Temple constructed by BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham organization

Located at 90kms south of Times Square in Robbinsville Township, New Jersey

Devoted to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, a 19th-century Hindu spiritual leader

The United States, particularly New Jersey, is preparing to inaugurate the world’s largest Hindu temple outside of India on October 8.

Recognized as the largest Hindu temple outside India in the contemporary era, the Akshardham temple has been constructed by the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham organization.

Situated approximately 90 kilometers south of Times Square in Robbinsville Township, New Jersey, this magnificent temple is devoted to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, a 19th-century Hindu spiritual leader, and takes inspiration from his fifth spiritual successor, the esteemed saint Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

Here are five noteworthy facts about this temple:

1. Over a span of 12 years, from 2011 to 2023, more than 12,500 volunteers from various parts of the United States joined hands to construct this temple.
2. The sprawling Akshardham temple covers an expanse of 183 acres and has been meticulously designed in accordance with ancient Hindu scriptures, featuring design elements from India’s rich cultural heritage. These elements encompass a stunning array of 10,000 statues and statuettes, intricate carvings of Indian musical instruments, and dance forms.
3. The temple’s distinctive design includes a principal shrine, 12 sub-shrines, nine spire-like structures called shikhars, and nine pyramidal shikhars, with a projected lifespan of a thousand years.
4. To ensure enduring durability, the temple was constructed using four varieties of stone: limestone, pink sandstone, marble and granite.
5. The temple grounds also encompass a ‘Brahma Kund,’ a traditional Indian stepwell. This reservoir contains water sourced from more than 300 water bodies around the globe, including sacred rivers of India and all 50 states within the United States.