or steel supports but relies entirely on interlocking stone blocks following ancient Indian building traditions. The entire stone surface was hand-carved and assembled without modern welding or adhesives.
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