Akshardham is an architectural marvel of this century,
oozing with awe-inspiring auspiciousness and amazing craftsmanship.
More than 12 million man-hours of 900 skilled craftsmen
have created this magnificent monument of 93 sculpted pillars,
40 windows carved from both sides, and a feast of forms
and filigrees
Akshardham Monument
At the centre of the spacious Akshardham complex, a delicate
and beautiful architectural masterpiece, the Akshardham
Monument, this enshrines the golden idol of Swaminarayan,
the founder of the Swaminarayan Faith.
The first floor galleries house a museum portraying the
500 'parahansas', and several things belonging to Swaminarayan
such as his letter to guru, Ramanand, a piece from an old
tree from Chapaya, his pure wool shawl, a replica of his
old home and other displays. The galleries outside have
a state of the art exhibition using audio-visuals, multi-media,
dioramas of the life of Swaminarayan and from Hindu epics
to introduce visitors to the concept of the Akshardham movement,
founded in 1907 AD to promote the preachings of Swaminarayan.
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