Akshardham Temple:Dedicated to the Nation

The new Akshardham temple complex was dedicated to the nation by Pramukhswami Maharaj in the presence of President Abdul Kalam here on Sunday.It will be opened to the public from Tuesday.

The temple on the bank of Yamuna river spread over about 100 acres of land It took more than two years in the making and cost around Rs.2 billion

The 141-foot high main monument, an architectural marvel in pink sandstone and while marble, has a statue of lord Swaminarayan in the sanctum sanctorum along with statues of Hindu deities.

Designed and sculpted entirely according to the ancient Indian traditions, it has 234 ornate pillars, 20,000 statues, decorative arches and layers of sculpted flora and fauna.

In the past two decades, the BAPS, which has followers mainly in Gujarat and among Gujaratis abroad, has built more than 600 temples worldwide, including Britain and the US.