Swaminarayan Akshardham (Robbinsville, New Jersey)

Akshardham (Devnagari: स्वामिनारायण अक्षरधाम) temple coming up at Robbinsville, New Jersey is dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and built by Pramukh Swami Maharaj. It will dwarf both its parent structures in India, started in 2013 and finished by 2017.^[1]

Estimated cost $150 million, it is estimated to be spread over 162 acres,^[2] the largest Hindu temple in the world, in terms of acreage. At present, the biggest Hindu temple is the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, which covers 156 acres.

Main building of the temple will have 4 floors, the complex will have an exhibit dedicated to Indian history and culture, and a youth activity center. The artisans have taken elements of both south and north Indian temples, and the embellished temple will have ornate pillars and panels depicting scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata and ancient scriptures. The halls will have full-size idols of important leaders of the sect.^[3]

More than 2,000 artisans are laboring over various parts of the temple at Dungarpur, Pindwada and Sangwada. "The finished parts are shipped to US where they are assembled by master craftsmen

• BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha- The organisation responsible for the creation of Akshardham
• ISSO

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